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Let us help you land on your dream job here in Connecticut! Read on this article to know more about the licensing process in Connecticut, and more!
Through this article, you will be able to know the following:
Fees for the licensing
Licensing renewal process (step-by-step)
Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing
Licensing and certification
Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Connecticut
Popular hospitals in Connecticut
Nursing associations in Connecticut
Contact details
Fees for the Licensing
The table below shows the required payments for the licensing, whether you are a first-time nurse, applying by endorsement, or renewing your license. For more details, visit the Connecticut licensing page.
*Fees may change without any notice.
**A background check is required in most states, but prices are not usually indicated.
Licensing Renewal Process
Check when your license expires by visiting the Connecticut Board of Nursing website. Connecticut has a Verification page for you to verify your license. Your first birth month following issuance is usually the expiration period of your license, and you can apply for its renewal yearly thereafter. This link will provide you a list of professions that expire every 2 years.
Complete all your continuing education requirements BEFORE your license expires.
Apply for your renewal process by going to the Connecticut Board of Nursing. You may check on the Renewal Information page for more specific information.
Requirements for Continuing Education in Nursing
The following are the Continuing Education Requirements for nurses in Connecticut.
For RN/LPN, no CEU is required but some employers may ask you to obtain one.
For APRNs who obtained their license after October 1, 2014, you must complete 50 hours of CE every 2 years -
5 hours in pharmacotherapeutics
A minimum of 2-hour training addressing mental health conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans.
At least 1 hour in HIV, Risk Management, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Cultural Competency, Substance abuse, including, but not limited to, prescribing controlled substances and pain management
The Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing accepts courses that are ANCC accredited.
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Licensing and Certification
Step 1: Education
To earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), you must attend an accredited institution that offers ADN for 18-24 months. You can also take a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Degree in an accredited institution. These programs typically take 4 to 5 years to complete. If you have an ADN but you wanna pursue your bachelor’s, there are certain programs that let you earn your BSN in 12 to 18 months. There is also an RN to BSN program that will take one year for you to earn the degree. Said programs let you save on time and money as you work towards advancing your career.
Step 2: Licensing
Six weeks before your graduation, you can start the process of your application for the NCLEX-RN exam. This exam is composed of 75-265 items and you will be given a limit of 5 hours to finish all of it. Failing the exam does not necessarily mean that you do not have the chance anymore. After your first try, you just have to wait for 45 days and you can apply again.
The scope of NCLEX includes questions about: (1) health promotion and maintenance; (2) safe and effective care environment; (3) physiology and integrity; and (4) psychology and integrity.
Step 3: Experience
This time, you must learn how to take the opportunities in gaining first-hand experiences in dealing with patients, with colleagues and superiors, and with the different situations that you might face. These invaluable experiences will make you more attractive to bigger employers in the future.
Step 4: Certification
Your last step is to obtain certifications for your chosen career. There are different requirements for earning a certification, depending on your preferences so it is important to check with the governing provider for information. You can attend several trainings, seminars or workshops in varied institutions for this purpose.
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Job and Salary Expectations of Nurses in Connecticut
Shortage of healthcare professionals, specifically nurses, has been a perennial issue in the country. This makes nurses highly in demand during this period of time. This profession will increase by about 9% from 2020 to 2030. The average annual salary is currently $88,530.
Let us help you check out average wages of nurses to help determine if Connecticut is the right place for you.
Popular Hospitals in Connecticut
Still not decided on whether to work as a nurse in Connecticut or not? This list of the best hospitals in the state will surely help you make that decision to go in the right direction. U.S. News and World Report made a list of the best and popular hospitals in Connecticut. Here are some of them:
Yale New Haven Hospital – (New Haven, CT):
Regionally ranked #1 in Connecticut and in New Haven
Nationally ranked in 8 adult specialties and 6 pediatric specialties
Rated high performing in 3 adult specialties and 12 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility, and a teaching hospital
Part of the Magnet Recognition Program®
Specialties include Colon & lung cancer, Cardiology & heart surgery, Diabetes & endocrinology, and Pulmonology & Lung Surgery
Hartford Hospital – (Hartford, CT):
Rated high performing in 2 adult specialties and 14 procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility, and a teaching hospital
Specialties include Cardiology & heart surgery, Conditions related to cancer, Diabetes & endocrinology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, and Surgical weight loss.
St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center – (Hartford, CT):
Rated high performing in 10 adult procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility, and a teaching hospital
Specialties include Colon cancer surgery, Heart failure, Aortic valve surgery, Diabetes, Nephrology, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Bridgeport Hospital – (Bridgeport, CT):
Rated high performing in 5 adult procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility, and a teaching hospital
Specialties include Cardiology and Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Neurology & Neurosurgery, and Pulmonology and Lung Surgery
Danbury Hospital – (Danbury, CT):
Rated high performing in 5 adult procedures and conditions
General medical and surgical facility, and a teaching hospital
Specialties include Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Nephrology, and Pulmonology and Lung Surgery
*The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awards Magnet Status to Hospitals that apply and meet certain criteria. This award is also considered as the “gold standard” for excellence in nursing practice and care.
Nursing Associations in Connecticut
Becoming a member of a nursing association opens a lot of opportunities to your career growth. It gives you the advantages of varied job offers and networking, and a bunch of information and experiences shared between you and your fellow nurses. Through these organizations, learning and professional growth never stop. Listed below are just a few of the nursing organizations that you can find and join once you are in Connecticut.
Connecticut Nursing Collaborative-Action Coalition: “The members of this institution make sure that they work for everyone’s healthier life in America. They also see to it that they give support to everybody because they know that nurses are important partners in providing care and promoting healthy well-being.”
Connecticut Nurses Association: “The nurses in this association give highlight to professional development and advocacies that provide nurses with a voice to influence within this profession.”
Southern Connecticut Black Nurses Association: “This organization promotes that African-American Nurses have the necessary knowledge and understanding. They also emphasize that they do have the interest and concern that can make significant changes in the healthcare status of African-Americans and other ethnic groups.”
For more information about the nursing associations, you may visit the comprehensive list of national organizations as well.
Contact Details
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: oplc.dph@ct.gov
A dropbox is available for any concern you need to reach out. An appointment is required if you wish to visit the office.
410 Capitol Ave, MS#12PHO
PO Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308