Connecticut Boater Exam Practice Test 2026
Connecticut residents need a Safe Boating Certificate to operate a motorized boat or a sailboat 19.5 feet or longer, and a Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation to ride a PWC. This practice test covers Connecticut certificate, age and endorsement rules and the national boating rules taught in the approved course.
Quick answer
Pass mark: 80%. It is run by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Boating Division. Practise here for free with 145 questions, each with the answer and an explanation. Checked against official sources on October 17, 2026.
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Question 1 of 25
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Answer: B. 19.5 feet
Connecticut requires a certificate to operate any motorized boat or a sailboat 19.5 feet or longer.
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Question 2 of 25
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Answer: D. The Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO)
Only the CPWO, or a certificate from a recognized state, allows PWC operation. The CPWO also covers all other recreational vessels.
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Question 3 of 25
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Answer: A. Any recreational vessel except a personal watercraft
The SBC covers every recreational vessel except a PWC. For a PWC you need the CPWO.
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Question 4 of 25
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Answer: D. The SBC, for vessels other than personal watercraft
A Coast Guard license replaces the SBC for vessels other than PWCs. You must carry the license on board.
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Question 5 of 25
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Answer: C. A boat with an electric motor rated at 106 pounds of thrust or less
DEEP exempts electric motors of 106 pounds of thrust or less on those waters, from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. The boat must still be registered.
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Question 6 of 25
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Answer: C. New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island
DEEP lists New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island as reciprocal states.
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Question 7 of 25
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Answer: D. 90 days
A person who becomes a permanent Connecticut resident must get a Connecticut certificate within 90 days.
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Question 8 of 25
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Answer: B. More than 60 days
DEEP says a nonresident who operates on Connecticut waters for more than 60 days in a calendar year must get a Connecticut certificate.
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Question 9 of 25
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Answer: A. 8 hours
Students must attend the full 8 hours and pass a proctored exam.
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Question 10 of 25
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Answer: D. 80% or better
DEEP requires a score of 80% or better to pass.
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Question 11 of 25
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Answer: D. A live, instructor-led virtual class of at least 8 hours with a proctored exam
Asynchronous (self-paced) courses are not approved. Live virtual classes of at least 8 hours with a proctored exam are accepted.
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Question 12 of 25
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Answer: D. Experienced boaters who want to test instead of taking the course
The equivalency exam lets experienced boaters prove they know the course material, including Connecticut law, instead of taking the course.
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Question 13 of 25
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Answer: B. An approved 2.5-hour PWC course
A basic boating course plus an approved 2.5-hour PWC course qualifies you for the CPWO.
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Question 14 of 25
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Answer: A. For life, unless suspended
Certificates are valid for life but may be suspended, for example after a conviction for operating under the influence.
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Question 15 of 25
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Answer: C. A temporary certificate valid for three months from registration
A temporary certificate lasts three months from the registration date. You must earn the permanent certificate in that time, and no one gets more than one temporary certificate.
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Question 16 of 25
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Answer: B. When directly supervised on board by someone 18 or older who has held a certificate for at least two years
Under 16, a person may operate a non-PWC vessel without a certificate only with direct supervision by an 18-year-old who has held a certificate for at least two years.
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Question 17 of 25
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Answer: A. Only when supervised on board by a PWC certificate holder who is at least 18
Under 16, a CPWO holder may operate a PWC only when supervised on board by a person at least 18 who holds a CPWO.
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Question 18 of 25
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Answer: A. They may not operate a vessel over 10 horsepower unless a certificate holder 18 or older is aboard
A certified child under 12 may not operate a vessel over 10 horsepower unless an 18-year-old certificate holder is on board.
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Question 19 of 25
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Answer: A. The operator of a vessel towing a water-skier or tuber
The endorsement is required to operate a vessel engaged in tubing or water-skiing. The operator must be at least 16 and hold a qualifying certificate or license.
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Question 20 of 25
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Answer: D. Vessels other than PWCs, for rentals of 14 days or less
The statute lets liveries rent vessels other than PWCs for 14 days or less to people without a certificate, and they must give out safety literature.
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Question 21 of 25
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Answer: D. Buy and print it online with your Conservation ID Number, then sign it
You buy and print the certificate through the Online Sportsmen Licensing System using your Conservation ID Number. Sign it and carry it when you operate.
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Question 22 of 25
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Answer: D. No closer than 100 feet
Connecticut law bars vessels and water-skiers from passing within 100 feet of a device marking an underwater swimmer or diver.
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Question 23 of 25
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Answer: A. You must wear a life jacket, because the rule runs from October 1 through May 31
From October 1 through May 31, Connecticut law requires you to wear a life jacket on canoes, kayaks and other manually propelled vessels.
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Question 24 of 25
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Answer: D. 0.02% or more
Connecticut sets the limit at 0.02% for operators under 21 and 0.08% for operators 21 and older.
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Question 25 of 25
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Answer: B. At least 12
A motorboat towing a skier must carry a responsible person at least 12 years old, in addition to the operator, to watch the skier.
Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.
The real test: 80%
What to know before the test
- Connecticut residents, Connecticut property owners and owners of Connecticut-registered boats need a certificate to operate a motorized boat or a sailboat 19.5 feet or longer.
- The Safe Boating Certificate (SBC) covers any recreational vessel except a personal watercraft. The Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation (CPWO) covers all of them, including PWCs.
- The basic course is 8 hours long and ends with a proctored exam. You need 80% or better to pass.
- Self-paced (asynchronous) online courses are not accepted. Instructor-led virtual classes of at least 8 hours with a proctored exam are accepted.
- Experienced boaters can take the DEEP Equivalency Exam instead of the course. It also needs 80% to pass.
- Certificates are valid for life, but can be suspended after a conviction for operating under the influence.
- A temporary certificate can be issued when you register a newly bought boat. It lasts three months, and no one gets more than one.
Frequently asked questions
Who needs a boating certificate in Connecticut?
Connecticut residents, property owners and owners of Connecticut-registered boats who operate a motorized boat or a sailboat 19.5 feet or longer. Everyone riding a PWC needs a PWC certificate.
Can I take the Connecticut boating course online?
Only as a live, instructor-led virtual class of at least 8 hours with a proctored exam. Self-paced online courses are not approved.
Does the Connecticut boating certificate expire?
No. It is valid for life unless it is suspended, for example after a conviction for boating under the influence.
How do I get my certificate after the course?
About a week after you pass, buy and print it through the Online Sportsmen Licensing System using your Conservation ID Number. Sign it and carry it when you operate.
Can a visitor from another state drive a PWC in Connecticut?
Only with a Connecticut PWC certificate or a certificate from a state Connecticut recognizes. DEEP lists New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.