NSW Boat & PWC Licence Course Information

A Boat Licence is needed for any person who wants to drive a boat in a recreational capacity faster than 10 knots, or 18.5km/h.

This speed isn’t very fast, and even a tinny can break this barrier easily. The full Licence will let you drive any boat of any length, so long as it’s not in a commercial capacity – you can’t run a business, or drive the Manly Ferry.

If you’re hoping to drive a PWC or Jet-Ski, you can get that in a single day Boat & Jet Ski/PWC Licence Coursewith ABC ,  or if you already have your Boat Licence, you can get a PWC Licence Upgrade.

As part of the course we’ll take you out on the water, aboard one of our ABC vessels, and guide you through the different boating techniques that you need to know.

We cover Low Speed Manoeuvres (you’ll drive forward and backward), Man Over-Board drills (with Bob the trained and certified safety buoy), High Speed Manoeuvres and more.

It’s a fun experience that takes a couple hours, and as we’re a RTP, or Recognised Training Provider, this removes the need for a practical logbook from the RMS.

The boating practical is typically the favourite section of the day, it’s a ton of fun!

Start times will be confirmed via Email and SMS before the course.

Courses typically run from 8am until 5pm, subject to seasonal changes.

There is a minimum amount of knowledge required about the laws and rules that cover use of NSW waterways, and many students ask us on the phone “Where do I even start to learn?”

We might be a bit biased, but the perfect place to start is our pre-study guide that we’ve assembled through years of testing. Added to that is the free self-study quizzes on our site, so you can do a fair bit of licence studying at home.

It only takes about 45 minutes at home to read the ABC pre-study guide before your course and it primes you on all the terms you’ll need out on the water.

We’ll also use our guide as a reference in the classroom, where we teach you the rules and get them to stick through years of instructing students.

Once you’ve been primed with all the info you could need, we sit the multiple choice exam on paper in our closed-book classroom environment.

Our success rate is an incredibly high 99.5%, with two attempts included at the test on the day. If you don’t pass during the course, you can come back on any other course date and have another go – at no additional cost!

Now you’ve completed your full-day course with ABC, just take your completed application form to any RMS or Services NSW branch, no appointments needed.

Simply enter the branch, select “Maritime” on the touchscreen for a numbered ticket, give them your form when called, pay the licence fee, and get your licence on the spot!

You’re now qualified and equipped to take your vessel out on the water, congratulations!

If you want to hone your skills or learn any advanced boating techniques, please feel free to look at our personalised custom boating lessons and get expert hands-on training today.

The Junior Boat Licence is now included as part of the standard Boat Licence, and the requirements for it are the same as an adult licence.

Juniors are eligible to lodge their course paperwork when they are aged between 12 and 16 years of age; however they can complete their ABC course and lodge on/after their twelfth birthday.

The RMS website states that a Boat Licence holder between 12 and 16 must not:

• Drive at a speed greater than 20 knots
• Drive in any race, display, regatta, exhibition or similar operation
• Drive any vessel, other than a PWC, at a speed of 10 knots or more:
  • Without the holder of a general boat driving licence who is 16 years of age or older being present in the vessel, or
  • Between sunset and sunrise, or
  • While the vessel is towing anyone.

If you’d like to read more about the restrictions please refer to the RMS.

The Boating Safety Course was a requirement for getting a boat licence, however as of 1 July 2016 this is no longer necessary.

You’ll get everything you need to qualify for your licence with our standard NSW Boat Licence Course.

All the steps to upgrading your Licence are included in our course:

• Know all relevant PWC Rules
• Pass the Multiple-Choice PWC Knowledge Test
• Lodge your paperwork at the RMS

You’ll need a Jet Ski/PWC Licence to ride any vessel that you sit or stand on, while a boat licence is required for vessels you sit inside of (such as a boat).

This Licence covers PWC vessels that seat one to four riders, in a recreational capacity, at any speeds that the vessel can attain.

If you don’t need this type of Licence, you can check out our standard General Boating Licence Course.

