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Do I need a boating license in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire's boater education rule, quoted from New Hampshire Department of Safety, Marine Patrol, checked against your boat and birth year.
The rule in New Hampshire
New Hampshire requires a safe boater education certificate for motorboat and PWC operators on more than 25 hp.
"No person shall operate a motorized vessel with any type of power motor in excess of 25 horsepower on the public waters of this state without first obtaining a certificate of boating safety education in accordance with this subdivision."
New Hampshire Department of Safety, Marine Patrol. Chapter 270-D BOATING AND WATER SAFETY ON NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC WATERS, checked October 2026.
Boating License CheckNew Hampshire
It depends on your engine's horsepower.
The rule
Motorboat and PWC operators on more than 25 hp.
"No person shall operate a motorized vessel with any type of power motor in excess of 25 horsepower on the public waters of this state without first obtaining a certificate of boating safety education in accordance with this subdivision."
Source: Chapter 270-D BOATING AND WATER SAFETY ON NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC WATERS, checked October 2026.
Exemptions
"A person shall not be required to obtain a certificate of boating safety education if the person holds a certificate from any state indicating successful completion of boating safety education that meets or exceeds the requirements of this subdivision, a certificate from the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, a certificate from the United States Power Squadron, or a Canadian certificate approved by Transport Canada and approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators."
"The commissioner, or designee, shall issue a temporary certificate of safe boating education to a person 16 years of age or older who passes a temporary safe boater examination administered by the department or its agents and approved by the commissioner. The temporary certificate of safe boater education shall be valid for up to 14 days"
A guide to each state's published rule, not legal advice. Rules change; the linked page is the authority.
- Each state's own rule, quoted
- Yes, no, or what it depends on
- Cold-weather life jacket laws
Boating in New Hampshire
28 marinas, charters and rentals listed in New Hampshire.
Cold-water season
States where you must wear a life jacket
Most states only require a life jacket on board. These require one to be worn for part of the year, as each state writes it.
| State | When | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | October 1 to May 31 | From October 1 through May 31, everyone in a canoe, kayak, paddleboard or other manually propelled vessel must wear a life jacket. Source |
| New York | November 1 to May 1 | From November 1 through May 1, everyone aboard a pleasure vessel under 21 feet, including rowboats, canoes and kayaks, must wear a fastened Coast Guard approved life jacket while underway. Source |
| Pennsylvania | November 1 to April 30 | From November 1 through April 30, you must wear a life jacket while underway or at anchor on any boat under 16 feet, and on any canoe, kayak or paddleboard of any length. Source |
| Vermont | November 1 to May 1 | Since July 1, 2026, everyone aboard any vessel that is under way, while on an open deck, must wear a life jacket from November 1 through May 1. Exceptions: water no more than three feet deep, and licensed hunters or bow fishers actively hunting or fishing. The statute attaches no penalty to a violation. Source |
By state
Boating license rules by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Common questions
Boating license questions
New Hampshire requires a safe boater education certificate for motorboat and PWC operators on more than 25 hp. Source: Chapter 270-D BOATING AND WATER SAFETY ON NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC WATERS.
Of the 48 states we have checked against their own published rule, 44 require a boater education card for at least some operators. Alaska, Idaho, South Dakota and Wyoming have no requirement. Who it covers differs a lot: some states cover every motorboat operator, others only people born after a certain date or boats over a set horsepower.
None of the 48 states we have checked requires a boater education card for paddle craft alone. Some do require a life jacket to be worn in the cold months, which the tool shows for your state.
Connecticut: October 1 to May 31. New York: November 1 to May 1. Pennsylvania: November 1 to April 30. Vermont: November 1 to May 1. Each state's rule covers different boats; pick your state and craft in the tool to see its exact wording.
People search for a boating license, but most states ask for a boater education card or certificate instead: proof that you passed an approved boating safety course. The tool uses each state's own name for it.
Yes. It is free, needs no account, and links every answer to the state page it comes from. Always read the current rule before you go out.
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