2025 Commercial Boat Inspections and Testing Information

Updates and Important Reminders!

NHCDA and Marine Patrol are pleased to announce the commercial boat inspection and CBL testing schedule for the upcoming summer. Once again, they have set up various sites that camps can take their boats for inspection and send their personnel for testing. Please click on the document links below for more detailed information. Each document has important information about the process and procedure. 

BOAT INSPECTIONS:

• Please register your motorboats at least one month in advance of your inspection date.
• Decide where you will have your boats inspected and let Marine Patrol know which site 10 days in advance. Marine Patrol is offering eight inspection sites in the Lakes Region just for camps in May and June, and three regional sites in the southern and western parts of NH. Click here for the NH Camps Inspection Schedule, or click on the green link bars below.
• You are also welcome to bring your commercial boats to any of the inspection sites open to the general public (including camps) that are offered throughout the spring. The same advance notice is necessary. 
• Boats may be trailered or driven by water to inspection sites. Uninspected boats are allowed to operate the day of inspection only for purposes of bringing the boat to the site (no passengers).
• Please make every effort to inspect your boats at one of the scheduled locations. Marine Patrol is short-staffed and incredibly busy in June, and hopes that individual camps will not ask for special treatment. If you have boats that are not trailerable, you may request a private detail, which will cost a minimum of $314 (no private details will be scheduled between June 1 and June 27). 

BOAT DRIVERS (Commercial License Testing):

• Submit your staff’s Commercial Boat License applications to Marine Patrol, at least two weeks in advance of your desired test date. Each application has a $15 fee and the license remains valid for five years (once the test is passed). 
• MP will not hold spots for unnamed “to be determined” staff. 
• All applications must be signed (electronic signatures are accepted). Unsigned applications will not be accepted. No exceptions!
• Decide where you would like your staff to take the test. MP is offering testing just for camp staff at eight different sites, click here for the Camps Testing Schedule or click on the green link bars below. The earlier you do this, the better, as there is a limit of 25 tests per site. There are dozens of other testing opportunities open to the general public and camp staff.
• For camp testing sites, we will be filling the 9:00 am testing session before we begin assigning for the 1:00 pm sessions. If the AM session is not full, there will not be a PM session.
• Email Marine Patrol (mpfrontoffice@dos.nh.gov) at least one week in advance to confirm the testing date and time for your participants. 
• All applicants testing must bring a VALID PHOTO ID.
• NO WALK-INS. If your staff are not on the roster, they will not be allowed to test that day.
• Marine Patrol will also not accept any same-day walk-ins for license application processing. Please plan ahead and send them in, as processing can take up to 10 days. Dropping off applications at headquarters is OK, but the usual processing time should be expected.
• Camps CAN send in a note with their applications specifically noting they want Marine Patrol to call them to pay with a CREDIT CARD. Please place a note on top of the stack with the call back number and the person they need to reach, who will give the credit card number over the phone. This will help avoid issues if one of the applications has any errors.