Once you’ve booked into our course we’ll email you the ABC pre-study guide, and it only takes 20 minutes to read over the PWC knowledge section. We also have PWC study quizzes available on this site.

This gives you a head start on the PWC Rules, which we’ll reinforce once you meet us in the classroom.

We’ll make sure to point out all the important rules that can help you avoid a costly fine while jetting around NSW waterways.

As you’ve already done study before your course and minutes before sitting the exam, it’s very easy to pass on the day of your course.

If you don’t pass during the first two attempts at the test, you can come back on any other course date and have another go – at no additional cost!

No, there is no need to get out on the water on a Jet Ski as part of our course, as the RMS only requires theoretical knowledge.

If you want to get out on the water with ABC on our NEW SEADOO GTX 170 please feel free to look at our personalised custom boating lessons to get expert hands-on training today.

When you’ve finished your Jet Ski/PWC Licence Upgrade Course you can take the completed form to any Services NSW branch.

Just select “Maritime” on the touchscreen for a numbered ticket, give them your form when called, pay the licence fee, and get your newly upgraded Licence on the spot!

So long as the junior is aged between 12-16, they can lodge their application form at service NSW and receive an upgraded Boat & PWC Licence.

The RMS website states that a Boat & PWC Licence holder between 12 and 16 must not

• Drive a PWC between sunset and sunrise (this rule applies to all PWC driving licence holders)
• Drive a PWC at a speed of 10 knots or more:
  • Without the holder of a PWC driving licence who is 16 years of age or older being present on the PWC, or
  • While the vessel is towing anyone.

If you’d like to read more about the restrictions please refer to the Maritime NSW website.

Our Course includes:

• Demonstrate Practical Boating Experience
• Learn all relevant Boating Rules
• Know all relevant PWC Rules
• Complete Two Multiple-Choice Knowledge Tests
• Lodge your paperwork at the RMS
• Get your combined Licence

This type of licence is needed for anyone who wants to drive any kind of boat or ride any kind of powered watercraft in a recreational capacity.

It covers all the requirements that the General Boat Licence Course does, and also adds in the extras for PWC usage.

If you already have your NSW Boat Licence and just want to add on the PWC Licence, you can do a short PWC Upgrade Course.

It’s easy! We cover all the practical experience that you need as part of our standard Boat & Jet Ski/PWC Course.

Just come aboard one of our ABC vessels and let us take you through all the manoeuvres that the RMS need you to demonstrate.

To learn more about what it’s like on the day, check out our Practical Boating Experience page.

Practical takes about two hours out on NSW’s waterways and replaces the need for the Maritime NSW logbook.

You’ll start by reading the ABC pre-study guide at home, which takes about an hour.

Then we’ll teach you the NSW Boating Rules you need to know to pass your exam as part of our hands-on training in the classroom.

We’ll use our guide and the Maritime Boating Handbook as references in the classroom to make sure you know your stuff.

It’s very similar to the Boating Rules, in that you’ll start at home with the pre-study guide and get a good overview of the content.

Then you’ll join the other students doing the PWC course in extra theory training that will cover all the rules – knowing and obeying the rules will help you avoid a fine!

We get this question all the time, but as our 99.5% pass rate attests, we’re confident that you’ll pass both the exams with us on the day.

You’ll get two attempts included at each test on the day of your course, and if you don’t pass them, you can come back on any other course date for another go – at no additional cost!

Now you’ve completed your full-day course with ABC, just take your completed application form to any Services NSW branch, no appointments are needed.

Simply enter the branch, select “Maritime” on the touchscreen for a numbered ticket, give them your form when called, pay the licence fee, and get your licence on the spot!

Immediately! Just make sure you have your temporary licence with you on every trip, and replace it when your plastic card arrives in the mail.

There are heavy fines if you’re caught without your PWC Licence if you’re riding a Jet Ski, so don’t forget to take it with you!

A Marine Radio Licence is necessary if your boat is fitted with a radio, and it’s a good follow-up to the Full-Day General Boat Licence Course.

