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Boating Safety Education Identification Card

Boating Safety Education ID Card Requirement

Sample boating safety education ID card

Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, who will be operating a boat in Florida waters with an engine of ten (10) horsepower or more is required to complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card. This card, which does not expire, certifies the person named on the card has successfully completed the required boating safety education course. Note: This card is not a boating license.

Instructions for Getting Your Boating Safety Education ID Card

Follow the steps below to get a copy of your boating safety education ID card after successfully completing an approved Florida boating safety course:

  • Check with your course provider or instructor to see if they will automatically send a request to the FWC to issue a card. Many online course providers and some classroom providers automatically submit an ID card request to the FWC for all students who successfully complete an approved Florida course.  If your course provider automatically does that, you should receive your card within two to three weeks. NOTE: Because course providers are not affiliated with the FWC, they must send student information to the FWC for a card to be issued.
  • If the course provider or instructor does not send a request to the FWC to issue a card, you can request your card by doing the following:

1. Obtain a course completion certificate or card from the provider after you have passed the course.

    • For online courses, make sure you can print a copy of this certificate from the course website or ask the course vendor to provide an electronic copy.
    • For classroom courses, ask the instructor to provide proof of completion that includes the name of the course and date it was completed as well as the name and address of the student.

2. Submit a request for your boating safety education ID card to the FWC and include your course completion certificate/card and your name, date of birth, return address and phone number to Bobbercard@MYFWC.com or by mailing that information to:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Division of Law Enforcement
Boating Safety Unit
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

NOTE: If you are taking the course to satisfy the mandatory violator requirements, make sure you include a note or letter with your proof of course completion when you submit your request for an ID card.

For more information or to order a copy of the “How to Boat Smart” correspondence course, contact the FWC's Division of Law Enforcement at 850-488-5600, or email us.