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Kansas Boating License Requirements: Who Needs a Card

Kansas Boating License Requirements: Who Needs a Card

Posted by Safe Boating America on 5th Nov 2026

Kansas Boating License Requirements: Who Needs a Card

Teen steers a boat with an adult supervising

Kansas does not issue a boating license in the way it issues a driver’s license. It requires a boater education certificate, and that requirement applies to operators under 21. If you are 21 or older, Kansas law does not require the certificate. If you are 12 to 20 and want to run a motorboat, sailboat or Jet Ski without an adult supervising, you must complete an approved course first. Mississippi is stricter: the cutoff there is a birth date, and it reaches many adults.

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TL;DR

  • Kansas: operators ages 12 to 20 need an approved boater education certificate to operate a motorboat, PWC or sailboat without direct and audible adult supervision.
  • Kansas: operators 21 and older are exempt. Under 12 may not operate a motorized vessel without direct and audible supervision, certificate or not.
  • Kansas courses come in three formats: homestudy packet, online, and classroom. A card from another state counts if the course was NASBLA-approved.
  • Mississippi: anyone born after June 30, 1980 must complete a boater education course and carry proof on board.
  • Carry the certificate when you operate. Both states treat it as proof you must be able to show.

Table of Contents

Do you need a boating license in Kansas?

Short answer: only if you are under 21. The Kansas statute on boater education (K.S.A. 32-1139) bars anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 from operating a motorboat or sailboat on public waters without a certificate of completion of an approved boater safety education course. The same statute says the requirement does not apply to a person 21 or older.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) describes the practical version. Anyone under 21 who wants to operate a vessel designed to be propelled by a motor or sail without direct and audible supervision must complete an approved course. That covers motorboats, personal watercraft (PWC), sailboats and sailboards.

Do you need a boating license in Kansas?

The word “license” is used loosely online. What Kansas issues is a boater education card or certificate. Many boaters call it a boating license, and that is the term most people search for.

Quick reference by age

Operator age Certificate needed? Supervision rule
Under 12 Cannot operate a motorized vessel on a certificate alone Direct and audible supervision required
12 to 20 Yes, to operate without supervision May operate alone with a certificate
21 and older No None required

The KDWP required equipment chart matches this: the certificate is listed as required for ages 12 to 20, with no listed requirement for 21 and older.

What counts as a vessel under the Kansas rule

The rule is not limited to big boats. KDWP states that it includes any vessel powered by a motor, including a trolling motor. A 16-year-old running a small fishing boat on a trolling motor falls under the same requirement as a teenager on a bay boat.

Personal watercraft are covered too. KDWP’s boating regulations classify PWCs as Class A boats, so they must meet all boating laws, registration, operation and equipment requirements on top of the PWC-specific rules. Anyone 12 to 20 who wants to run a PWC without supervision needs the approved course.

Under 12: supervision rules

A certificate does not lower the minimum age. KDWP states that no one under 12 may operate a motorized vessel without direct and audible supervision, regardless of certification.

The statute puts the duty on owners as well. Under K.S.A. 32-1125, no owner or person in possession of a vessel may permit a child under 12 to operate a motorboat unless a parent or another person over 17 accompanies the child under direct and audible supervision.

What direct and audible supervision means

KDWP defines it as a person on board the same vessel, close enough to the operator’s station to quickly and safely take control if needed. The supervising adult must be at least 18 and either have completed a boater education course or be exempt as 21 or older. Following a boat in a second boat does not meet this standard. The supervisor has to be aboard.

Kansas on-board supervision requirements at a glance

The statute’s own exemption for teens is worded slightly differently: the education requirement does not apply to someone operating under the supervision of a person over 17 who holds a certificate or is legally exempt. Parents who plan to supervise should treat the stricter KDWP wording (18 or older, aboard, within reach of the controls) as the working rule.

PWC and Jet Ski rules beyond the card

A certificate is one part of legal PWC operation. KDWP lists these Kansas requirements:

  • Every person aboard wears a USCG-approved personal flotation device.
  • Inflatable life jackets are not allowed on a PWC.
  • PWCs may not be operated between sunset and sunrise.

The source for all three is the KDWP boating regulations page. Check that page before each season, because regulations can be amended.

How to get a Kansas boater education card

KDWP says you meet the requirement by taking and passing an approved course: classroom, online or internet-assisted home study. Its certification options page lists the same three routes.

Option How it works Best for
Homestudy packet Request a packet from KDWP and complete it at home. Processing and issuing of the certification takes about 1 to 2 weeks. Boaters who want no screen time and are not in a hurry
Online course Self-paced, must be at least three hours, with timed pages Teens and adults who want a card quickly
Classroom In-person class Learners who prefer an instructor

Online courses have to follow NASBLA standards. In Kansas that means at least three hours, every section completed, and timed pages with no way to skip material.

