North Dakota Boater Education Card: Requirements, Cost, and Age Limits (2026)
North Dakota requires an operator age 12 through 15 to complete boater education before operating alone a boat or PWC over 10 horsepower. An adult age 18 or older aboard satisfies the alternative, including for an operator younger than 12.
Last verified 22 Aug 2026 against N.D. Cent. Code § 20.1-13-07(2); NDGF Boating and Water Safety Education.
| Rule | Answer | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Card required? | conditional An operator age 12 through 15 must complete an approved boater-education course before operating alone a boat or personal watercraft powered by more than 10 horsepower. | N.D. Cent. Code § 20.1-13-07(2); NDGF Boating and Water Safety Education | 22 Aug 2026 |
| Operators younger than 12 | supervised-only A person younger than 12 may operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower only when accompanied aboard by someone age 18 or older. North Dakota law does provide this adult-supervision exception. | N.D. Cent. Code § 20.1-13-07(1) | 22 Aug 2026 |
| Requirement above the age window? | No North Dakota's operator-education rule ends at age 16. The state does not require an operator age 16 or older to hold this card. | N.D. Cent. Code § 20.1-13-07(2) | 22 Aug 2026 |
| Supervision alternative | Yes An operator age 12 through 15 who has not completed the course may operate when someone age 18 or older is aboard. The statute does not require that adult to hold the boater-education card. | N.D. Cent. Code § 20.1-13-07(2) | 22 Aug 2026 |
| How you get it | 11.5 years The course is intended for students age 11 1/2 or older, but NDGF does not issue the certification card until the graduate reaches age 12. | NDGF | 22 Aug 2026 |
Who falls inside North Dakota’s four-year education window?
North Dakota’s course requirement applies to an operator age 12 through 15 who wants to operate alone a boat or personal watercraft powered by more than 10 horsepower. At 16, the state education requirement ends. It is an age window, not a credential mandate that begins in youth and follows every operator into adulthood. (N.D. Cent. Code § 20.1-13-07(2); North Dakota Game and Fish Department)
The horsepower wording deserves a careful read. The statute says more than 10 horsepower. The agency’s public course page summarizes the audience as young operators of boats or personal watercraft with at least a 10-horsepower motor. If your motor sits at that boundary, confirm how NDGF applies the rule before the young operator takes control alone.
Can a child younger than 12 operate with an adult aboard?
Yes. The current Century Code says a person younger than 12 may operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower when someone age 18 or older is aboard. That is different from an absolute ban. For an operator age 12 through 15, the same adult-aboard option is an alternative to course completion. The statute does not say the accompanying adult must hold the boater-education card. (N.D. Cent. Code § 20.1-13-07(1)-(2))
This distinction matters when planning a family trip. A completed course lets a 12-through-15-year-old operate alone, while supervision lets the young operator gain experience before or without relying on that solo privilege.
Why can the course start at age 11 1/2?
NDGF accepts students beginning at age 11 1/2, but it does not issue the card until the graduate reaches 12. Taking the course early therefore does not change the legal operating age. (North Dakota Game and Fish Department — Boating and Water Safety Education)
The current NDGF page and operator statute do not publish an expiration or renewal term. This page therefore does not label the card a lifetime credential. The education requirement itself ends at 16, independently of how an older course record may be treated later.
What if you're taking the boat across a state line?
Whether North Dakota's card counts in a neighbouring state is that state's decision, not North Dakota's — and the answer differs by state and sometimes by how long you're staying. Check the one you're heading to: