- Below 15 mMaximum hull lengthFOR-2009-03-03-259, § 7
- From 16Take the exam from 14FOR-2009-03-03-259, §§ 5 and 9–11
- Over 8 m or 25 hpNeeded from 1980 onwards; 25 hp is 19 kWFOR-2009-03-03-259, § 7
- 50 questions60-minute theory exam in Norwegian or EnglishFOR-2009-03-03-259, §§ 9–11
- 40/50Plus no more than 2 errors in Part 4FOR-2009-03-03-259, §§ 9–11
- NOK 940Exam and first certificate; 1 attempt includedFOR-2025-12-10-2916, amending FOR-2009-12-21-1739, §§ 5–6
Licence limitsWhat Båtførerbevis allows
Båtførerbevis is Norway’s boat-driving certificate for recreational craft. From age 16, it covers sailing boats, motorboats and personal watercraft with a hull below 15 metres, with no engine-power ceiling attached to the certificate itself.
Who needs itLicence limits and Norwegian waters
If you were born on or after 1 January 1980, you need the certificate for a boat over 8 metres or an engine over 25 hp (19 kW). If you were born before 1980, you are exempt from that basic requirement. The rules apply in Norwegian coastal and inland waters, including Svalbard and Jan Mayen; local navigation and waterway rules still apply.
With Båtførerbevis, you can
- Operate recreational sailing boats, motorboats and personal watercraft below 15 metres
- Use Norwegian territorial and inland waters, while following local rules
- Choose sail or motor without a separate endorsement
You’ll need another certificate for
- A recreational craft from 15 metres in hull length; the next certificate is fritidsskippersertifikat (D5L)
- A motor-driven recreational craft capable of 50 knots or more; this needs the separate high-speed certificate, høyhastighetsbevis
- Automatic permission to operate abroad; check with the destination authority and rental company
RequirementsWhat you need
- Be at least 14 to take the theory exam; the certificate cannot be issued before 16
- Pass the theory exam, unless you hold a recognised higher maritime qualification
- Provide approved identification and an acceptable portrait photograph
- Register and pay before sitting the exam
You can study independently: no compulsory course or routine medical certificate is normally required. The skipper remains responsible for being fit to operate the boat. Recognised higher maritime qualifications include D5L, D5LA and deck-officer certificates D6–D1; ask Norsk Test to assess other maritime education.
Exam formatYou must meet both pass requirements
| Exam detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Format | 50 questions in 60 minutes |
| Overall pass mark | At least 40/50 (80%) |
| Part 4 | No more than 2 errors in the particularly important topics section; both pass requirements apply |
| Topics | Seamanship; laws and rules; navigation and chart reading; particularly important topics |
| Practical test | No separate practical test required |
| Retake | Wait at least 14 days after a failed exam |
Charts are supplied. You may bring a calculator with its memory cleared, a ruler or parallel ruler, compass or dividers, a pen or pencil, and rough paper. Mobile phones are prohibited, including as calculators.
Official fees for 2026What it costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Theory exam and first certificate, including 1 attempt | NOK 940 |
| New theory-exam attempt after failure or unjustified absence | NOK 495 |
| Replacement or exchange, or issue without the theory exam | NOK 531 |
How to get your certificateFour clear steps
Need exam adjustments? Contact an approved test centre before registering to arrange extra time, an oral exam or a paper exam. If you do not have a Norwegian personal identification number, arrange registration directly through an approved test centre.
- Study the syllabus
Prepare independently or through an optional course. This route has a theory exam and no separate practical test.
- Register and pay
Register in Båtførerregisteret, enter a complete postal address, upload a suitable photograph and pay the exam fee.
- Book your exam
Book at an approved test centre through the test calendar or by contacting the centre. Take approved identification with you.
- Receive your certificate
You get your result immediately. Once you are 16, have passed and your photograph is approved, Norsk Test produces and posts your certificate.
How to prepare
Focus on
- The official syllabus, including seamanship and chart work
- Navigation rules, IALA Region A buoyage, lights and shapes, and sound signals
- Part 4 separately, as well as your overall result
Before you book
- The exam is available in Norwegian and English
- A failed exam can be retaken after at least 14 days
- The certificate is issued from age 16, even though the exam is open from 14
Start with the official syllabus, then practise chart work alongside the navigation rules. Check your Part 4 result separately: you need its error limit as well as the overall pass mark.
