Rhode Island Certificate of Boating Safety Education: Requirements, Cost, and Age Limits (2026)
Rhode Island requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1986, to hold the certificate when operating a motorboat over 10 horsepower. Every personal- watercraft operator needs Rhode Island certification regardless of age, birth date, residency, or an out-of-state credential.
Last verified 21 Aug 2026 against R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-22-9.8(a).
| Rule | Answer | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate required? | conditional A person born on or after January 1, 1986, must complete a DEM-approved boating safety education program before operating a vessel fitted with propulsion machinery of more than 10 horsepower on Rhode Island waters. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-22-9.8(a) | 21 Aug 2026 |
| PWC certificate required for everyone? | Yes Every personal-watercraft operator must complete Rhode Island's approved boating safety program. DEM states that age, residency, an out-of-state certificate, and a Coast Guard license do not replace the Rhode Island certificate for PWC operation. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-22-9.8(h); Rhode Island DEM Boating Safety Certification | 21 Aug 2026 |
| Motor threshold | 10 horsepower The birth-date rule for ordinary motorboats starts above 10 horsepower. The personal-watercraft rule is separate and has no horsepower or birth-date exemption. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-22-9.8(a), (h) | 21 Aug 2026 |
| Out-of-state certificates | conditional A nonresident using a motorboat other than a PWC for fewer than 90 days in a calendar year may meet the home state's operator requirement. DEM says a Rhode Island certificate is required beyond 90 days, but its page does not resolve exactly 90 days. PWC operators always need Rhode Island certification. A new Rhode Island resident has 60 days to comply. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-22-9.8(g)(2)-(3); Rhode Island DEM | 21 Aug 2026 |
| Certificate exemptions | Yes For a vessel other than a personal watercraft, exemptions include an operator in training under direct onboard supervision by a qualifying person age 18 or older, and a holder of a valid commercial vessel operator's license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, a state, or a province. | R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-22-9.8(g)(2), (h) | 21 Aug 2026 |
Does the birth-date exemption apply on a jet ski?
No. Rhode Island’s ordinary motorboat rule applies to an operator born on or after January 1, 1986, when the motor exceeds 10 horsepower. Personal watercraft have a separate override: every operator must complete Rhode Island’s approved boating safety program. Someone grandfathered out of the motorboat rule still needs the certificate before operating a jet ski. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-22-9.8(a), (h))
DEM applies that override regardless of age or residency. A valid out-of-state boating card does not replace the Rhode Island certificate for PWC operation, and neither does a Coast Guard operator’s license. That is the first rule to check if your plans include a jet ski rather than an ordinary motorboat.
What exemptions apply to an ordinary motorboat?
A person may operate in training while directly supervised aboard by someone age 18 or older who meets Rhode Island’s education requirement. A valid commercial vessel operator’s license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, a state, or a province is another exemption. Neither exception carries over to a PWC. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-22-9.8(g)(2), (h))
The horsepower boundary also belongs only to the ordinary motorboat rule. A motorboat at 10 horsepower does not cross the statute’s “more than 10” line. The universal PWC requirement does not use that horsepower threshold.
What does Rhode Island require from a visitor?
For an ordinary motorboat, a nonresident using Rhode Island waters for fewer than 90 days in a calendar year may meet the operator rules of the home state. DEM says Rhode Island certification is required after 90 days but does not spell out the treatment of exactly 90 days. The visitor policy does not create a PWC exception. (Rhode Island DEM Boating Safety Certification)
If you move to Rhode Island, the statute gives you 60 days to meet the state requirement. That new-resident deadline is separate from the visitor rule. (R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-22-9.8(g)(3))
What if you're taking the boat across a state line?
Reciprocity varies by state: check the rules of the state you're entering before you launch. Rhode Island borders Connecticut and Massachusetts.