[JL8Jeff]

You have to get the boating certificate and then you can add the "boat operator" to your normal NJ dmv license. But "boat operator" is only needed in non tidal waters in NJ. So any river without tide markers or lakes without markers it would be required. But everyone has to have the certificate and they will pull you over to check for it. There are a bunch of places that offer the courses and you usually take the test at the end of the course and 99% of the people pass and get the certificate.