Using self signed CA certificate for WebSocket (ws) in Node JS

I need to connect to a separate WebSocket server using a ws client in Node JS .

Since I have a "Self-Signed Root CA" installed in my computer's "Trusted Root Certification Authorities" store, I can connect using the sample program in Chrome.

I know Node JS uses a hardcoded list of root CAs (stupid), but I was hoping there would be some way to import my own root CAs.

I tried:

• Use the CLI options mentioned in the Node JS documentation

        export NODE_EXTRA_CA_CERTS=C:\\Users\\IT1\\Documents\\security\\rootCA.pem

• Using the ssl-root-cas library suggested in many forum posts , but I don't think it might work here because it doesn't change the https of the ws client I'm using. (I think, I'm spitting now)
• Use the ca, cert and key options available to the WebSocket constructor.

        // Using just ca
        var test = new WebSocket(uri, {
            ca: fs.readFileSync("C:\\Users\\IT1\\Documents\\security\\rootCA.pem")
        });

        // Using cert and key
        var test = new WebSocket(uri, {
            cert: fs.readFileSync("C:\\Users\\IT1\\Documents\\security\\rootCA.crt"),
            key: fs.readFileSync("C:\\Users\\IT1\\Documents\\security\\rootCA.key")
        });

        // Using ca, cert and key
        var test = new WebSocket(uri, {
            ca: fs.readFileSync("C:\\Users\\IT1\\Documents\\security\\rootCA.pem"),
            cert: fs.readFileSync("C:\\Users\\IT1\\Documents\\security\\rootCA.crt"),
            key: fs.readFileSync("C:\\Users\\IT1\\Documents\\security\\rootCA.key")
        });

And no matter what, I always get the following error message:

events.js:200
      throw er; // Unhandled 'error' event
      ^

Error: unable to verify the first certificate
    at TLSSocket.onConnectSecure (_tls_wrap.js:1321:34)
    at TLSSocket.emit (events.js:223:5)
    at TLSSocket._finishInit (_tls_wrap.js:794:8)
    at TLSWrap.ssl.onhandshakedone (_tls_wrap.js:608:12)
Emitted 'error' event on WebSocket instance at:
    at ClientRequest.<anonymous> (C:\Users\IT1\source\repos\WebSocketTest\WebSocketTest\node_modules\ws\lib\websocket.js:554:15)
    at ClientRequest.emit (events.js:223:5)
    at TLSSocket.socketErrorListener (_http_client.js:406:9)
    at TLSSocket.emit (events.js:223:5)
    at emitErrorNT (internal/streams/destroy.js:92:8)
    at emitErrorAndCloseNT (internal/streams/destroy.js:60:3)
    at processTicksAndRejections (internal/process/task_queues.js:81:21) {
  code: 'UNABLE_TO_VERIFY_LEAF_SIGNATURE'
}

Also, I can't use rejectUnauthorized: true. I need to authorize it, so please don't suggest this.

Please help, I really want to catch this.