Boating Course & Fees in Missouri

Missouri requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1984, to complete an approved boater safety course and carry a Missouri Boater Identification/Certification Card. The course curriculum meets standards set by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and is approved by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Upon successful completion, boaters receive the required identification card.

Course providers throughout Missouri set their own fees for instruction, which vary by vendor. In addition to any course provider fee, boaters must pay a $12.71 fee for the Missouri Boater Identification Card itself. Some educational organizations, including the BoatUS Foundation in other states, offer free boater safety courses, though interested parties should verify current course availability and pricing directly through Missouri's official state agency pages and individual course providers.

Course costs vs. card fees

Two different prices are at play: the boater-safety course (often free or low-cost, set by the approved vendor) and any state card or processing fee. Several states offer a free NASBLA-approved course — for example through the BoatUS Foundation — so the card can cost little beyond a small state fee. Vendor prices change, so confirm the current course list and fees on the official state agency page.

Step-by-step: how to get licensed → · Do you need a licence? →

Compiled from the official state source, cross-referenced against NASBLA, and verified June 2026. Always confirm the current rule on the official Missouri State Highway Patrol, Water Patrol Division page before you rely on it — boating law changes and some states are mid-rollout. How we compile this. Informational only, not legal advice.