N.Y. NAV Law § 79

§ 79. Courses of instruction. 1. For the purpose of giving such\ncourses of instruction and awarding boating safety certificates, the\ncommissioner may designate as his or her agent any person the\ncommissioner deems qualified to act in such capacity, including, but not\nlimited to, certified instructors of the United States coast guard\nauxiliary, United States power squadrons, the United States sailing\nassociation for a powerboating course or courses which are approved by\nthe commissioner, American power boat association, boy scouts of\nAmerica, Red Cross and other organizations. No charge whatsoever shall\nbe made to any person less than eighteen years of age for the issuance\nof a boating safety certificate. Persons less than eighteen years of age\nmay be charged a fee for instruction in boating safety, except that the\noffice may not charge a fee when providing such instruction to persons\nless than eighteen years of age.\n 2. The commissioner is authorized, at his or her discretion, to\ndevelop a method for approving internet-based boating safety courses as\nan appropriate and effective method for the administration and\ncompletion of training in the safe operation of vessels, including\npersonal watercraft and specialty prop-craft, for the purposes of\nawarding a boating safety certificate pursuant to this section. All\napproved internet-based boating safety courses shall employ methods to\nensure attendance of the student throughout the course.\n