As reported in Cruising Compass

After decades of frustrating attempts to get boaters licensed, the State of Florida has finally taken steps to make boating safer.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), beginning Jan. 1, 2010, any boater born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 will be required to take an approved boating safety course and possess an FWC-issued boating safety identification card. Anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 and who purchases a boat will have 90 days from the purchase date to obtain a boating safety identification card.

This isn’t a license, but it’s the next best thing. Licensing would require on-water skills testing, and it might still come to that, but at least this is a step in the right direction.

The ID card is free if you take the online FWC Boating Safety Course. [BROKENLINK]

The course is also free, takes about half a day, and is open book.