Connecticut APRN License Requirements 2026
Connecticut licenses APRNs through the Department of Public Health. To qualify, you’ll need a master’s degree in nursing, 30 hours of pharmacology coursework, and certification from an approved national body. Connecticut allows independent practice, but APRNs must first complete three years and 2,000 hours of physician collaboration.
Sponsored School(s)
Connecticut advanced practice nurses (APRNs) are licensed by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH). Credentials are issued on the basis of education and national certification. Connecticut recognizes three advanced practice roles under a single application: nurse practitioner (NP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), and certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) follow a separate process with slightly different requirements. Connecticut passed a law in 2014 allowing APRNs to practice independently, though collaboration is required for the first three years.
Use the links below to jump to education requirements, application steps, renewal rules, and nurse midwife certification information.
- Education Requirements for Connecticut APRNs
- Temporary Practice Pending Certification
- Collaboration and Liability Requirements
- How to Apply for Connecticut APRN Licensure
- Renewing Your Connecticut APRN License
- Certified Nurse Midwife Requirements
- Nursing Board and Additional Resources
Education Requirements for Connecticut APRNs
Nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists are required by statute to hold a master’s degree in nursing or a related field that qualifies for national certification.
In addition to the degree, Connecticut requires 30 hours of pharmacology education specific to advanced practice. This requirement applies to all three APRN roles covered under the standard application.
APRNs must hold current national certification from an organization approved by the Connecticut DPH. Approved certifying bodies include:
- American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
- National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing Specialties (NCC)
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB)
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
APRNs must also hold a valid Connecticut RN license. Connecticut joined the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) effective October 1, 2025, so RNs holding a multistate license from another NLC state can now practice in Connecticut without a separate single-state RN license. The NLC covers RN and LPN/VN licenses only. Connecticut has not enacted the separate APRN Compact, so APRNs still need an individual Connecticut APRN license regardless of where they live or hold APRN credentials.
Connecticut NP programs are one path to meeting the education requirement. Find Nurse Practitioner programs in Connecticut to review approved options.
Temporary Practice Pending Certification
A registered nurse who has completed a qualifying advanced practice program and applied to take the national certifying exam may work under supervision while waiting for exam results. The temporary practice window is 120 days. Requirements for this period are outlined in Section 20-101 of the Connecticut Nurse Practice Act.
Collaboration and Liability Requirements
Connecticut law requires APRNs to work under a collaboration agreement with a physician for at least their first three years of advanced practice and until they have accumulated 2,000 practice hours. Once those thresholds are met, an APRN can notify the Commissioner of Public Health and transition to independent practice.
Most APRNs are required to carry professional liability insurance. One exception applies to AANA-certified nurse anesthetists who work under physician direction. Full insurance requirements are described in Section 20-94c of the Nurse Practice Act.
How to Apply for Connecticut APRN Licensure
APRN applications are submitted online through Connecticut’s eLicense portal (elicense.ct.gov). The same application covers nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse anesthetists. The DPH requires primary source documentation for each credential element.
Post-basic nursing education must be documented by official transcripts sent directly from the issuing institution. Applicants who have held licensure in another state must provide verification of all licenses held, current or expired. In most cases, this can be done through the NCSBN’s NURSYS system. The DPH provides a paper verification form for states where electronic verification isn’t available.
Certification must be verified officially. The DPH can receive certification verification electronically from AANA. For other certifying bodies, the applicant provides documentation directly. The APRN application fee is $200. The application requires notarization and a recent photograph attached to the form.
Any applicant who answers yes to questions about adverse professional history — including license suspensions, investigations, or felony convictions — must submit supporting documentation, including a personal statement and relevant official records such as court documents.
Renewing Your Connecticut APRN License
Connecticut APRN licenses renew on a two-year cycle. Starting with the second renewal period, 50 contact hours of continuing education are required. The full CE requirements are published on the Connecticut DPH continuing education page. APRNs who are not engaged in active professional practice during a registration period may apply for an exemption by submitting a notarized form to the DPH before the license expires.
The required continuing education must include specific topic areas: five hours of pharmacotherapeutics and one hour each in diseases (including HIV/AIDS), risk management, sexual assault, domestic violence, cultural competency, and substance abuse (including prescribing controlled substances and pain management). Starting with the first renewal period in which CE is required, APRNs must also complete two hours of training on mental health conditions common to veterans and their family members — including screening for PTSD, depression, grief, and suicide prevention. That same two-hour requirement repeats at least once every six years.
