Obtaining a boating license in Texas is not difficult. If you were born after 1st September 1993, you are legally required to get a Texas Boater Education Card. This card allows you to operate:
- A personal watercraft (PWC)
- A wind-powered boat bigger than 14 feet
- A motorized boat with a horsepower of 15hp
Boaters caught without a license by the port police will be fined around $500. Multiple infractions can lead to jail time.
How to Get the Texas Boater Education Card
BoatSmartExam.com offers you the opportunity to take your course and exam online and get the Texas Boater Education Card.
The course is 3 hours long and includes illustrations, animations, and narrations. After completing the state-approved course and passing the exam, you will receive your temporary certificate, which can be downloaded online.
You can then later get your Texas Boater Education Card, which will be available on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website.
Children aged 13 are not allowed to operate a boat on their own. They can do so under the supervision of someone 18 years old.
If you plan to rent a boat for recreational purposes, you will need a boating license, and not having one can get you fined. However, you can purchase a 15-day boater deferral from a place that sells fishing licenses.
One question that boaters often ask is: Is my Texas boating license acceptable in other states?
Yes, you can use your Texas Boater Education Card in 40 US states. It is also acceptable in Canadian provinces.
Sample Test Questions
Here are a few sample questions you might get on a boating course exam:
What is attached to a boat (starboard side transom above the waterline) that proves it was made in agreement with the state’s construction requirements?
☐Registration
☐Certificate of ownership
☐The HIN (Hull Identification Number)
☐The capacity plate
A vessel driven by power will not come in the way of a vessel that is sailing?
☐Yes
☐No
After a boat capsizes, the first thing you should do is try to reach the shore?
☐Yes
☐No
What are the graphic representations that depict different bodies of water?
☐Topographical maps
☐Atlas
☐GPS
☐Charts
You can wear a lifejacket that was torn but repaired by its manufacturer?
☐True
☐False
Which flare can be used in daylight only?
☐Smoke signal
☐Hand flare
☐The rocket parachute flare
☐The multi-star flare
You can easily find the answers to these questions online and more sample tests. Before enrolling in a course, practice your boating knowledge by taking free tests.
Once you have passed, you can move on to making the big decision: What boat to buy? To make sure your boat is properly maintained, why not install a dock. For quality dock materials, visit EZ Dock. The company offers different types of docks, including floating docks, do-it-yourself docks, and more. For more information, call (800) 654-8168.
