Utah launches free boating safety course ahead of National Safe Boating Week

Boating is a popular summer activity in Utah. Photo: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.

UTAH — As Utah boaters prepare to return to the water with warmer weather on the way, the state is marking National Safe Boating Week from May 16–22 with the launch of a new free boating safety course available through the BoatUS Foundation.

The online course is now the only free state-approved boating education course available to Utah residents. It has been approved by the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation and meets Utah’s boating education requirements.

Under Utah law, boaters ages 12 to 17 must complete an approved boating safety course before operating personal watercraft. All boaters are also required to complete a free mussel-aware boater course designed to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

“Ensuring Utah boaters enjoy our waterways safely is very important to us. As stewards of outdoor recreation, we want our boaters well educated about waterway rules and aware of how to stay safe while they enjoy all that Utah has to offer,” said Ty Hunter.

The self-paced course typically takes between four and eight hours to complete and includes interactive learning modules where students virtually travel to different boating locations while tracking distance and navigation. The course also features interactive videos designed to enhance learning.

After completing the course, participants can immediately print their Utah boating safety certificate. Users also have the option to purchase a waterproof plastic Utah boating card for $15.

Visit the Utah Outdoor Recreation website for more information about Utah boating safety education. Take the course here.