Overview
The Department of Public Health strives to protect and improve the health of the people of Connecticut. Their mission is realized through assuring the conditions in which people can be healthy, preventing disease, injury, and disability, and promoting the equal enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, which is a human right and a priority of the state.
Registered Nursing (RN) Licensure by Examination
In order to be eligible for registered nurse licensure by examination in Connecticut, applicants should successfully complete a nursing program that meets the requirements outlined in the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. It is also necessary to successfully complete the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination-RN. Foreign trained applicants must successfully complete the CGFNS International Certification Program prior to being eligible for examination.
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- A completed application form and fee of $180.00 in the form of check or money order payable to, “Treasurer, State of Connecticut”.
- An official transcript of nursing education, verifying the award of a degree, diploma or certificate in nursing.
- Foreign-trained applicants need only arrange for verification of completion of the International Certification Program to be submitted by CGFNS. A transcript from your nursing school is not required.
- Register for the examination with Pearson Vue.
- Applicants who are deemed eligible for examination will receive an Authorization To Test (ATT) letter from the testing entity in the mail or through e-mail that will include information regarding scheduling an examination. The ATT will be sent directly from the testing service. You must complete an NCLEX registration form with requisite examination registration fee each time you test.
NOTE: Examination results are not released by the Department via the telephone. Results are not official until received in this office. The Department will mail official results to candidates following routine processing.
Click here for more information on the examination process.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Examination
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Successfully complete a practical nursing program that provided at least 1,500 hours of theory over no less than ten (10) months. Fifty percent (50%) of the contact hours must have been in supervised direct client care experiences and observational experiences.
- Graduates of practical nursing programs that provided less than the minimum of 1,500 hours of direct client care experiences and observational experiences may substitute clinical work experience as a graduate or licensed practical nurse in lieu of the deficient hours in such practical nursing program.
- Applicants who completed nursing school outside of the United States are required to arrange for a ‘Professional Report’ to be submitted directly to the Department of Public Health from the CGFNS
- Successfully complete the National Council of State Boards of Nursing Licensing Examination-PN (NCLEX-PN).
- Applicants may register for the examination online with Pearson Vue.
- Applicants who are deemed eligible for examination will receive an Authorization To Test (ATT) letter from the testing entity in the mail or through e-mail that will include information regarding scheduling an examination. The ATT will be sent directly from the testing service. You must complete an NCLEX registration form with requisite examination registration fee each time you test.
NOTE: Examination results are not released by the Department via the telephone. Results are not official until received in this office. The Department will mail official results to candidates following routine processing.
- Completed application form and fee of $150.00 in the form of a bank check or money order) payable to, “Treasurer, State of Connecticut”.
- An official transcript submitted directly to this office by the nursing school verifying the award of a diploma, certificate or degree in nursing.
IMPORTANT NOTE: For programs located outside of Connecticut, the Dean or Director of the nursing program must also complete and return directly to this office the Verification of Theory and Clinical Instruction Form.
- In addition to the documentation requirements outlined above, applicants who completed nursing school outside of the United States are required to arrange for a ‘Professional Report’ to be submitted directly to this office from the CGFNS
Registered Nursing (RN) Licensure by Endorsement
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- A completed application form and fee of $180.00 in the form of a check or money order, drawn from a United States bank, payable to, Treasurer, State of Connecticut”. Applicants wishing to expedite the licensure process may select this link to apply online.
- An official transcript of nursing education, verifying the award of a degree, diploma or certificate in nursing. Please note that if you completed your education under a last name other than your current last name, please ask your school of nursing to indicate your current last name on the documentation submitted (Foreign-trained applicants need only arrange for verification of certification by the CGFNS
- Nurses trained and licensed in Canada who meet the educational requirements may be licensed by endorsement provided they have successfully completed the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) in English with a score equivalent to Connecticut’s current passing standard (at least 400 in each section of the CRNE exam).
- Nurses who completed the CRNE in French must also pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service with a score of at least 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test.
- Verification of all licenses held, current or expired forwarded directly from the appropriate authority in any U.S. state, territory or Canadian province in which the applicant is or has ever been licensed as a registered nurse. Most jurisdictions charge a fee for completion of the verification form. Please contact the jurisdiction for fee information.
- The National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s Nursys System verifies electronically licenses issued by several states. Select this link for a list of Nursys participating states. You may register for verifications for Nursys participating states online.
- Applicants who hold a current, valid registered nurse license in another U.S. state or territory are eligible for a 120-day, non-renewable temporary permit to practice nursing in Connecticut pending issuance of full licensure. Once a complete application is received and approved, a temporary permit will be issued in 15 business days.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Endorsement
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Completed notarized application form and fee of $150.00 in the form of a bank check or money order (no personal checks will be accepted) payable to, “Treasurer, State of Connecticut”
- An official transcript submitted directly to this office by the nursing school verifying the award of a diploma, certificate or degree in nursing. Please note that if you completed your education under a last name other than your current last name, please ask your school of nursing to indicate your current last name on the documentation submitted.
- Nurses trained and licensed in Canada who meet the educational requirements may be licensed by endorsement provided they have successfully completed the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Examination (CPNRE or CNATS) in English with a score equivalent to Connecticut’s current passing standard (at least 400 in each section of the CPNRE exam).
- Nurses who completed the CPNRE or CNATS in French must also pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), administered by the Educational Testing Service with a score of at least 550 on the paper-based test or 213 on the computer-based test.
- A Completed Verification of Theory and Clinical Instruction Form submitted directly by the Dean or Director of the nursing program Please note that graduates of an LPN program who have not completed at least 1,500 hours of theory and clinical instruction (at least half clinical) may substitute work experience to make up the difference).
- Applicants who completed nursing school outside of the United States are required to arrange for a ‘Professional Report’ to be submitted directly to this office from the CGFNS
- Completed Work Experience Verification Form submitted directly to this office by the applicant’s current or most recent employer.
- Verification of all licenses held, current or expired forwarded directly from the appropriate authority in any U.S. state, territory or Canadian province in which the applicant is or has ever been licensed as either a practical nurse or a registered nurse. Most jurisdictions charge a fee for completion of the verification form. Please contact the jurisdiction for fee information.
- The National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s Nursys System verifies electronically licenses issued by several states. Please select this link for a list of Nursys participating states. You may register for verifications for Nursys participating states online.
- Applicants for licensure by endorsement who hold a current, valid practical nurse license in another U.S. state or territory whose requirements for practicing in such capacity are substantially similar to or higher than those of this state may be eligible for a 120-day, non-renewable temporary permit to practice nursing in Connecticut pending licensure issuance.
NOTE: A temporary permit will not be issued until such time as a transcript and a Verification of Theory and Clinical Instruction Form are received directly from the school of nursing. Once complete, a temporary permit will be issued within 15 business days.
All supporting documentation should be sent directly from the source to:
Connecticut Department of Public Health
LPN Licensure
410 Capitol Ave., MS# 12 APP
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134
Phone: (860) 509-7603
Fax: (860) 707-1981
Email: dph.nursingteam@ct.gov
For more information visit the official Connecticut Department of Public Health website.
References:
http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3121&q=389526&dphNav_GID=1821