Connecticut Department of Public Health — Nursing · RN

Connecticut CE Requirements for Registered Nurses

2 hours. Every 6 years. Tied to your license anniversary.

Updated April 2026Sourced from CDPHN

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 3, 2026

Mandatory topics

For RNs, 2 hours is the total CE requirement. Connecticut also names specific topics that must be covered, and each one is listed below.

Suicide Prevention[1]
2 hrs
Custom
Required once every six years. Connecticut requires 2 contact hours covering (1) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training. This requirement took effect January 1, 2022, for RNs and LPNs actively practicing in Connecticut. Per Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94e(b), the training is due DURING the first renewal period and not less than once every six years thereafter — first-time renewal applicants are NOT exempt. One contact hour is defined as at least 50 minutes of instruction.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses **actively practicing in Connecticut** and applying for license renewal after January 1, 2022, and once every six years thereafter, are required to complete two contact hours of training or education on (1) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training.”
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94e(b); CT DPH RN CE PageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
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Accepted credit

Connecticut Department of Public Health — Nursing accepts ANCC Contact Hour toward the CE requirement for RNs, along with other credit it approves.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
Connecticut DPH accepts CE from American Nurses Association (ANA), Connecticut Hospital Association, Connecticut Nurses Association, The Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce (CCNW), specialty nursing societies, hospitals, health care institutions, regionally accredited academic institutions, and state or local health departments. ANCC-accredited providers within these categories qualify.SourceCT DPH RN CE Page[1]
Board-approved credit
CE from DPH-recognized organizations including specialty nursing societies and equivalent organizations in other jurisdictions. Online courses from recognized providers qualify.SourceCT DPH RN CE Page[1]
Documentation & audit

Documentation of CE must be retained for a minimum of 3 years following the year in which the CE was completed. Licensees must produce records within 45 days of a departmental audit request.

Waivers & exemptions

No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Connecticut.

FAQ
How many CE hours do Connecticut registered nurses need?
Connecticut requires only 2 contact hours once every six years, specifically on mental health and suicide prevention topics (PTSD, risk of suicide, depression, grief, and suicide prevention training). This requirement began January 1, 2022. There is no general annual or biennial CE hour requirement for Connecticut RNs.
Is Connecticut a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Connecticut fully implemented the NLC on October 1, 2025. Eligible Connecticut-resident RNs may hold a multistate license, and nurses holding an active multistate license from another NLC state may practice in Connecticut under that license without a separate Connecticut RN license.
When is the 2-hour mental health CE requirement due?
The 2-hour mental health and suicide prevention CE requirement is due during the first renewal period and not less than once every six years thereafter (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-94e(b)). It first applied to Connecticut RNs renewing after January 1, 2022. First-time renewal applicants are NOT exempt — the first renewal period is when the requirement first applies. Connecticut RN CE law contains no exemption or waiver provisions; the exemption and disability-waiver provisions in § 20-94d apply only to APRNs.
How long do I need to keep my Connecticut CE records?
Connecticut requires CE documentation to be retained for a minimum of three years following the year in which the CE was completed. If selected for a DPH audit, nurses must provide documentation within 45 days of the request.

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Other roles in Connecticut

CE requirements for Registered Nurses in other states

Sources & Citations

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.

  1. Connecticut DPH — Continuing Education for Registered Nurses
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses **actively practicing in Connecticut** and applying for license renewal after January 1, 2022, and once every six years thereafter, are required to complete two contact hours of training or education on (1) screening for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, risk of suicide, depression and grief, and (2) suicide prevention training.”CT DPH RN CE Page

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CE requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Connecticut Department of Public Health — Nursing, or any other state licensing board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Registered nurses are solely responsible for verifying their own current CE requirements directly with their state licensing board before relying on any information presented here.

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