How to get a certificate to operate

How to Get a Certificate to Operate a Vessel

Take a Class

Approved boating safety courses are offered throughout the year around the state. Be prepared to provide your instructor/course provider with your Conservation ID number that you obtained from the Online Sportsmen Licensing System, name (as it was entered when registering for a Conservation ID), and birth date.

About a week after successfully completing your course, log back onto the Online Sportsmen Licensing System and follow the instructions to purchase and print your certificate. Currently there is a onetime fee of $50 for a boating certificate.

After signing it, you must carry your official document whenever you operate your vessel.

You can reprint your certificate at any time at home by logging back into the Online Sportsmen Licensing System or by visiting a participating license vendor.

Equivalency Exam

The DEEP Equivalency Examination was designed for the experienced boater who knows the rules and regulations for safe boating on all Connecticut waters.

The examination covers all aspects of a basic boating course including: general information and safety topics, Connecticut State law, trailering, waterways, canoes, motor boats, sail boats, PWC's, row boats, etc. A score of 80% or better is required to pass. A score of 78% or below is a failing score and the examinee would then be required to take an eight (8) hour course that is approved by the State of Connecticut and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).

No one textbook covers all areas of the exam, but many of the topics are covered in the Connecticut Boater's Guide.

The examination fee is $75.00. Testing is by appointment only.

Additional Information about the Equivalency Examination

Exam dates and links to sign up. Payment must be submitted separately.

Exam Date & Time	Due Date for Application & Fee	Virtual or In Person	Registration Link
April 17, 2026 at 9 a.m.	April 14, 2026	Virtual	Register Here for April 17, 2026 virtual exam
May 8, 2026 at 9 a.m.	May 5, 2026	Virtual	Register Here for May 8, 2026 virtual exam
June 12, 2026 at 9 a.m.	June 9, 2026	Virtual	Register Here for June 12, 2026 Virtual Exam
July 10, 2026 at 9 a.m.	July 7, 2026	Virtual	Register Here for the July 10, 2026 Virtual Exam
August 6, 2026 at 9 a.m.	August 3, 2026	Virtual	Register Here for the August 6, 2026 Virtual Exam

Frequently Asked Questions regarding Boating Certification

Applying for Safe Boating Certificates (SBC), Certificates of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO), Temporary and Duplicate Certificates 

 

 

Content last updated April 14, 2026