Boating Safety Education

Boating Safety Education

Boating safety education has never been more accessible.

Today, boaters can choose from attending live classes hosted by any number of boating safety organizations; participating in basic or fully animated e-learning courses covering any number of boating safety and instruction topics; or choosing a hybrid approach that includes both online and live instructional segments.

The Water Sports Foundation has curated a listing with links to available boating safety instructional resources from multiple boating safety stakeholders.

NOTE: If your organization offers boating safety education/instruction and is not listed herein, please feel free to send a link to your URL for consideration to WSF Director of Communications Wanda Kenton Smith: Wanda@WaterSportsFoundation.com

Top Boating Safety Education Providers & Programs


U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

Local flotillas offer a variety of safety classes, including basic/introductory boating courses and safety courses, navigation, sailing and personal watercraft safety, among others.

U.S. Coast Guard Mobile App 

United States Power Squadron

“America’s Boating Course 3rd Edition” the most comprehensive boating safety course available. It includes a course book, a narrated student CD and a digital charting DVD. ABC 3 is available as a classroom, home study or online course.

American Boat Operators’ Course 

Offers online boating safety courses with online certification tests for a number of states.

American Canoe Association

Comprehensive resource to find skills courses, assessments, and instructor certification courses for kayak, canoe, raft, safety & rescue, and adaptive paddling.

American Sailing Association

Beginner-advanced learn to sale educational classes and courses with certifications

BoatU.S. Foundation

The Courseline is a searchable database of current boating safety courses around the nation.

BoatEd

Offers online boating safety courses with online certification tests for a number of states.

Boatsafe

Offers an online Basic Boating Certification Course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, and a Coastal Navigation Course.

BoaterExam.com

Offers online boating safety courses with online certification tests for a number of states.

Commander Bob

Offers resources on boating education.

NauticEd

Offers a sailing course meeting the American National Standard (ANS), EDU-3 skills-based sailboat standard 

PWC Safety School

Offers online courses and certification for PWC operators in several states

Safe Boating America

Safe Boating America classes meet the State Educational Requirements for operating a Boat or PWC and also meet the requirements for a Youth Operator.

State Courses

Many states offer boating safety courses. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ online Directory provides contact information for state boating agencies.

U.S. Sailing

Programs offer instruction in small and large sailboats, windsurfers, and powerboats. All levels of instruction are available around the country for beginner to advanced skills. Information on courses and instruction is available on the web.

Whitman Marine Training 

Learn how to Dock, Launch, turn, or pilot your boat at any one of their classes.