Below is exactly what Connecticut Department of Public Health — Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.
Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed May 12, 2026
For CRNAs, 50 hours is the total CME requirement. Connecticut also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 50-hour total.
“include at least five contact hours of training or education in pharmacotherapeutics”
“include at least one contact hour of training or education in each of the following topics: (A) Infectious diseases, including, but not limited to, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus”
“(B) risk management”
“(C) sexual assault”
“(D) domestic violence”
“(E) cultural competency”
“(F) substance abuse, including, but not limited to, prescribing controlled substances and pain management”
These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.
On and after January 1, 2016, at least 2 contact hours during the first renewal period in which CE is required and not less than once every six years thereafter, on mental health conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans, including (A) determining whether a patient is a veteran or family member, (B) screening for PTSD, suicide risk, depression, and grief, and (C) suicide prevention training.
“include not less than two contact hours of training or education during the first renewal period in which continuing education is required and not less than once every six years thereafter on the topic of mental health conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans”
A licensee applying for the first time for license renewal is exempt from the continuing education requirements of § 20-94d.
“A licensee applying for the first time for license renewal pursuant to section 19a-88 is exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section.”
Connecticut APRNs (including CRNAs) must maintain national certification (NBCRNA for CRNAs) for APRN licensure under § 20-94a, and the AANA-certified prescriptive authority pathway in § 20-94b applies specifically to nurse anesthetists.
“An advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-94a and maintaining current certification from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists may prescribe, dispense and administer drugs, including controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V.”
Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Connecticut Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.
| Credit system | Notes |
|---|---|
NBCRNA Class A | NBCRNA Class A / MAC Ed credits maintain the national certification required for Connecticut APRN renewal. |
AANA_APPROVED | AANA-approved CE qualifies. |
Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.
No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Connecticut.
Atlas CME tracks your hours, maps them to your state requirements, and reminds you before your your license anniversary renewal.
Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.
“include at least five contact hours of training or education in pharmacotherapeutics”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(3) · Effective 2014-10-01
“include at least one contact hour of training or education in each of the following topics: (A) Infectious diseases, including, but not limited to, acquired immune deficiency syndrome and human immunodeficiency virus”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(4)(A) · Effective 2014-10-01
“(B) risk management”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(4)(B) · Effective 2014-10-01
“(C) sexual assault”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(4)(C) · Effective 2014-10-01
“(D) domestic violence”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(4)(D) · Effective 2014-10-01
“(E) cultural competency”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(4)(E) · Effective 2014-10-01
“(F) substance abuse, including, but not limited to, prescribing controlled substances and pain management”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(4)(F) · Effective 2015-10-01
“include not less than two contact hours of training or education during the first renewal period in which continuing education is required and not less than once every six years thereafter on the topic of mental health conditions common to veterans and family members of veterans”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(5) · Effective 2016-01-01
“A licensee applying for the first time for license renewal pursuant to section 19a-88 is exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section.”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(d)
“An advanced practice registered nurse licensed pursuant to section 20-94a and maintaining current certification from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists may prescribe, dispense and administer drugs, including controlled substances in schedule II, III, IV, or V.”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94b