Nurse Practitioner Licensing Guide for the state of Connecticut
Nurses who seek advancement in their careers may consider transitioning into the role of a nurse practitioner (NP). Nurse practitioners are registered nurses (RNs) who are licensed to carry out certain roles that are beyond the scope of normal RNs. This is because they have shown competency by fulfilling a set of requirements which include advanced nursing education and third-party certification.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are one of the four professionals classified as Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). The other three major qualifications under this group are Certified Nurse Specialists (CNS), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA), and Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM). Depending on the states where APRNs are certified, they might be allowed to practice solely or be required to engage in collaborative practice with a physician.
The licensing authority in Connecticut is the Department of Public Health (DPH), Board of Examiners for Nursing. They grant licenses to both RNs and APRNs who meet certain requirements as will be spelled out in the following subheadings. The procedure for becoming a nurse practitioner in Connecticut begins with being licensed to practice as an RN in the state. This holds for everybody as Connecticut is not a party to the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).
For more information on licensing and scope of practice in CT, see below: