Get Ready to Ride!
Our Motorcycle Rider Education program offers courses for every level of motorcyclist–from those who’ve never even sat on a bike to experienced riders wishing to fine-tune their skills. Each program caters to a specific experience level and may meet DMV licensing requirements.
CT Basic Rider Course
No experience needed! This is a course teaching the practical skills needed to safely operate a motorcycle while fulfilling CT DMV licensing requirements. Motorcycles are provided for this course.
Returning Rider Basic Rider Course
Consider this course if you have some experience but haven’t ridden for a while OR if you've been riding on a permit and want to refresh your basic skills while earning a motorcycle endorsement on your license. Motorcycles are provided for this course.
Intermediate Rider Course
The intermediate-level skills needed to safely operate a motorcycle are taught in this course designed for motorcyclists with a minimum of 600 street riding miles or more than six months of riding experience. You must have your own motorcycle to ride for this course.
Advanced Rider Course
This course is for experienced motorcyclists with a minimum of 1,000 street riding miles or more than twelve months of riding experience wishing to learn advanced maneuvers and fine-tune their riding skills. You must have your own motorcycle to ride for this course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Motorcycle training courses require a different registration form than other Workforce Development/Continuing Education courses. Please see this page for more information.
Courses are enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis; therefore, you should select three possible classes–a primary class and two alternates in case your first preference is full. Make sure all dates fit your schedule. Confirmation of the course you can enroll in will be emailed to you. If registering with a friend, all registrations must be requested to be grouped together, including the full name, email address, and contact number of all additional participants.
All motorcycle courses require a valid CT driver's license and the ability to balance a two-wheeled vehicle (bicycle). Specific admission requirements vary based on the course and can be seen on each course’s program page.
The Basic Rider course is $240. Other motorcycle rider courses are $150. All fees are non-refundable.
Each motorcycle course is designed to cater to different experience levels from novice to experienced and everywhere in between. Depending on the level, successful completion of these courses, outside of the Advanced Rider course, will allow you to earn a State of CT license motorcycle endorsement (M). Additional information on getting your M endorsement at the DMV and post-class follow-up will be provided.
Payment is required in full after enrollment. A payment form and instructions will be sent to you shortly after completing enrollment. Please check your email for further instructions. Allow two business days to process payment. The method of payment is by fax, phone, or in person.
Courses generally include 1-3 days of in-person (classroom and practical) training and a self-paced online eCourse that must be completed any time in the month before class. Class dates and times may be broken up in different ways depending on when and where they’re being offered. For example, a Basic Rider course may offer two options depending on which campus you take the course. See the sample schedules below.
Sample Schedules
Option A (3 days): Students complete the mandatory 3-hour eCourse, classroom instruction, and range training. Students must show proof of completing the mandatory 3-hour eCourse on the first day of range practice.
3-hour mandatory eCourse at home
Classroom: Thursday: 6-9 p.m.
On-cycle & classroom: Saturday: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-5 p.m.
On-cycle: Sunday: 8-4 p.m.
Option B (2 days): Students complete the mandatory 5-hour eCourse, an online learning course at home, and range training. Students must show proof of completing a 5-hour e-course on the first day of range practice.
5-hour mandatory eCourse at home
Classroom & on-cycle: Saturday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Classroom & on-cycle: Sunday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Each course has different rules about this that are included on the program pages and must be followed. For the Basic Riding course, students must ride a state-issued motorcycle unless otherwise noted. Motorcycles are provided for student use during this course. Students enrolled in the Intermediate Rider, Returning Rider or Advanced Rider courses may be required to use their own fully insured and registered street-legal motorcycle with a capacity of 50cc to 500cc. Some courses may give you the option to use either your own motorcycle or use one of the provided bikes. If you do use your own motorcycle, proof of registration and insurance must be provided, and the motorcycle must be in good operating condition. If any of these conditions are not met, you will be required to ride the school's motorcycle.
The online eCourse is a key component for all courses and must be completed before the first in-person class. Graphics and videos illustrate the lessons to help you understand the principles of motorcycling. Students cannot complete the class and earn their motorcycle endorsement without completing the eCourse. There is a Spanish language option.
To complete the online eCourse requirements in each of these courses, you must have internet access via a computer or mobile device. The link for the mandatory eCourse will be in your confirmation email shortly after registration and payment are completed.
You do not have to complete the entire course in one sitting. You can leave and come back as often as you wish. The program will pick up where you left off.
For the Basic Rider course, no, our trained instructors will guide you through the entire process. You will be introduced to the motorcycle and all its controls, learn basic skills and enjoy the thrill of the ride to come. Other courses have requirements as to how much experience you need to participate.
Riding a motorcycle requires a sense of balance and coordination. Students who can ride a bicycle have demonstrated the minimum ability necessary to balance a motorcycle.
No. Attendance in the classroom and at riding sessions are tightly scheduled. If a class or riding session is missed, you must re-register for another class and pay the full fee again.
To complete a motorcycling course, you must complete the online eCourse, the classroom sessions, the riding sessions, and pass a riding skills test and a written knowledge test.
Yes, however, you will need to register for another class and pay the full fee again.
No. Classes are held rain or shine. If rain is in the forecast, please be sure to bring appropriate rain gear.
The Connecticut Motorcycle Rider Education program is a statewide program directed by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and hosted by the CT State Department of Workforce Development. The Basic Rider or Intermediate Ridercourses are mandated for a rider to obtain a motorcycle operator endorsement for their Connecticut driver's license.