StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in Connecticut

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
1500 hrs
Upfront cost
$350
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Pass a criminal background check. No Connecticut DPH source reviewed states a minimum age for LPN licensure, so left null. Connecticut does not mandate a fingerprint-based criminal background check for a standard single-state RN/LPN license — applicants instead disclose criminal history on the application — but as of Connecticut's Nurse Licensure Compact implementation (Oct. 1, 2025), applicants seeking a multistate compact license must complete state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks to the same standard as other NLC states. [5]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete 1500 hours of training at a state-approved program. Connecticut requires successful completion of a practical nursing program providing at least 1,500 hours of theory and clinical instruction over no less than 10 months; at least 50% of the contact hours must be supervised direct client care/observational experience. Graduates of programs with fewer hours may substitute qualifying clinical work experience. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). Computerized adaptive test (CAT) delivered at Pearson VUE test centers; candidates register directly with Pearson VUE and must not submit the state application until registered for the exam. National exam-registration fee paid directly to Pearson VUE, separate from Connecticut DPH's own $150 application fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section with the $150 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for Connecticut.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $150
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $70
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
Reinstatement [3] $150
NCLEX-PN registration (Pearson VUE, national) [3] $200

Connecticut DPH's initial licensure application fee (by exam or endorsement) is $150, with no separate license-issuance fee. Annual renewal fee is $70.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year. 2 continuing education hours required per cycle.

Connecticut LPN licenses renew annually (expiring in the licensee's birth month). A one-time-per-6-year continuing education requirement of 2 contact hours applies to actively practicing LPNs renewing after January 1, 2022, and once every six years thereafter — covering screening for PTSD/suicide risk/depression/grief and suicide-prevention training. This is not an annual CE requirement.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).

Connecticut implemented the Nurse Licensure Compact on Oct. 1, 2025, per the compact commission's official implementation-date table (NurseCompact.com / NCSBN NLC_Map.pdf) — one of the most recent states to join. Connecticut LPNs holding a single-state license may convert to a multistate compact license, and out-of-state LPNs may apply for Connecticut licensure by endorsement.

4 state-approved training providers in Connecticut — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $150
  • $200
Total$350

Frequently asked questions

What license does Connecticut issue to practical nurses?

Connecticut issues the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license through the Department of Public Health.

Is Connecticut part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Yes, as of October 1, 2025 — one of the most recently implemented NLC states. LPNs can convert an active Connecticut license to a multistate compact license.

How many training hours does a Connecticut LPN program require?

At least 1,500 hours of theory and clinical instruction over a minimum of 10 months, with at least 50% of contact hours in supervised direct client care or observational experience.

How often do Connecticut LPN licenses renew, and is continuing education required?

Licenses renew annually (in the licensee's birth month) for a $70 fee. A one-time-per-6-year requirement of 2 contact hours on PTSD/suicide-risk screening and suicide prevention applies to actively practicing LPNs, not an annual CE requirement.

Does Connecticut require a background check for LPN licensure?

Not for a standard single-state license — applicants disclose criminal history on the application instead. However, applicants for a multistate Nurse Licensure Compact license must complete a fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background check.

Sources

  1. [1] portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/lpn/practical-nurse-licensure-by-examination — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/lpn/practical-nurse-licensure — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] portal.ct.gov/dph/practitioner-licensing--investigations/registered-nurse/continuing-education — accessed 2026-07-10
  5. [5] ncsbn.org/news/connecticut-fully-implements-the-nurse-licensure-compact — accessed 2026-07-10
  6. [6] nursecompact.com — accessed 2026-07-10