Don’t wait, get your Marine Radio Licence through Australian Boating College NSW!

So long as the junior is aged between 12-16, they can lodge their application form at the Services NSW and receive a combined Boat & PWC Licence.

The Maritime website states that a Boat & PWC Licence holder between 12 and 16 must not:

• Drive at a speed greater than 20 knots
• Drive in any race, display, regatta, exhibition or similar operation
• Drive any vessel, other than a PWC, at a speed of 10 knots or more:
  • Without the holder of a general boat driving licence who is 16 years of age or older being present in the vessel, or
  • Between sunset and sunrise, or
  • While the vessel is towing anyone.
• Drive a PWC between sunset and sunrise (this rule applies to all PWC driving licence holders)
• Drive a PWC at a speed of 10 knots or more:
  • Without the holder of a PWC driving licence who is 16 years of age or older being present on the PWC, or
  • While the vessel is towing anyone.

If you’d like to read more about the restrictions please refer to the Maritime NSW.

No, there is no need to get out on the water on a Jet Ski as part of our course, as Maritime NSW only requires theoretical knowledge.

If you want to hone your skills or learn any advanced PWC techniques, please feel free to look at our personalised custom boating lessons and get expert hands-on training today.

Start times will be confirmed via Email and SMS before the course.

Courses typically run from 8am until 5pm, subject to seasonal changes.

The two main components of competency for a Boat Licence are Theory Knowledge (which you can do by itself as a Boating Theory and Test Course), and providing evidence of practical boating experience.

It is required in most situations, except for the exemptions listed on the Maritime NSW practical boating experience page:

• Applying for the re-issue of a NSW general or PWC driving licence that has been expired for less than five years
• Upgrading from a general boat driving to a PWC driving licence
• Transferring an interstate licence to a NSW equivalent
• The holder of commercial qualifications.

Maritime NSW wants evidence of past boating experience as proof that you’re qualified to be out on NSW waterways.

There are two main scenarios that people approach us for just the Practical Boating Experience:

I’ve done the theory and don’t have access to a boat for my logbook

You might have done the study and test in your own time or with a competitor but aren’t able to access a vessel for the logbook.

We make it easy and can take you aboard one of our ABC vessels during our standard courses to get your practical boating evidence from our Instructors.

It can be a time-consuming hassle to do three separate trips with a qualified NSW Boat Licence holder.

With ABC we will get you through in a single session !

Once you’ve booked and paid, we’ll send you an email confirmation and an SMS/text message the day before the course with a start time and location.

You’ll meet one of our ABC Instructors who will take you out aboard one of our ABC vessels, where we’ll cover the following (and more):

Before Launch: Trip preparation and planning

Our instructors will give you a brief introduction to the vessel, including best practices for servicing and maintenance.

They’ll also talk about ensuring safety equipment is on board, and that the vessel is prepared for launch.

We’ll also cover trip planning to consider weather, passenger count, and emergency situations.

Low-Speed navigation and collision avoidance

Once we’re underway, we’ll let you start the motor and throttle up gently with some low-speed manoeuvres.

Man Over-Board Drill

In the rare situation where a passenger was to fall into the water, it’s always good to know how to safely get them out again.

For this, we’ve enlisted Bob, our trained and certified safety buoy, who is thrown into the water and it’s up to you to get him back safely. We’ll cover lines of sight, safe rescue speeds, communication with other rescuers, and finally the safe return of Bob.

High-Speed navigation and vessel control

The fastest way to get somewhere is to drive at full speed, but boats handle differently when they’re up on plane. We’ll teach you how to control the vessel while going over 20 knots, as well as crossing other vessel wash and tight 180-degree turns.

The quickest way is to browse our standard Boat Licence Course Booking System and look for a course date that suits you. Once you’ve found one, just get in touch with us via the enquiry form or call, and we’ll book you in.

When you’re done with the course, we’ll give you a form that proves you’ve done all the Practical Boating Experience required for your NSW Boat Licence.

You can use this in combination with proof of theory completion to get your Licence from the Maritime NSW.