Jet Ski Licence Course

So you wanna ride a Personal Watercraft (PWC)? No kidding! Straddle one of these animals and it's pretty hard to shake the bug. This course will earn you the rights to the thrills you seek...

Online Video Theory Course

Short weekend prac in Redcliffe

Small, supportive classes

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Quick Facts

  • Cost:$280 includes first practical assessment fee 
  • Reassessment fee $110
  • Online theory course – approx 1.5hrs
  • Theory exam on day of practical training – max 45mins
  • Practical on water training up to 1hr
  • Practical assessment – approx 0.5hrs

We encourage you to practice riding a PWC with a licenced rider before arriving at a BoatSafe course – you may not be competent in riding a PWC in just a few hours.

If you don’t have access to a PWC and licenced rider please contact us to discuss additional training sessions.

PWC Course Overview

The personal watercraft (PWC) or jet ski licence course covers the essential knowledge and practical skills to acquire your Qld PWC licence, but just as importantly, to ensure you can operate a jet ski safely and enjoy your marine machine for many years to come!

The PWC licence course incorporates

  • online video theory learning and an online practice quiz,
  • a final multiple choice theory assessment (40 questions)
  • practical training and assessment on the PWC

You must successfully complete all tasks on the PWC some shown in the video below and pass the theory exam at 100% to be deemed competent. But don’t panic, our skilled instructors are here to support you in developing the required competence levels to pass your assessments.

Important!

Because a jet ski is a power boat (albeit a fast and very cool boat), to get your PWC licence you must either:

  • already hold a Recreational Marine Driver Licence (Power Boat Licence), OR
  • complete the combined boat and jet ski licence course ($500)

Course content

The PWC licence course will cover the following topics:

  1. Planning your trip
  2. Parts of a PWC
  3. Safety equipment and pre launch checks
  4. Starting and launching your PWC
  5. Operating and manoeuvring your PWC
  6. Navigation regulations and signals
  7. Legislative requirements
  8. Responding to marine emergencies and incidents

In addition the practical component on our PWC includes explanation, demonstration, practice and assessment of the following activities:

  1. Manoeuvres at slow speed – 6 knots or less, Port and Starboard turns and figure 8
  2. Manoeuvres at speed – Port and Starboard turns and figure 8
  3. Collision avoidance
  4. Man overboard drill
  5. Safely approach a floating object
  6. Berthing and unberthing
  7. General navigation and control of the PWC

When/How do I get my PWC licence?

On successful completion of this course, you’ll receive a Statement of Competency (SoC) for personal watercraft. It’s like an official piece of paper that says you passed all the necessary theory and practical assessments, but IT’S NOT A PWC/JET SKI LICENCE.

To acquire your PWC licence, you must present your SoC at a Transport and Motoring Service Centre (better known as Department of Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centre) within 6 months of issue at which time you will pay further govt. charges equal to approx. $114.90 per licence as at 01 July 2020.

Again, your PWC statement of competency (SoC) is not a PWC licence or even a temporary licence. If you get pulled over by the Water Police on your jet ski with no licensed person on board and you pull out your SoC, no excuse will be good enough. You will receive a fine.

Mates rates!

$10 off per person for  group of 3

Course FAQs

Do you run courses mid-week?

Yes! Check out the booking calendar to see if there is a scheduled mid-week that’s suitable to you. Contact us >

What is the minimum age to attend this course and get your boat licence?
In Queensland, you need to be 16 year of age or over to get a Marine Driver’s Licence and PWC Licence, however… you can attend the course and be issued a Statement of Competency once you turn 15 and a half, but you will need to wait until your 16th birthday to exchange it for a licence. Make sense?
What if I fail the course?

To be determined competent you must first pass the theory exam at 100% with only 1 additional attempt at any questions you get wrong before you can move on to the practical training and assessment. If you do not you will need to review your theory course and attend another assessment session. You need to know the rules of the water just like the road right?

Once we get on the water your instructor will demonstrate each task you are required to perform on your practical assessment and hand the helm to you to practice and develop your confidence until both you and your instructor feel you are ready to undertake your assessment. We expect this would take between 45 minutes and 1 hour for each person.

The on water-practical assessment is a formal assessment where you must demonstrate your competence to drive a boat without any assistance from your instructor. You are provided with one practical assessment attempt on the day. If you are judged to be not competent in any of the tasks you will be required to come back for more training and another assessment on the elements that you were not competent in.

Will the course go ahead in bad weather?
The course will go ahead if it’s safe to do so. Rain doesn’t usually impact safety (maybe enjoyment), but winds do. We keep a close eye on the Moreton Bay weather forecast  and make the call by 7am on the day, based on weather predictions. If the weather turns bad while out on the vessel and safety is at risk, the session will be cut short. In any case, we will reschedule all participants at no further cost to you.
What is your refund policy?
We offer a full no-questions-asked refund for cancellations or free reschedule providing the request is made at least 2 days (48 hours) before your course. If requested within 48 hours, you may reschedule to another scheduled time at an additional cost of $50. Full cancellations within 48 hours or in case of no show, will not qualify for a refund. Please understand that we have limited spaces on our boat and often must turn others away who want your place, therefore it is not viable for us to refund for late cancellation or no show.