Rule 1501:47-1-15 | Mandatory education/abbreviated examination for boat rental companies.
Persons subject to mandatory boater education and satisfactory completion of an abbreviated examination for the rental of motorized watercraft as provided for in section 1547.052 of the Revised Code can attain compliance in one of the following ways:
(A) Completion of an on-site written examination.
(1) An on-site written examination is to be administered by, and in the presence of, an employee of the rental business issuing the rental agreement;
(2) No reference materials are to be used by a person while completing the abbreviated rental examination;
(3) No rental business employee, nor any other person, is permitted to provide information to any person who is attempting to complete the abbreviated examination in order to aid such person in attaining a passing score;
(4) No person is permitted more than two attempts at achieving a passing score within a single calendar day;
(5) The successful completion of an on-site written examination is only valid for that specific rental business location and for the specific time period described in the rental agreement.
(B) Completion of an online examination utilizing an approved boater education exam provider.
(1) Only boater education exam providers approved by the division of parks and watercraft may be used to satisfy the abbreviated exam provision in section 1547.052 of the Revised Code;
(2) Rental businesses may provide website addresses for approved exam providers to persons desiring to rent a motorized watercraft at the time that a rental reservation is made or any time prior to finalizing a rental agreement;
(3) An online examination is only valid for a period of fourteen days after successful completion. A rental business that permits a motorized watercraft rental at any time before or after the fourteen day period violates that section.
(4) Proof of the successful completion of an online examination is to be provided to the rental business for verification and inspection prior to indicating compliance with section 1547.052 of the Revised Code on a rental agreement.
(5) Any person who is operating a motorized watercraft under the provisions of paragraph (B) of this rule who is stopped by a law enforcement officer may be compelled to provide proof of the successful completion of an online examination. Failure to provide valid proof at the request of an officer constitutes prima-facie evidence of a violation of section 1547.052 of the Revised Code.
Last updated June 18, 2026 at 12:15 AM
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