MN Watercraft Operator’s Permit: Age Rules, Exemptions, and How to Get It

If you operate a motorboat or personal watercraft in Minnesota, you may now need a Minnesota watercraft operator’s permit, and the rule is phasing in by birth year. The Department of Natural Resources issues the permit after you complete an approved safety course and pay a one-time $34.95 fee.¹ The expanded law took effect July 1, 2025, and sweeps in older adults each year until 2028.

Who Needs a Permit by Birth Year

Minnesota’s permit requirement no longer applies only to youth. It now reaches adults on a staggered schedule tied to when you were born:

Born after June 30, 2004: permit required since July 1, 2025
Born after June 30, 2000: permit required starting July 1, 2026
Born after June 30, 1996: permit required starting July 1, 2027
Born after June 30, 1987: permit required starting July 1, 2028

If you were born before July 1, 1987, you do not need a permit for general motorboat operation. There are two exceptions that catch older boaters anyway: you need a valid permit to rent a motorboat or personal watercraft, and you need one to serve as the accompanying operator for someone who lacks a permit or is under 12.¹

Youth operators aged 12 through 17 have needed a permit for years, and that requirement is unchanged. Children under 12 cannot operate a personal watercraft at all, and cannot operate any motorboat rated above 75 horsepower. On a lower-powered motorboat, a child under 12 may operate only with an accompanying operator on board.¹

Who’s Exempt

Four categories of operators don’t need a Minnesota-issued permit:

Non-residents visiting Minnesota waters for 60 days or less who meet their home state’s boating requirements or hold a Canadian pleasure craft operator’s card
Anyone holding a valid U.S. Coast Guard operator’s license
Licensed boat dealers acting under their dealer’s license
Anyone operating during a genuine emergency

Every exempt operator must still be at least 12 years old.²

How to Get the Permit

The DNR issues the permit to anyone 12 or older who completes an approved water safety course and passes the written test. You can take the course at 11, but the permit does not become valid until your twelfth birthday.³

Two state-approved providers offer the course online: BOATERexam and Boat-ed. Both cover the required material and lead to the same permit. The one-time fee is $34.95 through BOATERexam, which includes unlimited retries on the final exam.¹ If you prefer paper, you can request a home-study packet from the DNR.⁴

Once you pass and pay, you can print a temporary certificate or save a digital copy to your phone. That temporary document counts as valid proof while you wait for the permanent card, which arrives by mail and can take several weeks depending on seasonal volume. A conservation officer who asks to see your permit is required to accept an electronic display on a phone or tablet, and the officer is not liable for any damage to your device during the check.³

Lost the card? You can request a replacement by emailing or calling the DNR, or through ilostmycard.com if you took the course online.¹

Supervision Rules for Young Operators

A permit does not give a minor the same freedom as an adult on the water. Young operators still need an accompanying operator on board in many situations, and that supervisor must meet all three of these conditions: be at least 21 years old, sit within immediate reach of the motor controls, and hold a valid operator’s permit or qualify as an exempt operator.¹

That third condition catches people off guard. The supervising adult cannot just be any adult in the boat; they need their own permit or a qualifying exemption. Under the phase-in, a 25-year-old parent planning to supervise a 14-year-old in 2026 will need to get a permit first, because anyone born after June 30, 2000, is covered by the July 2026 deadline.

Children under 12 face the tightest limits. They cannot operate a personal watercraft under any circumstances, and they cannot operate any motorboat rated above 75 horsepower. On a motorboat under 75 horsepower that is not a personal watercraft, a child under 12 may operate only with an accompanying operator physically present in the boat.⁵

The Rental Course Alternative

If you are 18 or older and only want to rent a motorboat or personal watercraft from a rental business, Minnesota offers a shorter rental course instead of the full permit. The rental certification lasts 180 days, which fits occasional renters who don’t own a boat. After completing it, you can print the rental certificate or keep a digital copy on your phone. The rental course does not cover resort rentals; renting from a resort requires meeting the standard permit requirements. Non-residents visiting for fewer than 60 days who meet their home state’s requirements do not need to complete the rental course either.⁴

Carrying Proof on the Water

If you are required to hold a permit, you must carry proof of it whenever you operate a motorboat. Acceptable proof includes the permit card, a Minnesota driver’s license with a watercraft operator’s permit indicator, or a state ID with the same indicator. Any of these may be shown on an electronic device. A conservation officer or peace officer can ask to see your proof at any time on the water.³

1
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. New Boater Education Law
2
Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes Chapter 86B – Water Safety and Watercraft
3
Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Code 86B.302 – Watercraft Operators Permit
4
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Boat and Water Safety Education
5
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Watercraft Operators Permit