Frequently Asked Questions

Boating Certification

How long is the Connecticut approved basic boating course?

The boating course is an eight-hour course.

What are the basic boating course requirements?

You must attend all eight hours and pass the proctored exam with a score of 80% or higher. The Boat Connecticut course taught by DEEP is combined with the personal watercraft and the Safe Waterskiing Endorsement. Successful completion of this course leads to a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO) and Safe Waterskiing Endorsement.

If I took a CT approved boating course and lost my course completion diploma, what should I do?

You will need to contact the course provider. If your course completion diploma cannot be located, you will need to retake a boating course or apply for the equivalency exam. 
Note: If you purchased your boating certificate, please contact DEEP Boating by phone or email. Include your full name and date of birth in the email to DEEP.Boating@ct.gov, or phone call to 860-434-8638.

If I took a boating course through the United States Power Squadrons in 1968 and I have the diploma, can I use the course completion diploma to obtain my Safe Boating Certificate?

Yes, if the course was CT DEEP approved and you have the course completion diploma. You will need to present your diploma to purchase your Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate. Completion diplomas must be dated and signed by the course provider. DEEP still encourages you to take a boating course since many boating laws and regulations have changed.

Are online courses accepted by Connecticut?

No, asynchronous courses are not approved. CT approved courses meet the following requirements:
- 8 hours of classroom instruction, minimum
- Instructor led
- National Association of Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) approved
- Include a proctored exam

Virtual classes that are instructor led, at least 8 hours in duration, and include a proctored exam are accepted. 

If I own a boat with a small electric trolling motor, am I required to register that boat and do I need a boating certificate to operate the boat?

In general, “yes” to both questions, but there are exceptions. Any vessel with any motor is considered to be a motorboat and must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) before entering Connecticut waters.  If you are a Connecticut resident operating a registered boat of any kind you must possess a Safe Boating Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation.  However, on inland bodies of water with a 10-horsepower limit and between one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset, a certificate is not required for a person operating a boat with an electric motor (rated at 106 lbs. of thrust or less). Nonetheless, the boat must still be registered with the DMV.

If I live in another state, do I need a boating certificate to operate my boat (other than a personal watercraft) on Connecticut waters?

If you meet any of the following criteria, you must obtain a CT boating certificate.
- You are a Connecticut resident
- You own property in Connecticut
- Your vessel is registered in Connecticut
- Your vessel is required to display a Certificate of Decal in the State of Connecticut
- You operate your vessel on CT waters for more than 60 days in a calendar year
         o Requires you to obtain a Certificate of Decal through the DMV
The boating certificate was designed for people who own property in the State of Connecticut, residents of the State of Connecticut or people who have a vessel required to be registered or display a Certificate of Decal in the State of Connecticut.  

If my child is twelve years old and wants to operate the family boat (other than a personal watercraft), does he/she need a boating certificate?

Yes, your child needs a boating certificate to operate the vessel alone. The child must take a boating course to obtain a boating certificate. By law, any person under the age of 16 may operate a vessel (other than a personal watercraft) without being certified if under the direct supervision of a person 18 or older, who has had their Safe Boating Certificate (SBC) or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO) for at least two years.

If I have been boating for 25 years and know more than a boating course can teach me, is there another way I can obtain a boating certificate? 

Yes, you can take the DEEP Equivalency Exam. This exam is designed for an experienced boater who knows the rules and regulations for safe boating on Connecticut waters. Not only does the experienced boater need to know about boating, but know about paddle craft, personal watercraft, sailboats and all the new laws and regulations regarding Connecticut boating and towed watersports. Please contact Wendy at 860-434-8638 or gwendolynn.flynn@ct.gov for more information.
As of October 1, 2008, upon passing the Equivalency Exam, you will qualify for a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation.

If I just purchased a boat (other than a personal watercraft), how do I obtain a temporary boating certificate? 

You will need to go to your local DEEP Processing Office with your newly DMV issued registration (the temporary certificate is issued to the person whose name is on the registration) and a photo ID. The cost of the temporary certificate is $50 and is valid three months from the date that you registered the boat with DMV. You must take a boating course and get your boating certificate within the 3-month time frame. You will not be issued more than one temporary certificate. The fee for the temporary certificate cannot be used toward the purchase of your permanent boating certificate. If you want to get a temporary certificate for a newly purchased personal watercraft, please see below. 

If I have a valid U.S. Coast Guard Operating License, do I need a boating certificate to operate my boat (other than a personal watercraft)?

If you have a current master, mate, or pilot license issued through the U.S. Coast Guard, you do not need the Connecticut boating certificate to operate your boat. The valid USCG Operator’s License must be carried at all times of operation. A USCG Operator’s License does not qualify you to operate personal watercraft, i.e. Jetskis, Waverunners, SeaDoos, or operate a boat while engaged in towed watersports i.e. tubing, wakeboarding or skiing. You  cannot use the valid US Coast Guard Operator’s License to obtain your Connecticut boating certificate. You must take a CT approved boating course or equivalency exam to obtain a CT Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. 

What type of certificate do I need to operate a personal watercraft (PWC)?

You must have a CT Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. A valid US Coast Guard Operator’s License does not qualify you to operate a personal watercraft.
How do I get my Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation?
Successful completion of a CT DEEP approved course will result in a diploma qualifying you to purchase your Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation from the Online Sportsmen Licensing System.

If I just purchased a personal watercraft, can I get a temporary certificate?

Yes. To receive your temporary certificate, you must complete a CT approved two and one-half hour personal watercraft course and the personal watercraft must be registered in your name. Bring your newly issued DMV registration and your course completion diploma to your local DEEP Processing Office. The cost of the certificate is $50 and is valid three months from the date of vessel registration. You must successfully complete a CT approved boating course and obtain your Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation within the three-month time period. The fee for the temporary certificate cannot be used toward the purchase of your permanent boating certificate. 

If my child is under 16, can they operate a personal watercraft if they have a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation?

No, the child may not operate a personal watercraft alone.  A child under 16 is allowed to operate a PWC if they are accompanied  on board by someone who is 18+ and has held a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation for at least 2 years.

If I live in another state and visit Connecticut during the summer months, can I operate a personal watercraft without the Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation?

No. Every person operating a personal watercraft on Connecticut waters must have a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation issued by Connecticut or a state with a reciprocal agreement.

Do I need to have a Safe Boating Certificate/Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation to register a boat?

No. The boating certificate is only required to operate a Connecticut registered boat. There is a line on the Vessel Registration form for the certificate number, however it does not have to be filled in.