Internet Courses

The courses listed below are certified by the State of Texas and meet all requirements for boater education.

Online boater education courses cover essential topics such as required safety equipment, navigation rules, boat operation, and Texas boating laws. Whether you plan to operate a motorboat, sailboat, paddle craft, or personal watercraft, we strongly encourage taking a course to enhance your safety on the water.

Important: If you were born on or after September 1, 1993, and wish to operate a vessel powered by a motor with a manufacturer's rating of more than 15 horsepower or a windblown vessel over 14 feet in length on Texas public waterways, you are required to complete a boater education course. You must also carry proof of certification and a photo ID while operating a vessel. For more details, review the Water Safety Act.

Upon completion of any course, you will receive a temporary certificate valid for 60 days. Your permanent certificate will be available in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) system within approximately two weeks.

Download your permanent certificate here: Hunter/Boater Education Verification – EDUCATION REGISTRATION SYSTEM

Internet Course Offerings in English:

Recademics
- A proud Texas-based and Texan-owned company offering a course designed specifically for the Lone Star State. Learn safety and regulations through live-action videos with Texas specific content included throughout the course.

Cost: $29.99 Provider fee + $10 State fee = $39.99 Total

Recademics Military & First-Responder Discount - discount for active or retired military, firefighters, and police officers.

Cost: $19.99 Provider fee + $10 State fee = $29.99 Total

Support: Info@recademics.com

Boat-Ed Texas
- Boat-Ed Texas provides a dynamic learning experience with hundreds of real-life boating videos and interactive animations. The course is divided into short, easy-to-digest segments, with frequent "learning checks" to reinforce your understanding.
  
  Cost: $44.95 Provider fee + $10.00 State Fee = $54.95 Total

Support: 1-800-830-2268 Boat-Ed Help Center

BOATsmart!
- The BOATsmart! Texas boating safety course is fully narrated and features animated lessons to make learning fun and effective. Designed to help you retain the essential knowledge for safe boating, this course ensures a smooth learning experience.
  
  Cost: $39.95 Provider fee + $10.00 State Fee = $49.95 Total

Support: 1-877-655-7778 support@boatsmartexam.com

BoatUS
- The BoatUS Foundation offers a budget-friendly online boating safety course to help you earn your boater certification card. The course features animations that illustrate critical navigation rules and videos that demonstrate the proper use of safety equipment like visual distress signals, fire extinguishers, and life jackets.

Cost: $1.00 Provider fee + $10.00 State Fee = $11.00 Total

Support: 1-800-245-2628

BOATERexam
- BOATERexam offers an interactive learning experience designed for visual learners. The course features a fully narrated and animated study guide, over 40 interactive exercises, and more than 400 detailed illustrations to help you retain key concepts. Each exam question includes visual aids to ensure a clear understanding.
  
  Cost: $39.95 Provider fee + $10.00 State Fee = $49.95 Total

Support: 1-866-688-2628, info@boaterexam.com

iLearnToBoat
- iLearnToBoat offers a one-of-a-kind, fully interactive boater safety course built around real-life scenarios. This immersive experience lets you guide your avatar through various boating challenges, make decisions, and complete in-game tasks to progress to the next level—all designed to prepare you for safe and confident boating.
  
  Cost: $59.95 Provider fee + $10.00 State Fee = $69.95 Total
  Support: 1-800-830-2268 ILearntoboat help

Internet Course Offering in Spanish:

Boat-Ed Texas Spanish
- Boat-Ed Texas ofrece una experiencia de aprendizaje dinámica con cientos de videos de navegación de la vida real y animaciones interactivas. El curso se divide en segmentos cortos y fáciles de digerir, con frecuentes "controles de aprendizaje" para reforzar su comprensión.

Costo: $44.95 Provider fee + $10.00 State Fee = $54.95 Total

Support: 1-800-830-2268 Boat-Ed Help Center

All Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) online boating safety education courses undergo a thorough certification process. Each course must first be certified by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), a national organization comprising State Boating Law Administrators. NASBLA establishes the standards that all state boater education programs must follow.

After meeting NASBLA's strict standards, the course provider must submit an application to TPWD and successfully pass a detailed review process to receive final approval. This ensures that every TPWD-certified course delivers accurate, reliable, and comprehensive boating safety education.