Preparing to Get Your Lifetime
Washington State Boater Education Card
Washington State requires that the operator of any boat with fifteen horsepower (15hp) or more power operating on Washington State waters (fresh or salt) must obtain and carry aboard a Washington State Boater Education Card. The implementation of this requirement is age-related. As of January 1st2011, any such boat operator born after December 31st, 1976, must have and caray aboard the State card. As of January 1st, 2012, that requirement applies to anyone born after December 31st, 1971. The age requirement keeps jumping each year until January 1st, 2015, when any such boat operator born after December 31st, 1954, must have and caray aboard such card.
To earn your Washington State Boater Education Card, you must pass a boating safety course exam approved by Washington State Parks & Recreation Dept. and by NASBLA (National Association of State Boating Law Administrators). The NASBLA approval also conveys approval by the United States Coast Guard. America‘s Boating Course -3rd Edition was developed by the United States Power Squadrons to meet the boating education requirements for all 50 States and U.S. Territories. It is fully approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, by NASBLA, and, more specifically, by Washington State and is offered throughout the country. In the Inland Pacific Northwest, America’s Boating Course (ABC) is offered as an 8-hour classroom course exclusively by Spokane Sail & Power Squadron, the local unit of United States Power Squadrons. This 8-hour course is presented in four 2-hour evening sessions. The required final closed-book examination is administered as part of the fourth session. If a boater wishes to self-study the course material and challenge the final exam, this may be done at almost any time by special arrangement.
Course materials for America‘s Boating Course - 3rd Edition includes a 244-page course manual, a companion CD with animated courseware, and a MAPTECH chart navigator training CD. In addition, anyone who purchases the ABC materials from Spokane Sail & Power Squadron also receives, at no extra charge, the Washington State Adventures in Boating handbook, the U.S. Coast Guard Federal Requirements & Safety Tips for Recreational Boaters handbook, plus numerous special-topic brochures and flyers relating to specific aspects of boating safety. The ABC course manual actually covers much more vital boating information and instruction than is required for the Washington State exam. This extra information will help make you a better and safer boater and help you Expand Your Boating Horizons. Information for the required final examination for your Washington State Boater Education Card is covered in the following sections of the ABC course manual (see attached table of contents):
| Section | Topic | Section | Topic |
| Getting Started | State & Local Regulations* | ||
| Required Safety Equipment | Anchoring | ||
| Going Boating | Adverse Conditions & Emergencies | ||
| Navigation Rules | Water Sports Safety | ||
| Navigation Aids | Trailering | ||
| Lights & Sound Signals | PWC Operation | ||
| Government Regulations | See also the WA State booklet |
The total cost for America‘s Boating Course, as offered by Spokane Sail & Power Squadron, is just $48.00 (mcl. sales tax). Once you have purchased the ABC course from Spokane Sail & Power Squadron, it is yours forever. That means that you are welcome to come back and participate in any or all future sessions of ABC at no extra charge whenever and however often you wish. It also means you may retake the final examination, if necessary, whenever and however often you wish, again at no extra charge. This also applies to people who purchase ABC from Spokane Sail & Power Squadron and wish to challenge the exam without sitting through the class. (Most other course providers charge extra for every re-exam.) The total cost for a youth age 17 and under, when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian also taking the course, is just $40.00 (incl. sales tax). If two people in a household wish to share one set of ABC course materials, the cost is just $73.00 for the two of them.
Upon satisfactory completion of the ABC final exam, including the WA State-specific portion. Spokane Sail & Power Squadron will issue you a signed America‘s Boating Course Certificate of Completion and provide you with a copy of the application for the Washington State Boater Education Card. You then need to fill out the State application form and mail it, with a check for $10.00 and a photocopy of your ABC Certificate of Completion, to the address on the State form. Your Washington State Boater Education Card will be mailed to you. Please note that this WA State card is good for life and is recognized by most other states that have boater safety education requirements.
For more information about America's Boating Course or Spokane Sail & Power Squadron and its many advanced courses. Now it’s time to go boating and Expand Your Boating Horizons!