The crystal clear waters of Table Rock Lake call out to all who seek the perfect playground. Water sports enthusiasts enjoy skiing and wakeboarding, tubing and just sunning on the deck of the boat. It is the perfect lake...finding a quiet cove for a quiet afternoon or discovering that great hanging out point known as a place to rendezvous with friends. Whether you prefer lazy days cruising along in a houseboat, a fast ride about a runabout, or a family gathering atop the pontoon...this is the perfect lake for you.

Boating Regulations and Licenses

A Missouri law passed January 1, 2005 mandating that operators of vessels on the lakes of the state born after January 1, 1984 must take a boating safety education course that is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). It further requires boaters of any age convicted of certain offenses such as Boating While Intoxicated and Reckless and Negligent operation to take a course and not operate a vessel until the course is passed and recorded with the Water Patrol. Operators that fall under the requirements will have to carry on board a card issued by the Water Patrol proving they have met the requirements of the law.

All non-residents born after January 1, 1984 who wish to operate a vessel on our lakes must successfully complete a NASBLA approved Boater Safety Course. We encourage individuals who fall under the new mandatory requirement to take the Missouri Certification course, but there are other alternatives. If a non-resident possesses a boater certification from a state other than Missouri and the course is a NASBLA approved course, you can use it in place of the Missouri Certification card. You must, however have proof of successful completion and your photo identification with you at the time you are operating the vessel. It should be noted that a Personal Watercraft falls under the definition of a vessel so those who are required to have the certification will need to have it to operate a PWC.

What about non-residents who are vacationing in Missouri and wish to rent a vessel to operate and do not have a certification? Missouri has a program that will allow a non-resident born after January 1, 1984 to operate a rented vessel with a temporary thirty-day permit. The affected persons wishing to rent and operate a rental vessel need only to contact the rental agency about the details of securing a thirty-day temporary permit. The temporary permit is non-renewable so if a non-resident wants to operate a vessel beyond the thirty-day period, they will be required to successfully complete a Boater Safety Education Course.

If you would like to get a Missouri certification, you have several options. You can take the online course available at www.mswp.dps.mo.gov or attend a Classroom Course listed on the web site. You can also call 1-800-830-2268 to order a Missouri home study course.
Click here to take an online boating course.