Below is exactly what Connecticut Department of Public Health — Nursing requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.
Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated April 25, 2026
For NPs, 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”
“(C) sexual assault, (D) domestic violence”
“(D) domestic violence, (E) cultural competency”
“(E) cultural competency, and (F) substance abuse, including, but not limited to, prescribing controlled substances and pain management”
“(E) cultural competency, and (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.
APRNs renewing on or after January 1, 2016: required at first renewal and not less than once every six years thereafter
“(5) on and after January 1, 2016, 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”
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 |
|---|---|
ANCC Contact Hour | Connecticut DPH accepts CE from ANA, Connecticut Hospital Association, Connecticut Nurses Association, CCNW, specialty nursing societies, hospitals, health care institutions, regionally accredited academic institutions, and state or local health departments.SourceConn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)[1] |
Board-approved credit | CE from DPH-recognized organizations including specialty nursing societies and equivalent organizations in other jurisdictions.SourceConn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)[1] |
Documentation of CE must be retained for a minimum of 3 years following the year completed. Produce records within 45 days of a departmental audit request.
First-time renewal applicants are exempt from the APRN CE requirement.
APRNs not engaged in active practice may apply for exemption.
Medical disability or illness may qualify for waivers or time extensions.
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)
“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)
“(B) risk management, (C) sexual assault”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(4)(B)
“(C) sexual assault, (D) domestic violence”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(4)(C)
“(D) domestic violence, (E) cultural competency”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(4)(D)
“(E) cultural competency, and (F) substance abuse, including, but not limited to, prescribing controlled substances and pain management”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d(b)(4)(E)
“(5) on and after January 1, 2016, 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