You don't need to retake the course. Your completion record exists. You just need to locate it and request a duplicate card. Use the tool below to find the right contact for your state.

🔍 Find Your Replacement Process

First Step if You're Not Sure Who Issued Your Card

The replacement process depends entirely on who originally issued your card. Try these in order:

  1. Search your email for words like "boating," "certificate," "safety course" — your original provider likely emailed you a confirmation
  2. Try ilostmycard.com — Boat-ed's replacement platform, covers many states and providers
  3. Contact your state's boating authority — most maintain master records of all approved-course completions in their state
  4. Contact America's Boating Club at americasboatingclub.org — they can check USPS chapter records
  5. Contact your local USCG Auxiliary unit — they maintain records of in-person courses they ran

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact your original course provider immediately — today if possible. Most online providers (Boat-ed, BOATERexam, BOATsmart!) can pull up your completion record and email you a printable temporary certificate within hours. Print it and carry it on the boat. This temporary certificate is accepted by most state enforcement agencies as valid proof during the replacement processing period.

The state or organization where you originally took the course handles the replacement. Your current state of residence doesn't matter for replacement purposes. A Michigan card replaced through Michigan is still valid in Arizona (or any state that accepts NASBLA cards) after replacement.

You'll need to identify who issued your original card. The replacement organization will look you up in their records — that is your proof. You typically need to provide your name (as it appeared on the original record), approximate date of completion, and in some cases the location or provider of your course. You don't need to produce a copy of your old card.

Washington State introduced 20-year expiration dates on cards issued after a certain date. If your card has expired, you will need to complete a new approved course — replacement is only available for valid (non-expired) cards. Contact Washington State Parks at (360) 902-8844 to confirm your specific card's status before assuming you need to retake the course.

Disclaimer: Replacement processes, fees, and contact information change frequently. Always verify current instructions with your state's official boating authority before proceeding. BoaterCard.info is not affiliated with any state agency or course provider.