Classroom Courses

A number of NASBLA-approved classroom courses are available in Ohio. They are developed by ODNR Watercraft, US Power Squadron, and US Coast Guard Auxiliary. (US Power Squadron and US Coast Guard Auxiliary are volunteer organizations.)

Classroom courses are a minimum of 8 hours of classroom teaching. Some are scheduled all in one day (typically Saturdays); some are stretched out over a number of weeks (usually in the evening).

Both US Power Squadron and US Coast Guard Auxiliary also offer a longer course that includes more than the required minimum information. These longer courses also fulfill Ohio's education requirement.

Most instructors use a variety of audio-visual teaching aids. Classes are geared to average learning ability (typically 5th grade reading level). Some instructors require an adult to be present in the classroom for children under a certain age. Ask when you register what the age requirements are and if the class is suitable for your child.

All of the NASBLA-approved classroom courses listed in our Boating Course Search are open to the public. You may find that more classes are scheduled in the spring and the fall when volunteer instructors are not out boating and officers are not out patrolling.

Cost varies, usually from $5 to $45 based on which class is being taught, materials, and room fees, etc.

After you pass a classroom course, your instructor should forward your course record to ODNR Watercraft so that we can issue you a boater education card. If your instructor does not forward your information to us, we will not have you in our database and we will not be able to issue you a duplicate. It will take 1 to 2 weeks to get your card AFTER your instructor forwards class information to us.

Online Courses

Any online course that provides you with a certificate or card that shows your name, date of birth, and a NASBLA seal of approval is sufficient to fulfill Ohio's boater education law.

We recommend you choose a course that includes Ohio-specific boating laws and gives you the option to study before taking the course.

Ohio DNR doesn't manage any online courses. If you have any issues with an online course, you will need to contact the course provider directly.

You can check the NASBLA web site for approved online courses at www.nasbla.org

Home Study Option

There is no charge for a Home Study Course. Your only cost is for the postage required to mail the workbook and test back to us to be graded

When you request a Home Study Packet, we mail you a coursebook, a work book, and reference materials. You study, fill out the workbook, and take the test at your own pace.

Then you mail us the completed workbook and test. We check your work and grade the test. If you pass, you'll get your education card in the mail within 1-2 weeks. If you fail, we'll send you a letter. We retain your information in our database so that if you need a replacement card, we can issue it (name, date of birth and address required).

The Home Study Course uses the same coursebook as the Ohio Boating Education Course (classroom) and the content is found at www.Boat-Ed.com (online). Younger boaters may benefit from using all three learning options: pre-reading with the home study packet, studying online and watching animations (at no charge), then taking a classroom course to have an instructor explain the more difficult concepts.

You can request a Home Study online or call 1-877-4BOATER (Ohio only) and leave us your mailing address.

Proficiency Exam

This option is recommended for knowledgeable boaters. The proficiency exam is available by appointment from any Watercraft Office and takes about an hour. There is no fee to take a proficiency exam.

The test is similar to the test taken at the end of a classroom boating course. No reference materials are permitted, and you must pass the test with a score of 70%.

We recommend that you request a Home Study Packet in order to study before your scheduled exam. If you are not familiar with laws like the Mandatory Boater Education law in Ohio, you may not have the level of knowledge required to pass this test.

Contact the Watercraft Office nearest you to schedule your exam.