How to get a Certified Nurse Aide license in Connecticut

Who needs a Certified Nurse Aide license

Provides nursing or nursing-related services to residents of chronic and convalescent nursing homes and rest homes with nursing supervision. The registration does not allow any activity that needs a nursing license.¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• A nursing home may employ someone as a nurse's aide for up to 120 days before they complete training and the competency evaluation and are placed on the registry. Until trained, they may only do tasks they have shown competence in, under licensed-nurse supervision.⁵
• An RN or LPN licensed in another state may work as a nurse's aide in a Connecticut nursing home for one period of up to 120 days.⁵

Requirements for a Certified Nurse Aide license

Education or training

At least 100 clock hours¹

The board's words

“Such regulations shall require a training program for nurse's aides of not less than one hundred hours.”

Who may teach it: Programs must be approved by DPH (for 2 years at a time); training is by or under a registered nurse with at least 2 years of nursing experience, at least 1 of them in a chronic and convalescent nursing home or rest home with nursing supervision.⁶
Alternative: Route 2: at least 100 hours of theory and clinical instruction in an approved PN or RN program within 24 months of applying, or a current RN/LPN license in any state or US territory (exam still required).⁷
Alternative: Route 3: an approved nurse aide training program of at least 100 hours in another state completed within the past 24 months (Connecticut exam required).⁸

Exam

Connecticut CNA examination (written and practical parts)²
Given by: Prometric²
When you can take it: After completing a DPH-approved training program (Route 1), at least 100 hours of an approved RN/LPN program within 24 months or a current RN/LPN license (Route 2), or an approved out-of-state program of at least 100 hours within the past 24 months (Route 3).²
Written examination²
Practical (skills) examination²
Retakes: No limit on attempts within the 24 months after training.²
Time limit: Pass within 24 months of completing training.²
Exam waived: Aides certified and in good standing in another state or territory apply through Route 7 instead of testing.⁴

Background check

DPH investigates complaints of resident abuse, neglect, misappropriation of property, and fraud in obtaining registration. Findings go on the registry and can block registration. A flagged aide is not renewed and may not work in a licensed nursing home.¹

Also required

Employers must review each nurse aide's performance at least every 12 months and provide in-service education (federal rule for nursing facilities).⁹

How much a Certified Nurse Aide license costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Complete a DPH-approved nurse aide training program of at least 100 hours. If you are an RN/LPN student, a licensed nurse, or trained in another state, check Routes 2 and 3.¹
2. Apply to Prometric online for the Connecticut CNA exam and pay the $118 fee.² oap.prometric.com²
3. Pass the written and practical parts within 24 months of finishing training. There is no limit on attempts in that window.²
4. Your name is placed on the Connecticut Nurse's Aide Registry (certification). Contact Prometric if your certificate does not arrive.²
5. Already certified in another state? Use Route 7: submit the online or printable application to Prometric. Your credential must be active and in good standing.⁴

Apply online

oap.prometric.com²

Temporary or provisional license

No temporary certificate, but a nursing home may employ an uncertified aide for up to 120 days while they train and test.⁵

Processing time

Federal rule: a successful candidate must be entered on the registry within 30 days of passing.⁹

Renewal and continuing education

How often

Every 2 years³

When it expires

Renewal runs two years from the last reported or verified date of paid nurse aide employment. You need at least one 8-hour paid shift as a nurse aide (or in nursing-related work) before the certificate expires, shown on the Employment Verification Form completed by your employer.³

Renew online

portal.ct.gov³

Moving to Connecticut with a license from another state

These are the routes DPH publishes for the Certified Nurse Aide license.

City and county rules

No local license: registration is on the DPH Nurse's Aide Registry.¹

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a nursing assistant in Connecticut, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Connecticut is on the Connecticut license lookup page.

Look up a license

registry.prometric.com¹¹

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Conn. Gen. Stat. 20-102aa to 20-102ff (chapter 378a, Nurse's Aides)
• Regs. Conn. State Agencies 19-13-D8t(l) (nurse's aide training and employment)
• 42 CFR 483.35(d), 483.151-483.156 (nurse aide training, competency evaluation, registry)

Common questions

Certified nursing assistant (CNA) licenses in other states

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