The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary & Georgia DNR Boating Safety Course

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and Georgia DNR team up to deliver an engaging, in-depth boating safety course for new and experienced boaters. You will gain the knowledge needed to earn a Georgia DNR Boater Education certification, which is widely accepted for operating motorboats and personal watercraft in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and many other states.

What you will learn

• General boat knowledge and basic maintenance
• How to plan a safe outing, including capacity, float plans, fueling, and trailering
• Operating safely on the water: navigation rules, lights, sound signals, anchoring
• Legal requirements: numbering, equipment, life jackets, reporting accidents
• Preventing and responding to emergencies: fires, collisions, capsizing, swamping, falls overboard, weather, and emergency calls
• Courtesy and best practices for water sports, hunting, diving, and paddlesports
• Why wearing a properly fitted life jacket matters, including secure straps, buckles, and zippers

Applies to all vessels
Powerboats, personal watercraft, sailboats, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and other paddle craft.

Course outline (Boat America)

• Ch. 1 Know Your Boat
• Ch. 2 Before You Get Underway
• Ch. 3 Operating Your Boat Safely
• Ch. 4 Legal Requirements of Boating
• Ch. 5 Boating Emergencies: What to Do
• Ch. 6 Enjoying Water Sports in the Boat

Leave with practical skills, a clear understanding of the rules, and the confidence to operate your vessel safely.