Out-of-state cards

Kansas accepts a card from another state if it came from a NASBLA-approved course. A family that boats in several states can take one approved course and use the card where it is recognized. Confirm the details with KDWP before a trip.

Who can take the course

There is no minimum age to take a Kansas boater education course. The Kansas City Star reports that classes are open to anyone who can follow and understand the material. A 12-year-old who reads well can pass; a younger child who is not ready may struggle.

Proof, replacement and expiration

The KDWP equipment chart treats the certificate as something you carry, so keep a copy with the boat’s registration papers. A card does not need renewal in the way a fishing license does, but a lost card needs a replacement from the state. KDWP’s exam guidance for homestudy says the home study course itself has no charge; a fee applies only if you take the exam online, and its Pratt office handles exams and duplicate cards. That document is older, so call or check the KDWP boating education page for the current process before you rely on it.

Perspective

We teach boating safety for a living, and the most common mistake we see is parents assuming a certificate is a formality for teenagers. It is a legal requirement, and it is also the first time many young operators learn right-of-way, navigation lights, and what to do when a passenger goes overboard.

Our approach is to make the legal minimum a real foundation. Our instructors are State Certified Instructors and USCG-licensed Captains, and our courses are built on NASBLA-approved material. For Kansas families, that means a 12 to 20 year old can complete the course online on their own schedule, then take the card on the water.

If you are 21 or older in Kansas, the law does not require a certificate. We still hear from adults who take the course before buying their first boat or Jet Ski, because it shortens the learning curve and many want a card that other states recognize.

Richard

Do you need a boating license in Mississippi?

Mississippi’s rule reaches adults. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) states that anyone born after June 30, 1980 must complete a boater education course before operating a boat. Anyone operating a boat or PWC on public waterways must carry proof of completion while operating.

A second rule applies to children. Under 12, an operator must be accompanied on board by a person 21 or older. That is separate from the education rule, as the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources explains. The department also notes that the certificate must be on the vessel whenever someone required to hold one is operating it.

Kansas and Mississippi compared

Kansas Mississippi
Who needs the course Operators ages 12 to 20 (born on or after Jan 1, 1989 under the statute) Anyone born after June 30, 1980
Adults Exempt at 21 Many adults still required
Under 12 Direct and audible supervision Accompanied by someone 21 or older
Carry proof Yes Yes

How to get a Mississippi boating safety certificate

MDWFP offers boater education courses free of charge at locations across the state. The in-class course is taught by MDWFP officers and volunteers, runs six hours, and requires pre-registration. Students must be at least 10, attend all hours and pass a written exam.

The state also approves online courses, some free and some paid. If your schedule does not fit a six-hour class, an approved online course is the faster route. Pick one the state lists as approved, since only those satisfy the requirement.

Other states: age rules differ

Boating education law is set state by state, with different birth-date cutoffs, horsepower thresholds and age bands. If you travel or own property elsewhere, read the local rule first. We have written guides for several neighbors and popular boating states, including Missouri’s age rule, Kentucky’s rule for 12 to 17 year olds, Colorado’s updated age rules and an Oklahoma boating and PWC course.

Get your Kansas card

Safe Boating America offers a Kansas boating and PWC certification course online, built for teens and new operators who need the state-required education. You work through it on your own schedule, and the course is designed to satisfy Kansas requirements for approved boater education.

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For other states, see our nationwide online boating safety courses. If you want a live class, our Zoom class and private instruction options cover instruction, chart reading and on-water training. A gift certificate is an option for a teen or a new boat owner.

FAQ

Do I need a boating license in Kansas if I am over 21?

No. Kansas law exempts operators 21 and older from the boater education requirement. You must still follow all registration, equipment and operating laws. Many adults take a course anyway before buying a first boat.

How do I get a Kansas boating safety certificate?

Complete an approved course through KDWP: a homestudy packet, an online course, or a classroom class. Online courses run at least three hours. Homestudy certification takes about one to two weeks to process.

Does Kansas accept a boater card from another state?

Yes, if the card came from a NASBLA-approved course. Keep the card with you when you operate, and confirm details with KDWP if your card is from an unusual program.

Can a 12-year-old drive a boat in Kansas?

Yes, with an approved boater education certificate, a 12-year-old may operate a motorboat or PWC without supervision. Children under 12 need direct and audible supervision from a qualified adult aboard. Supervisors must be 18 or older.

Do you need a boating license in Mississippi?

If you were born after June 30, 1980, yes. You need proof of completing a boater education course and must carry it while operating a boat or PWC. Operators under 12 must have a person 21 or older on board.

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