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NSW Boat Licence

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NSW Boat Licence

Frequently Asked Questions

Licence information

Obtaining the NSW boat licence is a simple 3-step process.

  1. Successfully complete the course
  2. Complete 3x trips in your logbook
  3. Take paperwork into Service NSW

See here for further details.

If you currently have a NSW boat licence then it’s just a bit of theory education + exam. 

If you don’t currently hold a NSW boat licence you’ll need to do the above + the NSW boat licence requirements. This can be done at the same course. See here for further details.

Your licence certificate (given immediately upon successful completion of the course) is valid for 12 months from the issue date.

This date cannot be extended so please ensure you take it into Service NSW before it expires.

Students must be at least 12 years old to obtain a NSW general boat licence and/or PWC licence. Students 16 years and up will qualify for the full ‘adult’ licence.


The NSW practical boating logbook is a simple, self guided checklist that you’ll need to complete to obtain the NSW general boat licence. You can click here to download a copy, visit any Service NSW to pick one up, or pick one up at the course. There is no fee in relation to the logbook.

You will need to complete at least 3 trips on the water under the supervision of a licenced person who has held their licence for 3 years or more. These trips are not time based, and can be completed within 12 months of you handing it in to Service NSW. If you have been boating within the past 12 months and this can be verified by another skipper, you can backdate those trips.

The logbook is an essential requirement for those who choose to go on & get a NSW boat licence. It’s designed to help you learn how to operate your vessel & learn your waterways at your own pace. We recommend you complete the logbook for every trip you make, not just for the required 3 times. 

The logbook only applies to the NSW boat licence. There is no practical training required for the PWC licence.

Assuming it is within the 12 month expiry period, we are able to recreate your paperwork. You will need to attend the beginning of a course, show your ID and sign for the new form. All forms are dated from the original date of your test/course and cannot be future-dated to include another 12 months. 

Doing this will depend on the availability of courses in your area at the time, so please do not leave this to the final days as we may not be able to recreate it before it expires.

To cover all administrative expenses, a $180 fee will apply to recreate lost paperwork. You will need to book this service in via phone on (02) 9524 4423.

Forms cannot be emailed, posted or sent to you using any other method. They are government-accredited certificates so we must abide by all applicable rules and laws.

Course information

Yes, all training is delivered by Sailingworld pty ltd t/a Boating Licence Course. Sailingworld pty ltd t/a Boating Licence Course (ACN # 092 478 718 | RTO # 91229) is approved by NSW Maritime to provide practical boat training and/or knowledge testing for the NSW general boat driving licence and PWC driving licence.

All trainers have a current Certificate 4 in Training & Assessment, a valid Working With Children check, a current NSW Police Check, current First Aid certificate and are accredited by Transport for NSW to deliver the NSW boat & PWC licence course.

Qualifications are kept up to date to ensure you only get taught by qualified, accredited trainers.

All training is done by our own in-house staff. We do not export your training to 3rd party contractors.

Guaranteeing a pass to get a licence puts yourself and the boating community at risk so no one should expect to be passed through without a substantial understanding of the rules of the water. Whilst the overwhelming majority of students pass on day 1, some students may need multiple attempts or some more tuition, which we are happy to provide. 

Whilst we understand no one wants to fail a test, we must abide by both Transport for NSW’s and our own rules thus strict testing rules will apply. You may be allowed more than one attempt on the day but multiple failed attempts will mean you may need to re-attend another course after some more study.

All students between the ages of 12 and 16 years are required to have their mum or dad at the course, also with ID, to sign the student declaration on the licence application. This cannot be done before or after the course. 

If a student in this age range does not have the ability to get a parent to sign them in, please contact us prior to attending for assistance with rescheduling. 

Grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunties or any other family members or friends are not able to sign the student declaration. It needs to be the parent of the child. 

Not for the course, but yes for Service NSW.

REQUIRED: Acceptable ID such as a drivers licence. Other ID may also be accepted – click here for details.

RECOMMENDED: Printed worksheet, writing utensil, drinks and snacks.

 

Of course! What better way to get into the fun boating has to offer than to learn from professional, experienced skippers? We keep the learning at a level suitable for beginners, so every student can follow along for a simple, enjoyable course.


No. There is no allowance for online courses. All courses are completed in-person with a trainer.

Yes, however an administrative fee will apply.

When you book a course, we incur costs such as venue hire, material printing, staff wages etc. So if you cannot attend your originally booked course, we will need to charge an administrative fee to recuperate those costs. 

You can read our rescheduling policy here.

Booking information

Bookings can be made securely online – click here – or over the phone via (02) 9524 4423 during normal business hours on weekdays.

To mitigate any potential risk to your financial information, all payment processing is handled by Stripe and PayPal – 2 of the largest payment merchants across the globe.

 

Online bookings are automated and processed immediately. This means you’ll receive an email containing your booking details and receipt of payment. This shouldn’t take more than 2 minutes to get to you.

Sometimes these emails go to spam/junk folders. If it’s not in there, please get in touch with us and we’ll resend it for you.

For phone bookings, our team will manually process your booking and our system will dispatch an SMS confirmation. This shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes.

We incur costs related to your booking and course the instant you book.

As such, per company policy, all sales are final. In the event that you cannot attend the course, refunds are not available.