CNA Requirements in Connecticut
Step-by-step guide to becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant in Connecticut: the training, exam, background check, and timeline you need to plan for.
Find Connecticut CNA Training ProgramsConnecticut CNA Requirements at a Glance
Minimum Age
16
Training Hours
100 hours minimum
(Federal minimum: 75)
Time to Certification
6-12 weeks
Exam Vendor
Prometric
Becoming a CNA in Connecticut
Connecticut's CNA pathway is administered entirely by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) through its Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section. DPH approves all 100-hour Nurse Aide Training Programs, contracts with Prometric to deliver both the written and skills competency exams, and maintains the public Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry. The 100-hour training minimum places Connecticut among the higher-hour states in the Northeast — 25 hours above the federal floor and a meaningful step above neighbors like New York and Rhode Island.
What sets Connecticut apart procedurally is the state's strict pre-clinical rule: candidates must complete at least 16 hours of foundational training in communication, infection control, residents' rights, and emergency procedures before they are allowed any direct resident contact. The state also stands out for waiving the application fee for initial certification and for allowing unlimited exam attempts within the 24-month testing window — a more candidate-friendly approach than the three-attempt limits common in other states.
Connecticut CNAs work in nursing facilities, skilled nursing centers, chronic disease hospitals, rest homes with nursing supervision, home health agencies, hospice programs, and hospitals throughout the state. Demand is strong across Hartford County, Fairfield County, New Haven County, and along the I-95 corridor. Reciprocity into Connecticut is handled through DPH's 'Route 7' pathway, which costs $55 and requires verification of active out-of-state certification with no findings on record.
Detailed Connecticut CNA Requirements
Regulatory Body
Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section
Minimum Age
You must be at least 16 years old to begin CNA training in Connecticut.
Education Requirement
No state-mandated minimum education for nurse aide certification; individual training programs typically require a high school diploma or GED and English proficiency.
Training Hours
100 hours minimum required.
Minimum 75 hours of core classroom and lab instruction + 25 hours of supervised clinical practice in a long-term care setting, with at least 16 hours of communication, infection control, residents' rights, and emergency-procedure training completed before any direct resident contact
Background Check
DPH does not require a state fingerprint background check for initial certification, but every employer must run a state and FBI fingerprint background check under Connecticut's nursing home and home care statutes before hiring
Competency Exam
Administered by Prometric. Prometric-administered two-part exam: a 60-question written (or oral) test (90 minutes, 75% pass), plus a 31-40 minute skills evaluation of 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills including mandatory hand hygiene
Cost: $118 total combined exam fee (written or oral + skills)
Application Fee
$0 — DPH charges no initial CNA application fee; reciprocity (Route 7) costs $55
Total Cost Estimate
$1,000-$2,500
Where You Can Work
Long-term care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, chronic disease hospitals, rest homes with nursing supervision, home health agencies, hospice programs, and hospitals throughout Connecticut
What's Different About Connecticut
Connecticut requires 100 hours of training — 25 hours above the federal minimum — with a uniquely strict rule that the first 16 hours of foundational training (communication, infection control, residents' rights, emergency procedures) must be completed before any direct resident contact.
How to Become a CNA in Connecticut: Step by Step
Confirm Connecticut eligibility
Confirm you have no convictions involving abuse, neglect, or misappropriation that would disqualify you under Connecticut nursing home statutes. The Connecticut Department of Public Health does not require a state-administered fingerprint check for certification itself, but every Connecticut employer is required to run a state and FBI background check before hire. You should also be at least 16 (most programs require 18), be physically able to perform direct care, and pass a TB screening.
Enroll in a DPH-approved 100-hour training program
Connecticut requires completion of a Department of Public Health-approved Nurse Aide Training Program of at least 100 hours — 25 hours above the federal floor. DPH publishes the official approved-program list at portal.ct.gov/dph. Options include community colleges (such as Capital, Gateway, and Norwalk), American Red Cross chapters, vocational-technical high schools, and many Connecticut nursing facilities that sponsor free training in exchange for a post-certification employment commitment.
Complete the curriculum including 25 hours of clinical
Connecticut programs must deliver at least 75 hours of core classroom and lab instruction plus 25 hours of supervised clinical practice in a long-term care facility. A strict DPH rule requires you to complete at least 16 hours of foundational training in communication, infection control, residents' rights, and emergency procedures before you may have any direct resident contact. Programs are coordinated by RNs with at least one year of long-term care experience.
Register for the Prometric Connecticut CNA exam
Within 24 months of training completion, register for the two-part competency exam through Prometric at prometric.com/nurseaide-ct. The combined fee is $118 covering both the written (or oral) exam and the skills evaluation. Prometric publishes the official Candidate Information Bulletin and operates testing sites at many Connecticut training schools (Regional Test Sites) and at dedicated Prometric centers in Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Norwich.
Pass the written and skills evaluations
The written exam contains 60 multiple-choice questions and you must score 75% or higher within the 90-minute time limit. The skills evaluation gives you 31 to 40 minutes (depending on the skills drawn) to complete 5 randomly selected nurse aide skills, including the mandatory hand-washing skill. Connecticut places no limit on the number of attempts during the 24-month testing window — a candidate-friendly policy compared with most states.
