Arkansas boating education course available online

LITTLE ROCK - Summer is just around the corner and Arkansas' lakes and waterways will be filled with boating enthusiasts. In an effort to make boating education and safety more easily accessible, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has the mandatory education class available online or as a home study video course.

Residents born on or after Jan. 1, 1986, and of legal age to operate a motorboat, must have successfully completed an approved AGFC boating education course and carry proof while operating a motorboat. The Arkansas boating education course is designed to teach the fundamentals of safe and responsible boating, according to boating education coordinator Bob Cushing. "This is necessary to reduce loss of life, personal injury and property damage while increasing boating enjoyment for outdoor enthusiasts," Cushing said.

"These two home study options, along with our conventional classroom courses, should make the boating education course accessible to everyone who needs or wants to take the course in all 75 counties," Cushing explained.

The price of the online course is $15 and the price of the home study video course is $24.95 plus $5 for shipping and handling. The classroom courses that are available around the state are free. For more information on the course go to www.agfc.com/education/boater_education_details.html or call the AGFC education division at 501-223-6495.