Course Facts

The Safe Boating Course(s) must be undertaken before the licence test(s) can be attempted however, practical boating experience can be completed at any stage although a boat licence will not be issued until all three (3) components have been successfully completed.

1 Safe Boating Course
2 Boat and Jet-ski Knowledge Test
3 Practical Boating

Applicants wishing to upgrade their existing general licence to a PWC Jet-Ski licence are not required to provide evidence of practical boating experience and need only comply with PWC Licence Safe Boating Course and PWC licence test requirements.

What will you learn?

Essential boating information
Licence and registration
Know the rules and regulations
Safety equipment
Sound signals and navigation lights
Plan your voyage and get back safely
Give way and distance off
Navigation marks and signs
Speed zones and night safety
Person Overboard and hypothermia
Manoeuvre and handle a boat
Wind, current, waves and boat wash
Anchoring and safe operations
What to do in an emergency
Raise alarms and distress signals
Situation awareness and vessel traffic
Water ski and jet-ski rules
Smart tips for safer boating

We are also professional and patient.

Knowledge Test

Tests are not available on-line. All theory and practical tests must be completed face-to-face within the presence of an accredited NSW Maritime Trainer and Assessor. SEA SCHOOL trainers are NSW Maritime accredited.

There are 40 multiple choice questions
35 - must be answered correctly
15 - the first 15 must ALL be answered correctly
25 - the next 25 questions must have 20 answered correctly

The PWC licence knowledge test cannot be attempted until the NSW General licence knowledge test has been successfully completed.
15 – PWC Multiple choice questions
12 – Must be answered correctly.

Literacy
Language and learning difficulties are not catered for. You must be able to read English to attempt the NSW Maritime Test. If you have reading and writing difficulties contact NSW Maritime on 9563 8511 and given time they can arrange a remedial teacher or interpreter at any NSW Maritime office.

Practical Boating Facts

To gain the required practical boating experience the following options are available:

Undertake a practical boating course with SEA SCHOOL, or
Completing a Competency Practical Logbook

If the practical boating course with SEA SCHOOL option is selected the applicant will attend a 3 hour practical boating lesson in a small group. On successful completion, be issued a Certificate of Completion by SEA SCHOOL which must be presented to NSW Maritime when applying for before a boat licence.

If the practical logbook option is selected, the applicant must complete a minimum of three (3) trips in a powered vessel under power (i.e. with a friend). Trip details must be recorded in the logbook and be verified by the friend who is an experienced boat licensee (a person who holds, as a minimum, a current and valid NSW or interstate Boat Driver Licence and has at any stage held a Boat Driver Licence for at least three (3) consecutive years). Only trips undertaken within 12 months of the date of applying for the issue of a boat licence will be recognised for the purpose of satisfying practical experience requirements.

The Course, Test and Practical training are competencies derived from activity specialisation seen within the SRO03 Sport & Recreation Training Package:

SROYAC001B Comply with maritime rules and regulations
MEM50.8EA Carry out trip preparation and planning
MEM50.10EA Respond to boating emergencies and incidents
MEM50.9AA Safely operate a mechanically powered recreational boat