Recreational Boat Licence Course & Exam

Did you know that you don’t have to do complete a theory test at Service SA, but can instead take a half-day course with Surf Life Saving SA where you learn all the material and sit the test on the same day?

Surf Life Saving SA is pleased to offer the approved and recognised State Government SA Boat Licence Course. Our course is delivered by experienced fishing and boating presenters, with the presentation and assessment conducted in just one 3-hour workshop. On successful completion of the course, you will be issued a statement of attendance which can be presented at a Service SA Office to receive your boat licence.

Please note there will be an additional cost applied by Service SA to issue your licence.

Participants must already be 16 years of age before attending this course.

Please note certificates are not automatically generated and can take up to 5 business days to be issued. Consider this when booking into your course to allow time to obtain your licence from Service SA.

Surf Life Saving SA recognises that students participating in training courses may have varying learning styles and support requirements. These may include but are not limited to students with language‚ literacy and/or numeracy concerns, or abilities. Students with any special needs are requested to contact us prior to registering for a course to discuss suitable arrangements.

So what are you waiting for? Don’t pay hundreds of dollars elsewhere, come and complete your boat license course with us. By undertaking your course with Surf Life Saving SA, you’re helping support frontline water safety services, which help keep your beaches and coasts safe for all of us to enjoy.

 

Course contents include:

  • Boat terminology

  • Collisions & give way rules

  • Licences & permits

  • Planning & preparation

  • Lifejacket laws

  • SA water & weather conditions

  • Navigation

  • Boating on the Murray

  • Ferries & flags

  • Water skiing

  • Breakdowns

  • Emergencies

  • Speed limits

  • Alcohol & drugs

  • Registration

  • PWC

  • Environmental issues & conservation

Testimonials

“The Surf Life Saving Boat Licence course was excellent for our university to train our Underwater Club members who wanted to operate our vessels. They were fantastic as they came to our location and hosted there. They were engaging, and fair and reasonable with their assessments.”
— Emily Daniels, Flinders University
“Stuart and the team have come in for the Boat Licence Course over the previous few years. The students have thoroughly enjoyed completing the license, gaining the knowledge necessary to be safe on the water. Thank you to the team for their continued work with our students.”
— Chris Theakstone, Prince Alfred CVollege
“Stu has delivered the Boat Licence Course to our students at Westminster School for 3 years now, and we have always found him professional, engaging and knowledgeable. He is quick to build a rapport with students and presents the course in a manner that students are able to connect with. We really value his contribution to our beginning of year program and students are always quick to sign up for the opportunity to get their boat license. Kate Inglis, Deputy Head of Senior School ”
— Kate Inglis, Westminster School
“Over the past three years, Stu and Surf Life Saving SA have come to Two Wells to run the Boat Licence Course at our request for our club members and local in the area. Stu had done a fantastic job with this, and the feedback is always positive from the members that attended the training. ”
— Devon Hardiman, Two Wells Football Netball sporting club
“I would strongly recommend any sporting or community club hold a Boat Licence Course at their premises. It garnered a lot of local interest, and our coordinator Stu was brilliant. We had more than 50 very happy attendees leave the event with a boat licence! ”
— Nic Wilson, Hahndorf Football Club
“I attended a Boat Licence Course offered by Surf Life Saving South Australia at the Normanville Surf Life Saving Club on the evening of 22nd April, 2024. I live in Normanville and although I have a Boat Licence which I gained many years ago, I felt it was time to update/renew my skills, especially being able to do such a course close to home. As a recently retired career Teacher/School Leader I have attended and run many courses of varying length over the years for many different Education and Sporting reasons. The Boat Licence Course was easy to enrol in, I was kept up to date with necessary pre-learning, timelines, attendance requirements and the like which are necessary for such a course to run smoothly. The course was well organised and delivered in an interesting and attendee friendly manner. The Presenter, Stu Ferenci did an excellent job in keeping the attendees interested and on task. He appeared knowledgeable and obviously was experienced in the practical and theoretical facets of the course/boat handling and the legislation/safety required. I enjoyed doing the course and think that it was worthwhile for me to do. ”
— John Clements, Normanville SLSC