Certified Nurse Midwife Requirements
Nurse midwives have a separate application process and a slightly different set of requirements compared to other APRN roles. Certification must come from the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), which sets the national credentialing standard for the specialty.
Pharmacology education for nurse midwives must consist of 30 hours of coursework specifically intended to prepare for the nurse midwife role. This is distinct from the general advanced practice pharmacology requirement that applies to NPs, CNSs, and CRNAs.
Nurse midwives must be eligible for Connecticut RN licensure. Internationally educated midwives who are not licensed as RNs in any U.S. state are required to pass the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) Examination before they can proceed.
The nurse midwife application, available from the DPH website, requires documentation of pharmacology coursework and ACNM certification. Applicants who don’t hold current Connecticut RN licensure must have nursing education transcripts sent to the DPH directly. Out-of-state nursing licenses must also be verified. The nurse midwife application fee is $100.
Nursing Board and Additional Resources
The Connecticut Board of Examiners in Nursing operates under the Department of Public Health. The licensing agency handles both standard APRN applications and nurse-midwife applications. The DPH can be reached by phone at (860) 509-7603 or by email at [email protected].
State professional organizations for Connecticut APRNs include:
- Connecticut Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Society (CTAPRNS)
- Connecticut Association of Nurse Anesthetists (CTANA)
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Connecticut allow APRNs to practice independently?
Yes. Connecticut passed legislation in 2014 granting APRNs the right to independent practice. However, all APRNs must first complete a collaboration period with a physician. That requirement is met after three years of practice and 2,000 accumulated practice hours. Once both thresholds are cleared, the APRN notifies the Commissioner of Public Health to practice independently.
What certifications does Connecticut accept for APRN licensure?
Connecticut accepts certifications from seven approved bodies: AANA, PNCB, ANCC, NCC, AANPCB, ONCC, and AACN. The right certifying body depends on your specialty. NPs most commonly certify through ANCC or AANPCB; CRNAs through AANA; CNSs through ANCC or specialty boards like AACN or ONCC.
How many continuing education hours are required to renew a Connecticut APRN license?
Starting with the second renewal period, Connecticut requires 50 contact hours every two years. The CE must cover specific topics, including five hours in pharmacotherapeutics and individual hours in domestic violence, sexual assault, risk management, substance abuse, cultural competence, and disease prevention. The first renewal period does not have a CE requirement.
Can an APRN licensed in another state apply for Connecticut licensure?
Yes. Connecticut is now a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member, effective October 1, 2025, but the NLC applies to RN and LPN licenses only — not APRN licenses. APRNs must apply individually for Connecticut APRN licensure through the DPH regardless of where they hold APRN credentials or live. Out-of-state RN license verification is handled through the NCSBN NURSYS system in most cases. Connecticut has not enacted the separate APRN Compact, so there is no automatic reciprocity for the advanced practice credential itself.
Is the nurse midwife application the same as the standard APRN application?
No. Nurse midwives use a separate application and must hold ACNM certification rather than certification from the seven bodies approved for other APRN roles. The application fee is also different: $100 for nurse midwives versus $200 for NPs, CNSs, and CRNAs. Internationally educated midwives who are not U.S.-licensed RNs must also pass the CGFNS exam.
Key Takeaways
- Master’s degree is the baseline — Connecticut requires a graduate-level nursing degree plus 30 hours of pharmacology education for all three standard APRN roles.
- National certification is required — APRNs must hold certification from one of seven DPH-approved bodies before applying for a Connecticut license.
- Independent practice requires a collaboration period first — APRNs must complete three years and 2,000 hours under a physician collaboration agreement before practicing independently.
- The NLC covers RNs only, not APRN licenses — Connecticut joined the Nurse Licensure Compact in October 2025, but the compact applies to RN and LPN licenses only. APRNs still need an individual Connecticut APRN license regardless of where they hold APRN credentials or live.
- Nurse midwives have a separate path — CNMs apply through a different process, must hold ACNM certification, and pay a lower application fee ($100 vs. $200).
Use the search below to find APRN programs in Connecticut approved for nurse practitioner, CNS, and nurse anesthetist preparation.