Boat Licences

The speed at which a boat is driven determines whether a person needs to be licensed. Any person who drives a powered vessel for recreational purposes on NSW waters at a speed of 10 knots or more must have a boat driver’s licence. Ten knots is the speed at which most accelerating boats will start to plane – that is rise up and skim on top of the water instead of ploughing through it. The exception is anyone who drives a personal watercraft (PWC) at ANY speed must have a PWC Licence.

Quick Links:

Types of Licence How to get a Boat Licence Boating Handbook Boating Licence Practical Logbook (pdf)

Boating Safety Course Requirements Practical Boating Experience Requirements NSW Maritime Boating Safety Course Seminars

Online Boating Safety Course Boat Licence Fees Change of Address Online Renewal Payment

Types of Licence

General Licence

A licence for people aged 16 years and over to drive any vessel, except a PWC at 10 knots or more.

General Young Adult Licence

A restricted licence for those aged from 12 to under 16 years. A Young Adult Licensee must:

(1) be accompanied by the holder of a General Licence when travelling at 10 knots or more
(2) never exceed 20 knots
(3) never travel at 10 knots or more after sunset and before sunrise
(4) never travel at 10 knots or more when towing a person
(5) not drive in any race, display, regatta or exhibition without prior consent from the NSW Maritime and
(6) never operate a PWC unless the holder of a Young Adult PWC Licence.

Personal Watercraft (PWC) Licence

A special licence is required to drive a PWC regardless of what speed it is driven. To obtain an initial PWC Licence, the General Licence test must be passed before the PWC test can be attempted. Persons who hold a General Licence can upgrade to a PWC Licence at any time.

Young Adult PWC Licence

A restricted licence for those aged from 12 to under 16 years who wish to drive a PWC. The same conditions which apply to the General Young Adult Licence apply to this licence. A Young Adult PWC Licence holder must be accompanied by a PWC Licence holder when operating at a speed of 10 knots or more.

Licence Period

A General Licence or PWC Licence is available for either 12 months or three years. You will save money by selecting a three year licence. Young Adult Licences are only available for one year. One-year General Licences and General Young Adult Licences are issued as paper licences. Three Year General Licences are issued as paper licences followed by a plastic card. All PWC Licences are issued as plastic photo identity cards. Licence fees.

Commercial Qualifcations

An appropriate Certifcate of Competency is required to take charge of vessels used for commercial purposes. To obtain these qualifcations you will need to have records of your boating experience, complete approved training courses and meet minimum medical and eyesight standards. Holders of valid NSW Certifcates of Competency can operate a vessel, excluding PWC, for recreational purposes, without the need to hold a General Licence. More details...

How to Get a Boat Licence

NSW Maritime Boating Handbook	Boating Licence Practical Logbook

To obtain an initial general or Personal Watercraft (PWC) licence applicants must:

The Boating Safety Course(s) must be undertaken before the licence test(s) can be attempted however, practical boating experience can be completed at any stage although a boat licence will not be issued until all 3 components have been successfully completed.

Applicants wishing to upgrade their existing general licence to a PWC licence are not required to provide evidence of practical boating experience and need only comply with PWC Licence Boating Safety Course and PWC licence test requirements.

The general licence knowledge test comprises 40 questions of which the first 15 must all be answered correctly and the PWC licence knowledge test contains 15 questions of which a minimum of 12 must be answered correctly.

The PWC licence knowledge test cannot be attempted until the general licence knowledge test has been successfully completed.

The NSW Maritime Boating Handbook provides essential boating information for operating a vessel for recreational purposes on NSW waters. It is strongly advised that licence applicants study the handbook prior to completing the boating safety course and practical experience requirements and undertaking the knowledge test(s).

How to comply with Boating Safety Course requirements.

Boating Safety Course requirements can be met by one of the following:

1. By viewing the Boating Safety Course online. Click here to view the course online.
   
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2. By purchasing a DVD of the course for viewing at home. Click here to purchase a DVD
   
   OR
   
   
3. Attending a Boating Safety Course conducted by NSW Maritime, the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association, Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol or Volunteer Marine Rescue Association. Click here for NSW Maritime venues and dates.

An alternative to completing a Boating Safety Course for the requirement to obtain a licence and undertaking the licence test is to successfully undertake a course conducted by one of the following Recognised Training Providers (RTP). For details on these courses click on the link below:

ABC Licence Training Pty Ltd. Allstate Boat Licensing and Training All Hands on Deck Maritime Training Base Point North Boating Licence Course

Defence Maritime Services Maritime and Safety Training Maritime Training School NSW Boating College Sea School Australia Training Aid Australia Pty Ltd

The following Certificates from Yachting Australia are also recognised as satisfying the full requirements (including the practical component) for a general boat licence:

Details on Boating Safety Course requirements and to the NSW Maritime Boating Handbook.

How to comply with practical boating experience requirements

To gain the required practical boating experience the following options are available:

If the practical boating course option is selected, for which a fee is payable, the applicant will, on completion of the course, be issued a Certificate of Completion by the RTP which must be presented to NSW Maritime when applying for before a boat licence.

If the logbook option is selected, the applicant must complete a minimum of three trips in a powered vessel under power. Trip details must be recorded in the logbook and be verified by an experienced skipper (a person who holds a valid NSW or interstate adult boat licence and has held that licence for a minimum of 3 years).

Only trips undertaken within 12 months of the date of applying for the issue of a boat licence will be recognised for the purpose of satisfying practical experience requirements.

	Details on practical boating experience requirements and to download a copy of the Boating Licence Practical Logbook.
	For Questions and Answers on the Practical Boating requirement click here