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!

Note: Practical training is not provided in all locations. ABC South & South West NSW provides practical training at Wollongong, Nowra & Batemans Bay.

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.

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 water craft 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 RMS logbook.

Note: Practical training is not provided in all locations. ABC South & South West NSW provides practical training at Wollongong, Nowra & Batemans Bay.

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 RMS 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!

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 good follow up to the Full-Day General Boat Licence Course.

Don’t wait, get you 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 RMS and receive a combined Boat & PWC Licence.

The RMS 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 RMS.

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 hone your skills or learn any advanced boating techniques, please feel free to look at our personalised custom boating lessonsand 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.

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 at 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 or practice any boating manoeuvres, 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 RMS/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 the RMS 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 RMS.