Frequently Asked Questions

The Boating Course takes approximately eight hours total. To clarify, that’s seven hours of training and one hour to take the Boaters Exam at the end.

One can get this license at 10 years old. One can solo at 10 or 11 years old if the boat has a motor of less than 10 horsepower. Alternatively, one can operate the boat at 10 or 11 years old with a motor greater than 9.9 horsepower however, a supervising operator must be on the boat.  The supervising operator must be 18 and have had their certificate for two years. A certified operator who is 12 years old may solo on a boat.

A very frequently asked question: One can get the license at 10 years old but cannot solo on a PWC until 16 years old.  Compared to a boat where operators can solo at 12 years old with no limitations.

A person must be 12 to be an observer on both a boat and a jet ski (sometimes called a “spotter”).

You must be 16 to tow any skier or inflatable on either a boat or jet ski.  10-15-year-olds can operate the jet ski but must have a certified adult, 18 years or older, onboard the PWC with them.  The supervising operator must have their Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation.  Again, and most importantly, they must be on the jet ski with 10-15 year old.

The Boaters Exam is detailed, but if you stay focused during the class, the chances of failing are nearly zero.  Our average score on the exam for the last decade is a 58.5 out of 60 questions or a 98%.  If you are ready to do the Safe Boating Certificate Course, you’ll be leaving with your Boat License!  We will work with you one-on-one if need be to help you get your Safe Boating Certificate.

True, it is called a Connecticut Safe Boating Certificate. Once you pass the exam, in flying colors, you are then certified for LIFE!  You will hear this again during the Safe Boating course.

Other than the name, obviously, they are all combined into one class now. The SBC or safe boating certificate section focuses on safe boating. The PWC, personal watercraft, and the SWE, safe waterskiing towing, are considered endorsements.  The CPWO, certificate of personal watercraft operation, section focuses on the safe operation of PWC’s. The SWE section focuses on safely towing an inflatable or someone on skis. Briefly, one needs to be 16 to tow a water-skier or inflatable rider.  The CPWO is the new title.  The modern-day boaters class includes all three.

The Boater Exam is 60 multiple choice questions.  You need to get a grade of 80 or better to pass the exam.  That means you need to get 48 answers correct, the equivalent of an 80.  On the other hand, you are allowed to get 12 answers wrong!  Our average score over the last decade is a 58.5 out of 60!  You are in good hands with Connecticut Boating Certificates LLC!

You won't!  If time allows, you will be afforded a second chance.  It is a "no man left behind" atmosphere where we will get together with you one-on-one on a future date if we have to.  Not to worry.  The only students who couldn’t pass the Boater Exam was due to an egregious lack of effort throughout the class.  If you are focused and ready, you'll sail right through it...pun intended!

Yes, in fact, the entire Boating Course is presented in a slide show format. We use other enhancements and practices used to mix it up. You’ll see slides containing just about everything from awesome crafts, jet skis and even some “fail” slides for fun.  All Connecticut Boating Certificate's trainers are certified and have qualities curtailed to teaching.  We have embraced teaching our course online and it shows.  Check out our Testimonials.  Almost daily, we spend a lot of time training and enhancing the course for you.  We hold ourselves to a very high standard to deliver the best course Connecticut has to offer.

Now that everything is online, you only need to bring focus and commitment to learning!  The Helm, which includes the entire set of Navigation Rules, digital Navigation Charts of the Long Island Sound, Federal & State boating-related publications, has all the information you'll ever need as a boat operator.  There are well over 1,000 pages of downloads, links, and videos, and....still counting.  The Helm is updated and added to on a weekly basis with fresh boating content.

Yes, the State of Connecticut Charges $50 for the boating license. It is a one-time fee and you are then official for life.  You'll pay the State of Connecticut Boat License fee separately once you pass the Boating Course. We upload your score into the State of Connecticut's Online Sportsman Portal right after class is complete.  You can pay for and download your Safe Boating Certificate about an hour after class is finished.  It becomes an option after you sign in to the state's site.  The certificate, or what some call the boaters license will be an available option for purchase.  You'll sign in using your Conservation ID number.

Your Boaters License is good for life; you never have to renew it or pay another fee. You can also print a duplicate whenever you’d like (again) free of charge.

Simply contact us and let us know if and when you can make another one. Now that we teach the class online, rescheduling is a breeze.  You'll have carte blanche with selecting a reschedule date and we guarantee your registration with the class you select.  We understand everyone has emergencies, so don’t sweat it; we’ll work it out. 🙂

You can call us at 1-800-832-7191 with any questions.  You can fill out our Contact Us web-mail form or you can email us at info@connecticutboatingcertificates.com

We are here to help you and happy to do so!