Get listed on the Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry
Once you pass both portions, Prometric notifies DPH and you are added to the Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry, the official record of certified nurse aides eligible to work in the state. Your active certification can be verified by anyone at registry.prometric.com/publicCT. Connecticut does not charge an initial certification fee.
Renew every two years with documented paid work
Connecticut CNAs renew every 24 months. To renew, you must document at least one 8-hour shift of paid work as a CNA or in a position providing direct personal or nursing care during your certificate cycle, verified by your employer on DPH's Employment Verification Form. Renewal is free, but if your certificate lapses you must take a refresher course or retake the full 100-hour training program and re-test through Prometric before returning to work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours of training do Connecticut CNAs need?
Connecticut requires 100 hours of state-approved training — 25 hours above the federal 75-hour floor. The 100 hours break down into at least 75 hours of core classroom and skills lab instruction plus at least 25 hours of supervised clinical practice in a long-term care facility. A unique DPH rule requires you to complete at least 16 hours of foundational training in communication, infection control, residents' rights, and emergency procedures before any direct resident contact.
How much does the Connecticut CNA exam cost?
The combined exam fee charged by Prometric is $118 for both the written (or oral) test and the skills evaluation. There is no separate state application fee from the Department of Public Health for initial certification. Total out-of-pocket cost from start to finish — including tuition, exam, books, and uniforms — typically runs $1,000 to $2,500, though many Connecticut nursing facilities sponsor free training in exchange for a post-certification employment commitment.
How long do I have to pass the Connecticut CNA exam?
You have 24 months from the date of training completion to pass both portions of the Prometric exam. Unlike most states, Connecticut places no limit on the number of attempts during that 24-month window — you can retake either the written or the skills portion as many times as needed (paying the fee each time) as long as you pass before your testing eligibility expires. If you do not pass within 24 months, you must retake the full 100-hour DPH-approved training program.
How do I renew my Connecticut CNA certification?
Connecticut CNA certification renews every 24 months and there is no renewal fee. To qualify, you must document at least one 8-hour paid shift as a CNA or in a position providing direct personal or nursing care during your current certificate cycle. Your employer completes DPH's Employment Verification Form. If your certificate lapses, you must either complete a DPH-approved refresher course or retake the full 100-hour training program and pass the Prometric exam again.
Can I transfer an out-of-state CNA license to Connecticut?
Yes. Connecticut accepts out-of-state CNAs through 'Route 7' (Reciprocity). Apply directly with DPH, submit verification of active certification from your home state's nurse aide registry, and pay the $55 reciprocity fee. You must be in good standing with no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation. No Prometric exam is required if your original training met Connecticut's standards, but DPH reserves the right to require testing if your training was below the 100-hour minimum.
Where do I verify a Connecticut CNA's license?
Use the official Connecticut Nurse Aide Registry hosted by Prometric at registry.prometric.com/publicCT. The lookup is free, public, and available 24/7. You can search by last name, by registry number, or by Social Security Number. For policy questions you can also call DPH's Nurse's Aide Registry at (860) 509-7603 (Option 1) or Prometric's Connecticut customer service line at (866) 499-7485.
Free Study Materials for the Connecticut CNA Exam
The Prometric exam used by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section tests both knowledge and hands-on skills. Use these free study guides to prepare for the topics most commonly tested in Connecticut:
Infection Control
Standard precautions, PPE, hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions, and biohazard handling for the Connecticut CNA exam.
Basic Nursing Skills
Vital signs, intake/output, positioning, transfers, and range of motion — the largest block on the Prometric skills test.
Personal Care & Elimination
Bathing, peri-care, oral care, toileting, and incontinence management — heavily tested Prometric skills in Connecticut.
Safety & Emergencies
RACE/PASS fire safety, fall prevention, choking, CPR, and seizure care — required knowledge for Connecticut CNA candidates.
Communication Skills
SBAR handoff, therapeutic communication, and adaptations for hearing, vision, and dementia residents — tested throughout the Prometric exam.
Patient Rights
OBRA '87 resident rights, HIPAA, advance directives, and freedom from restraints — graded on every Connecticut CNA practical exam skill.
Data Collection & Reporting
Objective vs subjective data, pain scales, what to report immediately, and documentation rules used on the Connecticut exam.
Body Systems & Conditions
Cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, and endocrine basics, plus pressure-injury staging — frequently tested on the Connecticut written exam.
End-of-Life Care
Hospice vs palliative care, Kübler-Ross stages, and postmortem care for Connecticut CNAs working in long-term care.
Mental Health & Dementia
Delirium vs dementia, sundowning, validation therapy, and de-escalation — frequently tested on the Prometric written exam in Connecticut.
Legal & Ethical Issues
Scope of practice, the four elements of negligence, mandatory reporting, and ethical principles every Connecticut CNA must know before working.
Test yourself for the Connecticut CNA exam
Free Prometric Practice Tests
The Prometric written exam used in Connecticut has 60 scored multiple-choice questions. Drill our free NNAAP-style practice tests until you can consistently score above 80%, then walk into the testing center confident.
Ready to Start Your Connecticut CNA Career?
Find approved training programs, free study materials, and license verification tools for Connecticut.