Transfer Your Nursing License to Connecticut: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Connecticut?
Connecticut honors multistate licenses under the Nurse Licensure Compact — compact nurses who live in another member state need no Connecticut application, while those relocating here apply by endorsement. From a non-compact state such as California or New York, the path is licensure by endorsement through the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing (licensing administered by the Department of Public Health), without retaking the NCLEX.
Moving to Connecticut from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
NLC member — multistate license honored
Whether you need to do anything at all depends on the license in your pocket. If you hold a multistate license and your primary residence stays in another compact state — a travel contract, a border commute, telehealth — Connecticut requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to Connecticut, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing (licensing administered by the Department of Public Health) to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — a multistate license from another compact state is honored in Connecticut without endorsement unless Connecticut becomes the nurse's primary state of residence.
Connecticut requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; all RN licenses held (current or expired) are verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $180 (endorsement application fee; Nursys verification fee additional; no fingerprint background check listed for RN endorsement) |
| Processing time | no overall time published; a 120-day temporary permit is issued within 15 business days of a complete, approved application |
Comparing Connecticut with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Connecticut's current requirements on the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing (licensing administered by the Department of Public Health) website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing (licensing administered by the Department of Public Health) (application linked on this page).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold a current RN license from a US state or territory that required passing the NCLEX (non-NCLEX licensees must apply by examination instead).
- Arrange verification of all RN licenses held, current or expired, through Nursys (written verification form for non-participating states).
- Apply online through the eLicense portal — paper applications are not accepted.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Connecticut:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering Connecticut:
Connecticut for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in Connecticut
- Real Estate in Connecticut
- Contractor in Connecticut
- Teaching in Connecticut
- CPA / Accounting in Connecticut
- Electrician in Connecticut
- Plumber in Connecticut
- Engineering in Connecticut
- Pharmacy in Connecticut
- Physical Therapy in Connecticut
- Psychology in Connecticut
- Counseling in Connecticut
- Social Work in Connecticut
- Occupational Therapy in Connecticut
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Connecticut?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; all RN licenses held (current or expired) are verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Connecticut in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — Connecticut is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in Connecticut without any application, as long as your primary residence stays in a member state.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- CT DPH — RN Licensure by Endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Nursys — participating boards (Connecticut) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com