NASBLA Roundtable

Good morning, are there any States (besides Maryland) which offer a temporary certificate of boater safety?  In Maryland liveries which have entered into a contract with MD-DNR have the ability to issue a 10 temporary certificate of boater safety once the individual completes the requirements enumerated in the contract.

Thanks, Mike Lathroum

Maryland DNR - Fishing and Boating Services

Boating Stakeholder Coordinator

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Mike Lathroum
Boating Stakeholder Coordinator
Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Services
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In Texas we don't offer a temporary certificate, however we do offer a one-time (15-day) deferral for $10 at our point of sales locations. One can only purchase this once in their lifetime and was mirrored off of our hunter ed deferral program. This was included in our law to address concerns of the livery industry of tourist not being able to meet our mandatory education requirements ultimately reducing business. Last year it was utilized by approximately 2,400 people. 

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Cody Jones
Boating Law Administrator
Asst. Commander Game Warden
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.
512-389-4624 Office
512-431-1326 cell
cody.jones@tpwd.texas.gov

Texas Game Wardens Serving Texans since 1895 - Law Enforcement off the Pavement
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Original Message:
Sent: 12/10/2025 8:58:00 AM
From: Cody Jones
Subject: RE: Temporary Certificates of Boater Safety/Education

In Texas we don't offer a temporary certificate, however we do offer a one-time (15-day) deferral for $10 at our point of sales locations. One can only purchase this once in their lifetime and was mirrored off of our hunter ed deferral program. This was included in our law to address concerns of the livery industry of tourist not being able to meet our mandatory education requirements ultimately reducing business. Last year it was utilized by approximately 2,400 people. 

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Cody Jones
Boating Law Administrator
Asst. Commander Game Warden
Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.
512-389-4624 Office
512-431-1326 cell
cody.jones@tpwd.texas.gov

Texas Game Wardens Serving Texans since 1895 - Law Enforcement off the Pavement
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Hi Mike,

Washington state provides for rental agencies the ability to issue a temporary permit to operate boats over 15hp; called a motor vessel safety checklist. 

I think Florida does as well.

https://parks.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2023-10/Moter%20Vessel%20Rental%20Safety%20Checklist%20Instructions_201311221534352980.pdf

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Todd Baker
Clark County (WA) Sheriff's Office (Retired)
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In Tennessee we do offer a page for them to print if they take the online boating safety exam as a temporary until they receive their card.  We also put a silver sticker on their permit if they pass their exam at an in person class.  If they purchase a duplicate of their boater safety we are in the process of working on emailing them a temporary through our vendor.

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Susie Crist
License Chief
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
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Hey Mike, 

In Ohio, we do offer a 10-question exam that is good for the duration of their rental.  These materials are provided by us and administered by the rental agency.  Unfortunately, by doing so, we have talked with rental agencies that have repeat customers who just complete the rental exam each time they rent the boat instead of just completing an actual course.  We are currently working with an online provider to change the way we do business in this aspect, in hopes that it will steer people to complete an actual course. 

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Andy Foos
Boating Education Coordinator
Ohio DNR - Division of Parks and Watercraft
2045 Morse Rd. Bldg. A-2
Columbus, Ohio 43229
(740) 815-2124
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Yes, Florida has a temporary certificate for boater safety education, it is valid for 90 days. Here's a link if you want additional information about the temporary certificate or our providers:  https://myfwc.com/boating/safety-education/temporary-certificate/

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Rachel Bryant
Florida Fish & Wildlife
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In Virginia, our mandatory boating education requirement allows for rental boat companies to use a "dockside checklist" provided by the agency for rental boat operators who have not completed the full boating safety course.  It is only valid during the rental period.

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Stacey Brown | Boating Division Director, Boating Law Administrator | Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources | 804-308-6114 | stacey.brown@dwr.virginia.gov
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Original Message:
Sent: 12/12/2025 8:12:00 AM
From: Stacey Brown
Subject: RE: Temporary Certificates of Boater Safety/Education

In Virginia, our mandatory boating education requirement allows for rental boat companies to use a "dockside checklist" provided by the agency for rental boat operators who have not completed the full boating safety course.  It is only valid during the rental period.

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Stacey Brown | Boating Division Director, Boating Law Administrator | Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources | 804-308-6114 | stacey.brown@dwr.virginia.gov
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In Missouri, we have a once-in-a-lifetime, seven-day temporary boater safety card. We administer a 10-question checklist to obtain it, cost $9, for boat renters with a driver's license and 16 years of age and older. 

https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=306.127

Mike Petlansky, Missouri State Highway Patrol 

Water Patrol Division

https://www.boat-ed.com/missourirental

                                                                                                                                          

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Michael Petlansky
MO State Highway Patrol
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Indiana does not offer a temporary certificate of boater safety. 

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Brian Bailey
Boating Law Administrator
IDNR-LE
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