Do you need a licence for a jet ski?

Once a niche pursuit, jet skis (or, to give them their correct name, personal watercraft, or PWCs) are now are ubiquitous part of the Australian marine lifestyle. But there is often some confusion regarding the legal requirements of piloting a jet ski and the details differ from one state to the next. So, point your ski in the right direction with this quick snapshot of what rules apply, and where…

So, do you really have to have a licence to ride a jet ski? The short answer, unless you live in the Northern Territory (more on that in a bit), is a resounding ‘Yes’! In most Australian states you are legally required to have a licence to pilot a jet ski just like you are for a boat, but each state and territory has its own set of restrictions, so let’s take a quick rundown of each.

Yes, you need a licence to ride a jet ski in New South Wales. To obtain a PWC licence you must first hold a New South Wales General Boat Licence (GBL).

A GBL can be obtained from age 12, but there are licence restrictions for licence holders aged under 16. According to the NSW Government, licence holders under 16 must not drive a PWC or vessel at a speed greater than 20 knots (about 37kmh), or in any race, display, regatta, exhibition or similar operation, or between sunset and sunrise, or while the vessel is towing anyone.

Once you hold a New South Wales boat licence you may elect to upgrade to a PWC licence by completing a PWC licence knowledge test, which is a computer test comprising 15 multiple-choice questions. You must answer at least 12 of the questions correctly to pass the test and upgrade to a PWC licence.

For more information head to the NSW Government website for boat and PWC licences.

Yes, you need a licence to ride a jet ski in Victoria. To operate a jet ski in Victoria, you must first hold a Victorian boat licence and then upgrade to a PWC endorsement. You can hold a boat licence in Victoria from 12 years of age, but you must be at least 16 years of age to have a PWC endorsement on your boat licence.

Once you hold a boat licence in Victoria, you may apply for your PWC endorsement. To obtain your PWC endorsement, you will have to pass a knowledge test. The knowledge test comprises 15 multiple-choice questions, of which you must get at least 13 correct.

For more information head to the VicRoads website detailing marine licences.

Yes, you need a licence to ride a jet ski in Queensland. To ride a jet ski in Queensland you must hold a recreational boat licence and a personal watercraft licence. You must be at least 16 years of age to hold a recreational boat licence in Queensland and you must complete a BoatSafe training course.

To obtain a PWC licence in Queensland you must also complete the required BoatSafe PWC training course, which can be done either separately or together with your boat licence BoatSafe training.

The BoatSafe PWC training involves online or face-to-face theory training, a multiple-choice theory assessment (45 minutes to complete, 100 per cent pass mark required), practical training driving the PWC (until you are competent in all tasks), and a practical assessment where all tasks must be successfully completed.

For more information head to the Queensland Government’s web page for boat and PWC licencing or visit the TMR web page detailing BoatSafe training and accreditation.

Yes, you need a licence to ride a jet ski in Tasmania. To operate a jet ski in Tasmania you must have a personal watercraft endorsement on your recreational power boat licence. A recreational power boat licence is obtained by successfully completing a BoatSafe course through an accredited training provider.

Provisional power boat licences are available for those aged between 12 and 16, while you must be at least 17 to apply for a full power boat licence. However, to obtain a PWC endorsement you must hold a full boat licence, and so you must be at least 17 years old.

For holders of a full power boat licence, to obtain a PWC endorsement you must successfully complete a BoatSafe practical tuition course through an accredited provided.

For more information head to the Tasmanian Government’s information page on PWC endorsements.

Yes, you need a licence to ride a jet ski in South Australia. In South Australia, you require a boat operator’s licence to operate any recreational vessel fitted with an engine, regardless of the size of the craft or engine.

To obtain a boat operator’s licence in South Australia you must be at least 16 years of age (the special permits for children aged 12 to 16 do not allow the holder to operate a PWC) and you must have successfully completed a theory test based on questions relating to the South Australian Recreational Boating Safety Handbook.

There is no mandated PWC-specific training in South Australia, nor any practical training for a boat licence (although we strongly recommend seeking out private tuition opportunities).

For more information head to the South Australian government’s webpage on boating licences.

No, you do not need a licence to ride a jet ski in the Northern Territory. In fact, you don’t even need a licence to operate a recreational boat of any kind – and you don’t need to register your boat or PWC either!

However, both boat and jet ski operators in the Northern Territory do have to know the boating regulations and laws in the NT, and can expect enforcement and fines if caught breaking them.

For more information on boating in the NT visit this NT Government webpage.

Yes, technically you need a licence to ride a jet ski in the Australian Capital Territory, although you’ll struggle to find locations that permit them. PWCs are not permitted on Lake Burley Griffen, while power boats are permitted on some ACT waterways provided you don’t exceed 10 knots. Because of this, ACT residents with jet skis usually take their skis further afield, either to lakes in New South Wales or to the New South Wales coast.

The ACT doesn’t have its own boating/PWC licence framework as such, but it recognises a NSW boat licence in its place.

For more information head to the ACT Government’s webpage on Boating on ACT lakes.

Yes, you need a licence to ride a jet ski in Western Australia. To operate a personal watercraft in Western Australia you must first hold a recreational skipper’s ticket (RST). You must be at least 14 years old to get your RST, but those aged between 14 and 16 can only operate a PWC during daylight hours at a maximum of 8.0 knots.

PWC operators in Western Australia must also comply with rules on how far they can operate offshore, safety equipment requirements, speed limits, and collision rules.

For more information head to the WA Government’s webpage on personal watercraft.