How much does a PA boating license cost? The total is a course fee set by the provider you choose plus a certificate fee from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and it is a one time cost because the certificate never expires. Fees change, so check the Fish and Boat Commission's course page for the current numbers before you sign up.
A PA boating license is officially called a Boating Safety Education Certificate. If you were born on or after January 1, 1982, you need one to drive any pontoon in our fleet. This guide covers what drives the cost, how to get certified, how long it takes, and how to plan it around a pontoon boat rental in Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania does not sell a traditional boating license. Instead, you pass an approved boating safety course and the state issues your certificate. What you pay depends on a few choices.
Because the certificate is good for life, you only pay once. The current course options and fees are listed on the Commission's page linked above.
The Fish and Boat Commission requires a Boating Safety Education Certificate for two groups:
Every pontoon in our fleet has a motor well over 25 horsepower, from the 50 horsepower Bennington S to the 170 horsepower Sea-Doo Switch. So if you were born on or after that date and want to drive, you need the certificate in hand. If you were born before 1982, the certificate is not required, though the course is still worth taking.
The process is the same no matter which approved course you pick.
The Commission lists its approved online providers on its course page. You can also take an in person class through the Fish and Boat Commission, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary or the US Power Squadron. Pick whichever fits how you like to learn.
Online courses are self paced. You can work through the lessons on a computer, tablet or phone, stop when you need to, and pick up where you left off. Most people finish in a single afternoon or spread it over a few evenings.
Each course ends with an exam on what you studied. Review the chapter quizzes first and give extra attention to navigation rules and required safety equipment.
After you pass, you can print a temporary certificate right away. It is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued, which covers you while the permanent card is processed.
The Commission says processing and delivery of the permanent card may take 30 to 40 days. Once it arrives, it never expires.
There is no minimum age to take a boating course in Pennsylvania, and most courses are designed for students 12 and older. That makes the course a great summer project for teens who want to help at the helm someday.
Operating is a different story. The Fish and Boat Commission says no one 11 or younger may operate a boat with a motor over 25 horsepower, and that rule covers every pontoon we rent.
Kids ride along with no certificate needed. They do need the right life jacket: children 12 and younger must wear one while underway on boats 20 feet or shorter, according to the Commission's boating regulations recap. Our family friendly guide to the rivers has ideas for the youngest crew.
Yes, if you plan to drive and you were born on or after January 1, 1982. The rule follows the operator, not the boat's owner, so it applies on a rental the same way it does anywhere else in Pennsylvania. The person driving must carry the certificate while operating the boat.
Here is how that works on a rental with us:
Our kayak is different. The 10 ft Pelican Quest has no motor, so the certificate rule for motorboats does not apply to paddling it. For the full list of what to bring, read what you need to rent a boat in PA.
The most common mistake is waiting until the week of the trip. Give yourself time.
Rentals run from 9 AM to 9 PM in 4 hour and 8 hour blocks from Vic's Boat Park in McKees Rocks.
The course is more than a box to check. It teaches the things that matter most on a busy river.
On Pittsburgh's rivers you will share the water with other pleasure boats, kayaks and commercial traffic, so the navigation chapter is worth extra attention. Our guide to the 3 R rule in boating is a good refresher.
Visiting Pittsburgh from another state? The Fish and Boat Commission recognizes boating certificates from other states and provinces that are approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. Bring your home state card on rental day.
Lost your Pennsylvania card? You can apply for a duplicate through HuntFish.PA.gov or with the Commission's duplicate certificate form. Do it well before your trip so you have proof of certification at the dock.
Once you are certified, the three rivers are yours to explore. Our dock sits on the Ohio River in McKees Rocks, minutes from downtown and a short cruise to the Point, where the Allegheny and Monongahela meet.
Choose from five pontoons that seat 7 to 10 guests, each with a bimini top for shade and life jackets for everyone aboard. Dogs are welcome too.
New behind the wheel? Read what the easiest boat to drive is for beginners before you pick your pontoon.
It depends on the provider. Each approved course sets its own fee, and the Fish and Boat Commission adds a fee for the permanent certificate. Some providers also charge a small processing fee. Fees change, so check the Commission's course page for current options before you enroll.
You need a Boating Safety Education Certificate if you were born on or after January 1, 1982 and operate a boat with a motor over 25 horsepower, or if you operate a personal watercraft at any age. Every pontoon we rent is over 25 horsepower, so the rule applies to our drivers.
In Pennsylvania, yes, in everyday terms. The state does not issue a traditional boating license. What people call a PA boating license is the Boating Safety Education Certificate, a card you earn by passing an approved course. It does not expire, and you must carry it while operating.
Pennsylvania's certificate comes from a course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, which many states recognize. Each state sets its own rules, so check with that state's boating agency before you go. Pennsylvania likewise accepts approved certificates from other states.
You can drive one of our pontoons without a certificate only if you were born before January 1, 1982. Otherwise, someone in your group who qualifies must drive, or you can ask about a captain when you book. Our kayak has no motor, so the certificate is not needed to paddle it.
Got your certificate? Compare our pontoon fleet and book your time on Pittsburgh's three rivers.
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