SALT LAKE CITY (April 8, 2025) – Just in time for the upcoming boating season, the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (DOR) is partnering with the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety to offer a free online Utah Boating Safety Course. Approved by the DOR’s Boating Program and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), the course is a convenient option for Utah boaters to enhance their safety knowledge before heading out on the water.
The new education course meets Utah’s requirement that all youth ages 12 to 17 complete an approved boating safety education course before operating a personal watercraft (PWC), such as a jet ski. However, boating safety education is beneficial for all water enthusiasts. According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, most boating-related fatalities involve operators who have not received boating safety instruction. Many insurance providers offer discounts to boaters who complete a safety course.
“The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation is committed to providing boaters with the resources they need to recreate responsibly and safely,” said Ty Hunter, boating program manager for DOR. “This free online course is an excellent opportunity for Utahns to gain critical boating safety knowledge from the comfort of their own home, helping to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience on Utah’s waters.”
The online boating safety course is the first free course recognized by the state’s Boating Program. It is NASBLA-approved and U.S. Coast Guard-recognized, meaning Utah boaters who travel out of state will meet national boating safety education requirements. If you complete a boating education course approved by NASBLA or recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard, most other states with boating education requirements will accept it. The course typically takes four to eight hours to complete and allows users to start, pause and resume at their convenience.
The new course consists of six lessons with quizzes and a final exam. Upon successful completion, participants can print their Utah boating safety certificate for free.
More than 2.5 million students nationwide have taken advantage of the BoatUS Foundation’s free online boating safety education courses, which are approved in 38 states, including Utah.For more information or to enroll in the course, visit recreation.utah.gov/boating.