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Obtaining a NSW Maritime General Boat and/or Jetski (PWC) Licence

To obtain a NSW Maritime Boat and/or a Jetski (PWC) Licence requires knowledge in the following areas:

  • Registration and Licencing Rules
  • Distance to keep from people and objects
  • Safety Equipment to be carried (Enclosed & Open Waters)
  • Wearing of Lifejackets
  • Responding to emergency situations
  • Collision Regulations (Lights & Shapes)
  • Buoyage System - Lateral & Cardinal Marks
  • Preventing Fires
  • Survival at Sea
  • Environmental regulations
  • Alcohol & drug regulations

Boat Licence Course Structure

The NSW Maritime Boat Licence course involves 3 compulsory components:

  1. The Boat Safety Course - involves understanding the rules and regulations
  2. The practical session - going out on a vessel and receiving instructions on safety equipment, anchoring, boat handling, buoyage systems, collision regulations, dealing with emergencies etc. and
  3. Undertaking the NSW Maritime final written assessment

The cost for the complete General Boat Licence course including Practical conducted in one session over 4 to 4 and a half hours is $195.00 for an Adult and $165.00 for a Young Adult (12-16 years). Young Adults must sit the same written assessment as Adult General Boat Licence candidates however when they reach the age of 16 years their licence automatically converts to a full licence without further training or assessment. Please note that pre-enrolment and pre-payment of course fees is required. For safety reasons we do not collect Boat Licence fees on the day. Courses are conducted on a weekly basis. (Please see current availability in the right hand column). Some pre-study is required prior to attending a course and we recommend that you should enrol at least 7-10 days prior to the course to allow sufficient time to read the required rules and regulations.

We have also developed some easy to use websites that assist in understanding the rules and regulations. These websites have contributed greatly to our acheivement of a very high percentage of candidates obtaining their licence on the 1st attempt. Something we are very proud of!

Obtaining a NSW Maritime Jetski (PWC) Licence

The NSW Maritime Personal Watercraft (PWC) Licence, which is commonly known as a Jetski Licence, is a seperate licence to the NSW Maritime General Boat Licence.

To obtain a Jetski Licence you must:

  • Already possess a NSW Maritime General Boat Licence, or
  • Have completed the NSW Maritime General Boat Licence course (details above)
The Jetski (PWC) Licence course can be completed at the same time as the Boat Licence course and takes about an additional 1 hour and cost $75.00.

Obtaining a VHF Marine Radio Certificate

There are essentially 2 types of certificates that are issued by the Office of Maritime Communications (The regulatory authority):

  • The Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) incorporates knowledge of both Medium Frequency/High Frequency (MF/HF) Radios, which are designed for long range transmission, and VHF radios and

  • The Marine Radio Operators VHF Certificate of Proficiency (MROVCP) which is designed for those who are only carrying and/or operating a Very High Frequency (VHF) (Short Range) radio. Basically if you intend travelling more than 40 miles from the coast, or applying for a commercial qualification such as a Coxswain or Master V, you should obtain an MROCP Certificate. If you are operating in the harbours and bays or staying near the coast then an MROVCP Certificate will be sufficient.

Regardless of which certificate you wish to apply for if you are a Boat Owner and you wish to upgrade your MF/HF or VHF Radio to a Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Radio, which is the preferred type of radio to carry, you will not be able to register the radio and obtain a Marine Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number for the radio unless you obtain your Marine Radio Certificate first.

The level of knowledge required to pass the exam includes the following subjects:

  • Knowledge of MF/HF and VHF marine radios
  • Identify the difference between Ship Stations, Coast Radio Stations and Limited Coast Stations
  • Understand and use the 'Phonetic Alphabet'
  • Use correct operating procedures and channels when operating a marine radio
  • Understand Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications
  • Understand Digital Selective Calling (DSC) Communications
  • Understand the use of 406 MHz EPIRBS
  • Understand the use of SART's
  • Understand Search and Rescue in Australia
  • Identify the different types of radio equipment, their application and limitations
  • Identify the components of a marine radio and the care and maintenance required with radio equipment and power sources

Free Information Request

If you would like to receive free information regarding obtaining a NSW Maritime General Boat Licence and/or Jetski (PWC) Licence, or a VHF Marine Radio Certificate please click on the link below:

Click Here to Request More Information