In Connecticut, the nursing profession is regulated directly by the state’s Department of Public Health. Unlike many states, Connecticut does not have a regulatory body directly for the nursing profession. However, Connecticut is fairly typical in terms of its Registered Nurse licensing requirements – like most states, you must take and pass the NCLEX after completing an approved program of study, unless you already hold a license from another state, in which the process is much easier.

Obtaining a License

The steps, briefly:

• Successfully complete a program of study at a Department of Public Health-approved school or, in some cases, teaching hospital.. Connecticut requires Registered Nurses to have either an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree (or higher) in nursing. The Department of Public Health (DPH) provides a list of appropriate in-state programs here. A description of the standards a program must meet is available here, but don’t worry – while it appears technical, Connecticut will accept most nursing Associate’s or Bachelor’s degrees.
• Register for the NCLEX exam. You should do this at around the same time you submit your DPH application.
• Upon program completion and exam registration, submit an application to the DPH. You can find that application here. You must either send yourself, or arrange to have your school send, your academic transcripts. The fee for this application is 180 dollars, by check or money order payable to “Treasurer, State of Connecticut.”
• Something to note here is that Connecticut, unlike some states, will only accept applications after the applicant has registered for NCLEX – you will receive an Authorization to Test form from the test administrators, at which point, go ahead and submit your DPH application.
• Take and pass the NCLEX. This is the “big one” so to speak – the test required in all 50 states to become a Registered Nurse (there is also a version for licensed practical nurses).
• Once you pass, you're in! You should receive notification of licensure by mail shortly after receiving your test results.

If you already hold a license in another state, and wish to practice in Connecticut, you may also apply by what’s called “endorsement.” Connecticut is not, alas, a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state, so you still need to go through an application process. However, you do not need to retake the NCLEX. (If you hold a license that didn’t require you to take the NCLEX, sorry – you’ll have to take it in CT.) Simply submit the application, with fee, an academic transcript, and verification of your existing license – check out the forms here.

Maintaining a License

Renewal

Connecticut has its own unique way of determining license renewal. Your license expires in the first birth month following issuance, and the annually in that same month every year. That sounds complex, no? If you receive your license in September, and were born in October, sorry – you’re about to expire! Thankfully, the state mails out a reminder one month prior to expiration, so keep your address current. Renewal occurs online – email the Department to receive a user name and password. You also have a 90-grace period after technical expiration in which you may still practice.

Discipline

As with all states, anyone in the state of Connecticut can file a complaint about one its registered nurses. Complaints are investigated directly by the Department of Public Health, which will then post its findings online. As the previous link indicates, punishments range from temporary suspension to outright revocation of a license. Connecticut, unfortunately, does not provide a handy guide to the behaviors that will get a nurse disciplined (though you should learn this in school). However, some of the statutes outlining the professional responsibilities of registered nurses can be found here.