Boating Safety on Lake Oconee: Obtain Your Official Card

In the past, we shared some helpful tips for boating safely on Lake Oconee – advice that still holds true today. But in Georgia, it’s a fact that “All operators born after January 1, 1998, must have passed a boater education course approved by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and have a proof of completion on board to operate any vessel.” So, whether you plan to purchase a boat in the future, already own a boat, or wish to rent a boat on Lake Oconee (or any other Georgia waterway,) you must have an official Boating Education Card.

Don’t worry – it’s easy to obtain your certificate through the BoatUS Foundation. The organization offers the only free online boating safety course approved by the Georgia DNR. What’s more, you can print your official Boating Education Card upon course completion. Here’s how it works:

Register for the course

First, you must register for the free online boating safety course for Georgia. Go to BoatUS Foundation’s Courses page and choose Georgia from the drop-down list of states. Next, click on ADD TO CART, and you’ll see the course is free of charge. You can also donate to the BoatUS Foundation if you wish. When you’ve finished with your choices, click on CHECKOUT NOW. If not already, you’ll have to register your new account with BoatUS Foundation to process your order to completion.

Take the course

To find your Georgia Boating Safety Course, click on MY COURSES at the top of the BoatUS Foundation page. Next, click the ADDITIONAL FORM button to fill out the state-required information. Then, click on the LAUNCH COURSE button to proceed. You may complete the course at your own pace, and your progress is saved even if you close the window. 

Pass the tests

The estimated time to complete the course is four to eight hours. There are six lessons, each with a 10-question quiz at the end. You must pass the quizzes for all six lessons in the course. If you fail a quiz, you must review each page of content in that lesson before retaking the quiz. There is no limit on the number of times you retake the quiz. You’ll take a final exam at the end of the full course. It consists of 60 questions pulled randomly from the lesson content. 

Print your official Boating Education Card

Once you have completed all course lessons and passed your final exam, you’ll be awarded a certificate of completion. That certificate is your Boating Education Card. It shows your name, certificate number, and other important information. You may print the card from the MY COURSES page by clicking the DOWNLOAD CERTIFICATE button next to your course. You also have the option to order a Georgia Department of Natural Resources-approved, waterproof plastic card for $13. Your boating safety certificate never expires and is valid for life.

If you have any problems and can’t find answers to your questions, it’s best to log in to your account and submit a ticket through the Help Center. 

We wish you many safe, fun, and memorable boating excursions on Lake Oconee with your family and friends and look forward to seeing you out on the water and at The Boathouse Marina soon.