NH Boating License

New Hampshire House Bill #1463 requires a boating license for anyone operating a motorized boat of any type with horsepower greater than 25 HP.  In the past there has been an age exemption but in 2008 that has gone away, the license applies to all operators.   The license is a one time license good for life.  Licenses are handled by the NH Division of Safety Services.  

To prepare for the test there is a boater education course offered by Boat New Hampshire.  

The test is recommended but optional to obtain a license.  You can obtain a license valid in NH only by passing the state exam using what is termed a “test-out option” but if you take the course and pass a course test to get a completion certificate, the license is valid outside of the state of NH.  The course is available in classrooms around the state, in an on-line version, or in a video version.