Båtførerprøven topics
Free practice questions
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Practice questions (with answers)
To which vessels do the COLREGs apply?
Show answer
Correct answer: C. All vessels on the high seas and connected navigable waters
Rule 1 states the COLREGs apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels.
According to Rule 2, departure from the COLREGs is permitted when:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. It is necessary to avoid immediate danger
Rule 2(b) allows departure from the rules when necessary to avoid immediate danger.
A vessel under sail also being propelled by her engine is classified as:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. A power-driven vessel
Rule 3(c): a sailing vessel means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being used.
Emergency wreck marking buoys are coloured:
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Blue and yellow vertical stripes
equal numbers and widths of blue and yellow vertical stripes; 4 to 8 stripes in total. 1 s blue + 0.5 s darkness + 1 s yellow + 0.5 s darkness; period 3 s.
Emergency wreck marking buoys are used for:
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Marking new dangers, including newly discovered wrecks
The emergency wreck marking buoy marks new dangers, including newly discovered wrecks. The competent authority determines further marking once the danger is removed or its information has been sufficiently promulgated.
The topmark of a West Cardinal mark is:
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Two cones point to point
Two separate black cones with their points facing each other. The cones must remain clearly separated.
You are entering a river where the chart shows the conventional direction of buoyage is upstream from the sea entrance. What should determine whether a lateral mark is port-hand or starboard-hand?
Show answer
Correct answer: C. The charted conventional direction of buoyage
Lateral marks are interpreted in the conventional direction of buoyage. The chart, not guesswork, determines which side is port-hand and which is starboard-hand.
In thick fog another vessel is detected only by ARPA and is not in sight. Its bearing is steady and range is closing fast. Which rule governs the avoiding action?
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Rule 19 — restricted visibility, because vessels are not in sight
Rule 11 restricts Section II (including crossing, head-on and overtaking) to vessels in sight of one another. A target detected only on radar is not 'in sight'; Rule 19 governs instead.
The full guide
Born on or after 1 January 1980? You need Båtførerbevis to operate a recreational boat in Norway if it is over 8 metres long or has an engine over 25 hp (19 kW). From age 16, it covers sailing boats, motorboats and personal watercraft under 15 metres. Craft capable of 50 knots or more also require a separate high-speed certificate.
Båtførerprøven, the theory exam, covers seamanship, laws and rules, navigation and chart reading, including particularly important topics. Practise COLREG rules, IALA Region A buoyage, lights and shapes, and sound signals here; use the official material for the rest of the syllabus.
Who needs Båtførerbevis
People born on or after 1 January 1980 who want to operate a boat over 8 metres long or with an engine over 25 hp (19 kW) in Norway need it. Those born before 1 January 1980 are exempt from the basic certificate requirement, but still need the separate high-speed certificate for a motor-driven craft capable of 50 knots or more.
How to get Båtførerbevis
Study the official syllabus, then register with Båtførerregisteret, upload a portrait photo and pay NOK 940. Book the supervised theory exam at an approved test centre; it has 50 questions in 60 minutes and is available in Norwegian and English. You need at least 40 correct answers overall and no more than 2 errors in Part 4, the particularly important topics section.
Båtførerbevis questions and answers
- Do I need Båtførerbevis if I was born before 1 January 1980?
- You are exempt from the basic certificate requirement. However, you still need a separate high-speed certificate to drive a motor-driven recreational craft capable of 50 knots or more.
- What happens if I fail Båtførerprøven?
- You can retake the theory exam after at least 14 days. Each new attempt after failure or an unjustified absence costs NOK 495.
- Can I take Båtførerprøven if I am not Norwegian?
- Yes. If you do not have a Norwegian personal identification number, arrange registration through an approved test centre. The exam is available in Norwegian and English.
- Can I use a foreign boat licence in Norway?
- A certificate from another EEA state is recognised within the scope and limits printed on it. A certificate from elsewhere must substantially meet Norwegian requirements and be issued in a Scandinavian language or English.
- Does Båtførerbevis expire?
- No. The certificate has no expiry date. If you need to make a separate application for the certificate, its pass confirmation must be no more than 3 years old.
- Can I use Båtførerbevis abroad?
- Båtførerbevis does not give automatic permission to operate abroad. An ICC is separate: its Norwegian route includes a practical assessment and a health self-declaration, and recognition depends on the destination.
Other exams
Reviewed by Ramon Curto, Nautical teacher at IECNPC · Last reviewed: