The card: rules, age, cost
PWC license: card and minimum age for a jet ski
A jet ski is a motorboat in the eyes of the law, so the boater card usually covers it. The minimum age is often higher. Pick a state and an age.
Jet ski: age and card
Operate a PWC alone at 15, Florida
not confirmed
| Minimum age | not confirmed |
| Card rule covers PWC | Yes |
| Required for | Born on or after January 1, 1988 |
There is no separate "jet ski license" in most states: a personal watercraft (PWC) is a vessel, and the boater education card that applies to motorboats applies to it too. Among the 50 verified jurisdictions, the education rule covers PWC operators in 42, and in Utah it applies only to PWC. What changes is the age: states that publish a PWC minimum set it from 12 to 16 years, with 11 at 16, and it is often higher than the age for a motorboat. Many states add rules for jet skis that do not apply to other boats, such as riding only between sunrise and sunset, a lanyard attached to the engine cut-off switch, and a life jacket on every rider, which is a federal requirement for the boat's equipment under 33 CFR part 175 and a state rule for wearing it. Rental counters may sell a temporary certificate or exempt a renter after a briefing, depending on the state. The tool answers for an age in a state; the second one compares the PWC age with the motorboat age.
Can you operate alone at this age?
Motorboat alone, California
No
| Minimum age, motorboat | 16 yrs |
| PWC alone | not confirmed |
| Minimum age, PWC | not confirmed |
Under 16 may not run a motor over 15 hp (sailboats up to 30 ft excepted); ages 12-15 may with an adult 18+ on board.
State rules read and practice questions written by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How each state is checked
Jet ski rules in each state
| State | Card rule covers PWC | PWC alone from | Motorboat alone from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | yes | 14 years | 14 years |
| Alaska | not confirmed | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Arkansas | yes | 16 years | 12 years |
| California | yes | not confirmed | 16 years |
| Colorado | yes | 14 years | 14 years |
| Connecticut | yes | 16 years | not confirmed |
| Delaware | yes | 16 years | not confirmed |
| District of Columbia | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Florida | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Georgia | yes | 16 years | 16 years |
| Hawaii | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Idaho | no | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Illinois | yes | 12 years | 12 years |
| Indiana | not confirmed | not confirmed | 15 years |
| Iowa | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Kansas | not confirmed | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Kentucky | yes | 12 years | 12 years |
| Louisiana | yes | 16 years | not confirmed |
| Maine | yes | 16 years | 12 years |
| Maryland | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Massachusetts | yes | 16 years | not confirmed |
| Michigan | yes | 14 years | 12 years |
| Minnesota | yes | 12 years | 12 years |
| Mississippi | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Missouri | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Montana | yes | 13 years | 13 years |
| Nebraska | yes | 14 years | 14 years |
| Nevada | yes | 14 years | not confirmed |
| New Hampshire | not confirmed | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| New Jersey | yes | 16 years | 13 years |
| New Mexico | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| New York | yes | 14 years | not confirmed |
| North Carolina | yes | 16 years | not confirmed |
| North Dakota | yes | 12 years | 12 years |
| Ohio | yes | 16 years | 12 years |
| Oklahoma | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Oregon | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Pennsylvania | yes | 12 years | 12 years |
| Rhode Island | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| South Carolina | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| South Dakota | no | 14 years | 12 years |
| Tennessee | not confirmed | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Texas | yes | 13 years | 13 years |
| Utah | yes | 12 years | 16 years |
| Vermont | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Virginia | yes | 14 years | not confirmed |
| Washington | yes | 14 years | 12 years |
| West Virginia | yes | not confirmed | not confirmed |
| Wisconsin | yes | 12 years | 12 years |
| Wyoming | no | 16 years | 16 years |
Why the age is higher
A PWC accelerates fast, steers with thrust only and leaves the rider without a hull around them. States reflect this with a higher minimum age, and sometimes with a ban on young riders after dark or towing a skier. The mini-tool compares the two ages in a state.
Can you operate alone at this age?
Motorboat alone, Texas
Yes
| Minimum age, motorboat | 13 yrs |
| PWC alone | Yes |
| Minimum age, PWC | 13 yrs |
Alone from 13 (motor over 15 hp, PWC, sailboat over 14 ft) with the course; under 13 needs a legal operator 18+ on board.
Equipment and safe riding
- Life jackets. Each person needs a wearable life jacket of the right size under 33 CFR part 175; states that regulate PWC usually require them to be worn.
- Engine cut-off lanyard. Attach it to the rider so the engine stops after a fall; many states require it on PWC.
- No steering without throttle. A jet drive needs thrust to turn. Releasing the throttle to avoid a collision can leave you going straight.
- Same rules of the road. The Navigation Rules apply: keep a lookout, a safe speed and give way as required.
Getting the card for a PWC
The same approved course leads to the card for both boats and jet skis, and the free online course is approved in most states (free course page). For ages and supervision rules on other boats, see the age page.