To obtain a boat and/or personal watercraft (PWC) licence you need to pass a boat operator knowledge test.
You must be at least 12 years of age to attempt a restricted boat licence test and 16 years of age to for a general boat operators licence test. For further details see the 'Boat licences' webpage.
- the boat operator licence test can be undertaken at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre or any approved training provider. For a listing of approved training providers see the Marine Safety Victoria website
- the tests are available in 5 different languages - Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, Turkish and Vietnamese. Interpreters are not used for tests conducted in these languages. For other non English speaking applicants and deaf applicants, VicRoads will provide an interpreter at no extra cost.
- tests conducted at VicRoads Customer Service Centres are computerised (except tests conducted in Arabic, Chinese, Turkish and Vietnamese - these are available in paper based format only).
- the test has 30 multiple choice questions and you must answer at least 26 correctly to pass.
- there is an additional 15 questions for the personal watercraft endorsement (eg. jetski) and you need to answer 13 correctly to pass.
- the test is based on the "Victorian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook" which is free of charge and is available from any VicRoads Customer Service Centre and the Marine Safety Victoria website.
The tests results are valid for 5 years. If you don't pay for your licence within 5 years of passing the test, you will have to re-sit the knowledge test.
Learn more about the boat operator knowledge test and personal watercraft test by taking a sample test.