Online Courses

The courses listed below are certified providers for the State of Texas.*

Online boater education courses teach you necessary safety equipment, navigation rules, how to operate your boat and state laws for boating. We encourage everyone who plans to operate a motorboat, sailboat, paddle craft or personal watercraft to take a course. Anyone born on or after September 1, 1993 who wishes to operate certain vessels on the public waterways of Texas must take a boater education course and keep a copy of their certification with them while operating a vessel. See Water Safety Act for details

Choose a Course:

BOATERexam.com
- If you like to hear while reading BOATERexam is the course for you. This course narrates the study guide and features over 300 animated illustrations. Visual aids in every exam question. Fun animated videos!
Boat-ed
- Long track record of smooth, trouble-free online education. Interactive exercises and live action videos of boat and PWC operators in action.
BoatUS
- BoatUs Foundation's online boating safety course is free. You only pay the state certification fee. Course includes animations showing how important navigation rules are. Videos show safety equipment such as visual distress signals, fire extinguishers, and life jackets.
iLearnToBoat
- Interactive approach to online boating education. You learn boating safety as you navigate and solve the Mystery of Kalkomey Isle. You will encounter real-life situations and decide if the activity is safe. Videos demonstrate additional boating safety information.
BoatSmart
- Narrated course, great illustrations and includes animated lessons to keep it fun and help you retain knowledge.

TPWD Online courses go through a rigorous certification process. All approved courses must first be certified by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). NASBLA is a national organization made up of all State Boating Law Administrators. This body of professionals sets standards that all State Boater Education programs must adhere too. After an internet course provider meets the NASBLA Standards they must submit an application to TPWD and pass a review process.