Virginia Boating Law Basics 

On Jan 1, 2009 the Virginia regulation required all online courses to switch from the testing format to actually being an online course that contains similar content to a classroom course.  With the new online format a student will have to take a 10 question after each module or chapter and if they don't pass with a 90% they will have to take the module or chapter again.  The format also has timers on each page and chapter that only let the student progress as fast as the program allows.  What this has done is eliminate someone taking an online test without reviewing any course content.  We also hope that the 5-6 hour requirement will help keep someone from taking the course for another person since it take so long.  Certificates obtained before the Jan 1, 2009 are still valid, but subsequent testing on line has to be as described herein available at the website below.

Also, there will be an Optional VA Boater Card available this summer that will allow anyone who has completed a course to turn in their documentation and an application along with $10 to get a new card.  This will be a lifetime card that is about the thickness of a credit card.

One other question that comes up a lot is:  If I am from another state and operating a VA registered boat (family member's boat) do I need a VA course.  NO, they need to comply with the Boating Education requirements in their state of residence and for which their vessel is registered.  But, I would recommend they have documentation showing they are from another state otherwise the Conservation  Police Officer will assume they are a VA resident and look for documents to that fact.

Finally, the age restriction law for PWC operators is still in effect.  The New Boating Education Compliance Regulation does not supersede the age restriction law for those operators under 16 years of age...people seem to confuse the two.  It adds additional age groups that must comply with the training requirement

The link to take the safety course and test for the certificate for Virginia is - http://www.boat-ed.com/Virginia/index.html

The complete Virginia Regulation (click here)