Colorado Boater Education Study Guide 2026

Colorado's age rule for motorboats

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) manages boating in Colorado. A rule that took effect on June 1, 2024, changed who may drive a motorboat.

• A person under 18 may not operate a motorboat. This includes a personal watercraft (PWC, also called a jet ski).
• A person aged 14 to 17 may operate a motorboat if they have completed a CPW-approved boating safety course and carry the boating safety certificate from the course provider.
• Under 14, there is no course option. A 12- or 13-year-old may not drive a motorboat or PWC.

Taking a boating safety course

CPW accepts several kinds of courses. You may take one in person, virtually or fully online through an approved provider.

• In-person classes: open to anyone 14 or older. Students aged 14 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
• Online classes: open to anyone 14 or older, from providers approved by the state and by NASBLA.
• U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and America's Boating Club courses, which cover navigation, rules of the road, equipment and boating law.

CPW says Colorado's certification is recognized in other states. Several nearby states have stricter rules, so a certificate is useful if you boat across the state line.

Courses teach the national Navigation Rules, lights, sound signals, buoys and markers, required equipment, emergencies and Colorado law. Adults are not required to take one, but CPW strongly encourages it.

Life jackets

Every boat must carry one Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person on board. In Colorado, children 12 and younger must wear a life jacket whenever their vessel is on the water. The only exception is when the child is in an enclosed cabin or below deck.

CPW reminds boaters that inflatable life jackets are approved only for people 16 and older. They are not approved for PWC riding, whitewater paddling or towed sports such as skiing and tubing.

Registering your boat

Colorado residents must register any motorized or sail-powered boat used on public waters. Registrations are renewed every year and are valid from January 1 to December 31.

• Paint or attach the registration number to each side of the bow on the forward half, at least 3 inches high, in a color that contrasts with the hull.
• Place the yearly decals to the left of the number on both sides.
• Do not show another state's number on the bow.
• After buying a boat, carry the bill of sale on board. It is your temporary registration for 30 days until the decals and card arrive.
• Canoes, kayaks and other craft that do not need registration must still be legibly marked.

Visitors may operate for up to 60 days with a current registration from their home state.

ANS stamps, inspections and Clean, Drain and Dry

Zebra and quagga mussels and other aquatic nuisance species (ANS) can ruin lakes, pipes and boat engines. Colorado has strict rules to keep them out.

1. Get an ANS stamp before launching any motorboat or sailboat.
2. Before launching, have every trailered and/or motorized watercraft inspected by state-certified staff. Pull the bilge plug and keep it ready to put back.
3. After a good inspection, you get a green seal and a receipt. An intact seal with its matching receipt can be shown at your next launch.
4. Every time you enter or leave the water, Clean, Drain and Dry your boat, trailer and gear.

CPW asks paddlers to clean, drain and dry paddleboards, kayaks and inflatables too. Some non-trailered boats may still need an inspection.

On the water and preparing for the test

Boating under the influence is illegal in Colorado. CPW says it is the same offense as driving under the influence, except for the penalties, and a first conviction brings a mandatory three-month ban from boating on state waters. Alcohol and drugs slow your reactions, and sun, wind and waves make the effects stronger. Choose a sober operator.

CPW boat patrol officers carry out safety inspections on all Colorado waters. They may check your registration, decals, ANS stamp, life jackets and other required equipment, and a young operator's course certificate. Courtesy inspections are often done at boat ramps, and you may ask for one at any time.

Before every trip

• Check that you have a life jacket for everyone, and that children 12 and younger are wearing theirs.
• Carry your registration papers, ANS stamp proof and, for operators aged 14 to 17, the course certificate.
• Check the weather. Afternoon storms and strong winds are common on high lakes.
• Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.

Study tips

Learn the key numbers for Colorado: June 1, 2024, ages 14 and 18, 12 and younger for life jackets, 30 days for a bill of sale, 60 days for visitors, and January 1 to December 31 for registration. Then practice until you can answer the national Navigation Rules questions with confidence.