Airboat Operator Course 

Regulatory Requirement: Effective July 1, 2019, any airboat operator who operates a vessel for hire in the state of Florida is required to carry a certificate of completion from a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)–approved operator’s course. According to the FWC, a “vessel for hire” includes any instance where money is exchanged for a ride on an airboat, regardless of the intention.

Course Overview: This course was designed to align with FWC certification standards to provide a comprehensive and interactive training experience specifically for experienced airboat operators. It is intended for individuals who already have a working knowledge of airboat handling and are seeking to meet state certification requirements for commercial operation.

Note: Inexperienced operators should consider enrolling in our Airboat Introduction Course to build foundational skills before pursuing this certification.

Instruction: Led by an experienced instructor with over 20 years of operational knowledge, including time as a private and commercial airboat operator, the course is grounded in real-world application and safety-focused instruction. 

Course Format: The course is designed to be completed over three full days, totaling 24 hours of instruction:

• Day 1: Classroom Instruction
  • Five structured lessons
  • Final written exam
• Day 2: On-the-Water Practical Exercises
• Day 3: On-the-Water Practical Exercises

Time Commitment:

• 10 hours – Classroom instruction
• 14 hours – Practical, on-the-water training

Certification: Certificates of completion will be awarded at the end of Day 3 to students who:

• Achieve a passing score of 80% or higher on the final exam
• Successfully complete all required on-the-water exercises

Documentation Requirements: To enroll in the course, participants must provide the following:

• A valid Captain’s License or Boater Safety Card
• Proof of current CPR training
• A valid Florida Driver’s License