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 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.
“Five hours in pharmacotherapeutics”
“One contact hour in diseases (including AIDS/HIV)”
“One contact hour in risk management”
“One contact hour in sexual assault”
“One contact hour in domestic violence”
“One contact hour in cultural competency”
“One contact hour in substance abuse including 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
“on and after January 1, 2016, include not less than two contact hours of training or education during the first renewal period 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.Sourcehttps://portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/aprn/continuing-education[1] |
Board-approved credit | CE from DPH-recognized organizations including specialty nursing societies and equivalent organizations in other jurisdictions.Sourcehttps://portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/aprn/continuing-education[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.
“APRNs shall earn a minimum of fifty (50) contact hours of continuing education within the preceding twenty-four (24) month period. Required content areas — education must include at least: Five hours in pharmacotherapeutics; One contact hour in diseases (including AIDS/HIV); One contact hour in risk management; One contact hour in sexual assault; One contact hour in domestic violence; One contact hour in cultural competency; One contact hour in substance abuse including controlled substances and pain management.”CT DPH APRN CE Page
“Five hours in pharmacotherapeutics”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d
“One contact hour in diseases (including AIDS/HIV)”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d
“One contact hour in risk management”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d
“One contact hour in sexual assault”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d
“One contact hour in domestic violence”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d
“One contact hour in cultural competency”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d
“One contact hour in substance abuse including controlled substances and pain management”Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94d
“on and after January 1, 2016, include not less than two contact hours of training or education during the first renewal period 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