KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tennesseans no longer have to take an in-person boating safety exam following a recent change in state law.
A law passed by the Tennessee General Assembly earlier this year removed the requirement that boating safety exams be proctored in person. The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission on Friday unanimously passed a permanent rule to comply with the new law after an emergency rule was approved by commissioners in April.
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Tennesseans can now complete an online boating safety exam approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators to be issued a boating safety education certificate by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. In-person exams are still available and can be found on the events section of gooutdoorstennessee.com.
State law requires anyone born after 1989 to have a TWRA-issued boating safety education certificate to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft.
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The new permanent rule also sets the boating safety exam permit fee at $10. They can be purchased on gooutdoorstennessee.com. The fee for a replacement permit from any licensing agent that sells hunting and fishing licenses, including TWRA Region Offices and the TWRA online licensing portal, was set at $5…