---
title: Age Restrictions for boaters in Kentucky
description: It is illegal for anyone under the age of 12 to operate any motorized vessel (including PWC) greater than 10 horsepower in Kentucky.
image: https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/courses/usa2024/images/images-transparentes/age-restrictions-hr.png
---

## How old do you have to be to operate a boat in Kentucky?

You must be at least 12 years old. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 12 to operate any motorized vessel (including PWC) greater than 10 horsepower in Kentucky.

 

![Kentucky - Age Restrictions for boaters ](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/21118949/hubfs/courses/usa2024/images/images-transparentes/age-restrictions-hr.png?width=1100&height=696&name=age-restrictions-hr.png)

## What must persons 12 to 17 years of age have to legally operate a motorized vessel over 10 horsepower including a PWC unaccompanied?

**Safe Boating Certificate Card or a certificate proving successful completion of a NASBLA-approved boater education course.**

Persons ages 18 or over are not required to possess a Kentucky Safe Boating Certificate Card.

- [** Follow Ace Boater on YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJABNcQHyTGe3ta_lZJ4exw)
- [** Join Ace Boater on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/AceBoater)
- [** Contacts Us ](https://aceboater.com/usa/en/contact)

[![Ace Boater - Boating license and exam online](https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/aceboater/brand/ace-boater.svg)](https://aceboater.com/en-us)

#### Boating safety course and boating exam accredited in USA

[↑](https://aceboater.com/en-us/kentucky-age-restrictions-boaters#top)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "WebPage",
  "breadcrumb" : {
    "@type" : "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement" : [ {
      "@type" : "ListItem",
      "item" : {
        "@id" : "/en-us",
        "@type" : "WebPage",
        "name" : "Home"
      },
      "position" : 1
    }, {
      "@type" : "ListItem",
      "item" : {
        "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/en-us/kentucky",
        "@type" : "WebPage",
        "name" : "Kentucky Boating License"
      },
      "position" : 2
    }, {
      "@type" : "ListItem",
      "item" : {
        "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/en-us/kentucky-state-specifics",
        "@type" : "WebPage",
        "name" : "Kentucky Boating Laws & Regulations"
      },
      "position" : 3
    }, {
      "@type" : "ListItem",
      "item" : {
        "@id" : "https://aceboater.com/en-us/kentucky-age-restrictions-boaters",
        "@type" : "WebPage",
        "name" : "Age Restrictions for boaters in Kentucky"
      },
      "position" : 4
    } ]
  },
  "dateModified" : "2024-02-21T13:07:07.512-0500",
  "datePublished" : "2022-04-13T09:33:51.000-0400",
  "description" : "It is illegal for anyone under the age of 12 to operate any motorized vessel (including PWC) greater than 10 horsepower in Kentucky.",
  "headline" : "Age Restrictions for boaters in Kentucky",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "url" : "https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/courses/usa2024/images/images-transparentes/age-restrictions-hr.png"
  },
  "lastReviewed" : "2024-02-21T13:07:07.512-0500",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://21118949.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/21118949/aceboater/brand/ace-boater.svg"
    },
    "name" : "E.S.N.N.A. Inc."
  },
  "url" : "https://aceboater.com/en-us/kentucky-age-restrictions-boaters"
}
```