Boater Education Program

The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office, with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, will be hosting a Boater Education Class on July 18 and 22. (Participants will register for the 18th OR the 22nd, NOT both days.) Class will be held from 8am-4pm at the WFPSO Substation. Lunch will be provided.

Two dates are available. You only need to register for ONE DATE.

o 7/18/23 Boater’s Ed class link: https://louisianaoutdoors.com/events/192351

o 7/22/23 Boater's Ed class link: https://louisianaoutdoors.com/events/192354

This free boating course usually lasts between 6 and 8 hours. Participants usually complete the course in one day. The course includes information on choosing a boat, classification, hulls, motors, legal and equipment requirements, navigation rules, navigation charts, trailering, sailboats, and related subjects that include canoeing, personal watercraft and more. Participants who complete the course will receive a Boater Education Certificate.

We encourage every boater to take a boater education course. However, if you were born after January 1, 1984, you must successfully complete an LDWF-approved boater education course to operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower, unless you are accompanied by someone over age 18 who has a successfully completed an LDWF-approved boater education course, if required.

In addition, if you were born after January 1, 1984, you must successfully complete an approved boater education course to operate a personal watercraft. You must also be age 16 or older to operate a personal watercraft.

Individuals must carry their certification of course completion while on the motorboat or personal watercraft.

If you are a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain, you are not required to take this course to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft.

Youth younger than age 10 may take a boater education course but are not eligible to be certified. They must retake the course to be certified when they reach 10 years of age or older.