A Guide to Nursing Licenses and Renewals in Connecticut

Career Resources / Nursing Licensure / Connecticut

There are many advantages to being a registered nurse in Connecticut. The state has excellent nursing schools and medical facilities, and the median salary paid to nurses in Connecticut is 6% higher than the national average. To guide you through the process of applying for your Connecticut nursing license, we’ve assembled the information below.

In this article, we will cover:

• How to get your nursing license by exam
• How to get your nursing license by endorsement
• How to renew your Connecticut nursing license
• Licensing fees
• Continuing education requirements
• How to contact the Connecticut Board of Nursing

How to get your Connecticut nursing license

Step 1: Education

Becoming a registered nurse begins with a solid educational foundation. There are three paths available:

•  Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
•  Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) 
•  Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing for those who have achieved a bachelor’s degree and who take the additional classes necessary to become a registered nurse.

Connecticut requires applicants for registered nursing licensure to first obtain a nursing degree. Successful completion of any of the state board’s approved programs is the first step to being issued a state license.

Step 2: Apply

There are several steps that registered nurse candidates need to complete before submitting their online application for a license along with the appropriate fee. No paper applications will be accepted. 

• Register on the state’s website.
• Register to take the NCLEX at www.pearsonvue.com/nclex. The fee is $200. 
• Log on to the application site to submit your application and $180 fee. Once you have submitted the application and the Board has received your transcripts, they will have authorization to send the NCLEX-RN test to you electronically. 

Step 3: Transcripts

Candidates should arrange to have their official transcripts sent to:

Connecticut Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Ave
MS# 12 APP
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134

Step 4: Criminal Record Check 

Connecticut does not require nursing licensure candidates to submit to a mandatory background check. The state certification board does, however, require applicants to submit information pertaining to any past criminal history and individual facilities may require a background check.

Step 5: Take the NCLEX

The National Council Licensing Examination (NCLEX) test is the last test that a registered nursing candidate has to take and pass before being issued a Connecticut state license. Authorization to take the test is provided after registering and paying the $200 fee at the PearsonVue website. If you do not pass the NCLEX-RN, you must wait 45 days before scheduling another exam. The state allows candidates to take the exam as many as 8 times per year. The test must be passed within three years of graduation from a nursing program. The NCLEX consists of 75-145 questions, which will cover topics including:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Management of Care  
• Safety and Infection Control 
• Health Promotion and Maintenance 
• Psychosocial Integrity 
• Physiological Integrity 
• Basic Care and Comfort 
• Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
• Physiological Adaptation

How to renew your Connecticut nursing license

Step 1: Submit renewal application

Connecticut’s registered nurses need to renew their licenses annually. You will receive notification that your license is up for renewal approximately 60 days before it expires. A second notice will be sent 30 days after expiration if no renewal application has been submitted. 

Step 2: Fulfill continuing competency requirements

The state of Connecticut has mandated that every six years, all registered nurses need to complete:

• One contact hour on screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression, and grief
• One contact hour on suicide prevention training

One contact hour is defined as at least 50 minutes of instruction. Qualifying courses can be either in-person or online. Nurses attest to satisfaction of the requirement when applying for license renewal and need to keep records of attendance or certificates of completion for at least three years after the year in which the course was taken. These records do not need to be submitted during renewal but need to be provided within 45 days of a request for inspection from the department.

Step 3: Submit your renewal application

Renewal applications can be completed and license renewal fees paid online here. Nurses who prefer to submit a paper application need to email [email protected] to request a renewal application. 

How to get your nursing license by endorsement

Nurses holding out-of-state licenses seeking a new Connecticut license will need to have the verification of all RN licenses held, whether current or expired,  sent directly to the Connecticut Department of Public Health by the source.

If you have been licensed by a Nursys participating state, this information can be requested via this link. License verification from states that do not participate with Nursys should be requested by sending this verification form to the licensing state and requesting that they submit documentation to:

Connecticut Department of Public Health/RN Licensure
410 Capitol Ave
MS #12 APP
PO Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134

Additionally, an online application and appropriate fees should be submitted online via this link.

Out-of-state nurses seeking a Connecticut license are eligible for a 120-day, non-renewable temporary permit to practice nursing while they are waiting for it to be issued. This temporary permit will be issued within 15 days of the completed application being received and approved.

Licensing fees

Below are the fees for becoming a nurse in Connecticut whether you are a first-time nurse or are moving to Connecticut from another state. For more information visit the Connecticut licensing page.

Licensing fee by examination (first-time nurses):

• NCLEX fee: $200
• Application fee: $180

Licensing fee by endorsement (already have RN licensure):

• Application fee: $180

License renewal fees:

• Application: $110

*Fees are subject to change.
**Most states require a background check, but prices are not always listed.

Continuing education requirements

• RN/LPN: Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses actively practicing in Connecticut and applying for license renewal after January 1, 2022, and once every six years thereafter, are required to complete 2 contact hours of training or education on (1) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training. 

• APRNs licensed after October 1, 2014, must complete 50 hours of CE every 2 years
  • 5 hours must be in pharmacotherapeutics
  • At least 2 hours of training must address mental health conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans.
  • Must complete at least 1 hour in the following topics:
    • HIV
    • Risk Management
    • Sexual Assault
    • Domestic Violence
    • Cultural Competency
    • Substance abuse, including, but not limited to, prescribing controlled substances and pain management

Incredible Health offers ANCC-accredited continuing education courses for nurses in all 50 states, 100% free and online. The Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited. 

How to Contact the Connecticut Board of Nursing

Connecticut Department of Health Practitioner Licensing & Investigations Section
Board of Examiners for Nursing
Phone: (860) 509-7603
Fax: (860) 509-8457

Attention all correspondence to the profession in which you are interested.

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/dph/public-health-hearing-office/board-of-examiners-for-nursing/

The office is not open to visitors who do not have an appointment. There is a dropbox if you need to turn something in.

410 Capitol Ave, MS#12 APP
PO Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308

More Connecticut Resources

• Best hospitals in the state
• Best nursing schools in the state
• Average salary for RNs in the state