Provider comparison
Boat-Ed vs BoatUS Foundation
A per-state paid course and a free nonprofit course, compared on cost and coverage.
The BoatUS Foundation course is free to take and is approved for the state requirement in 36 states and Washington, D.C.; Boat-Ed charges by state — $54.95 in most — and sells an official course in nearly every state. If BoatUS is approved where you boat, it is the better value; outside those states, Boat-Ed is the straightforward choice.
Boat-Ed vs BoatUS Foundation: side by side
| Boat-Ed | BoatUS Foundation | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Boat-EdFrom $29.50About $29.50 to $64.95 depending on the state and course; some states add a separate card fee | BoatUS FoundationFrom $0Free to take. Some states charge a card fee — $11 in Texas, $17 in Pennsylvania. |
| Format | Boat-EdOnline | BoatUS FoundationOnline |
| NASBLA approved | Boat-Ed Yes | BoatUS Foundation Yes |
| Pros | Boat-Ed
| BoatUS Foundation
|
| Cons | Boat-Ed
| BoatUS Foundation
|
| See Boat-Ed | See BoatUS Foundation |
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Which should you choose?
If your state is one of the 36 plus D.C. where BoatUS is approved, take the BoatUS course. It is NASBLA-approved, earns the same state credential, and costs nothing to take; the only money involved is a state card fee in a handful of states — $11 in Texas, $17 in Pennsylvania — or an optional $15 plastic card elsewhere. Boat-Ed’s $54.95 buys its course format, not a better credential. Outside those states, Boat-Ed is the route: it covers nearly every state, and in a few of them it is cheap — $29.50 in Michigan, $29.95 in Rhode Island. Either way, check your state’s page first; the approved list, not the price, decides it.
Read the full breakdowns: Boat-Ed and BoatUS Foundation.
Last updated:
Safety gear to have aboard
Whichever course you pick, these five are the items first-time boaters are most often missing — and four of them are federal requirements. Confirm what applies to your boat with the U.S. Coast Guard and your state boating agency.
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USCG-approved life jackets
One properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket is required for every person aboard.
Shop on AmazonEngine cut-off switch lanyard
On a boat under 26 feet, federal law requires the operator to use the engine cut-off link whenever the boat is on plane or above displacement speed — unless the main helm is inside an enclosed cabin. U.S. Coast Guard
Shop on AmazonThrowable flotation device
A Type IV cushion or ring buoy to toss to someone in the water — required on most boats 16 feet and longer.
Shop on AmazonMarine fire extinguisher
Required on boats with a permanently installed fuel tank or any space that can trap fumes. The label must read "Marine Type — USCG Approved", and since April 2022 a disposable extinguisher more than 12 years past its stamped date is expired. U.S. Coast Guard
Shop on AmazonWhistle or marine air horn
An audible signalling device so you can warn other vessels and signal in reduced visibility.
Shop on Amazon
Building a full kit? Read the complete new boater essentials checklist — ten items, what the law requires, and what is simply worth having.
Boat-Ed vs BoatUS Foundation — FAQ
- Is the BoatUS Foundation course really free?
- Yes, the course and exam cost nothing. A few states charge for the card itself, and BoatUS collects it for them — $11 in Texas, $10.50 in Washington, $17 in Pennsylvania, and $20 or $21 for Oregon’s card. Elsewhere a plastic card is optional at $15, and you can print your certificate for free.
- How much does Boat-Ed cost?
- Boat-Ed prices each state separately. It is $54.95 in most states and less in a few — $29.50 in Michigan and $29.95 in Rhode Island. You pay when you enroll, and some states add their own card fee on top.
- Is the BoatUS course accepted in my state?
- The BoatUS course is approved for the state requirement in 36 states and Washington, D.C., and its own course page lists them. Check your state’s page on our site as well: it names every course the state accepts, so you can see your options side by side.
- Are Boat-Ed and the BoatUS course both NASBLA-approved?
- Yes. BoatUS describes its course as state and NASBLA-approved, and Boat-Ed says its courses are built to NASBLA’s guidelines and approved by state agencies such as Florida’s FWC. NASBLA approval is what lets a state card be recognized in other states.
- How long do the courses take?
- Boat-Ed says most students finish in 3 to 4 hours, with 80% needed on the final exam and unlimited attempts. The BoatUS course runs 3 to 5 hours across five lessons and ends with a 60-question final exam. Both are self-paced and save your progress.
- Who runs Boat-Ed and the BoatUS Foundation?
- Boat-Ed is produced by Kalkomey Enterprises, a company that is an official state-delegated education provider. The BoatUS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded mainly by grants and donations. They are separate organizations.
Sources (6)
Every factual claim on this page traces to one of these. The date is when we last checked it against the source.
- Boat-Ed state course pages — checked 2026-09-23
- BoatUS Foundation Free Boating Safety Course — checked 2026-09-23
- BoatUS Foundation state course pages — checked 2026-09-23
- BoatUS Foundation, About — checked 2026-09-23
- U.S. Coast Guard — checked 2026-09-22
- U.S. Coast Guard — checked 2026-09-22
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