Practice Without a Collaborative Agreement 
 
A Connecticut licensed APRN who has maintained his/her Connecticut license for a period of not less than three (3) years, and who has engaged in Connecticut in the performance of advanced practice level nursing activities in collaboration, (in accordance with provisions in CGA 20-87a) with a Connecticut licensed physician for a period of not less than three (3) years and for not less than two thousand (2,000) hours, may thereafter practice alone or in collaboration with a physician or another health care provider licensed to practice in this state.
 
Any APRN who elects to practice without a collaborative agreement shall maintain documentation of having engaged in the performance of advanced practice level nursing activities in collaboration with a Connecticut licensed physician for a period of not less than three (3) years and not less than two thousand (2,000) hours in accordance with provisions in CGS 20-87a.  
 
Such APRN shall maintain such documentation for a period of not less than three (3) years after completing such requirements and shall submit such documentation to the Department of Public Health for inspection not later than forty-five (45) days after a request made by the department for such documentation .
 
APRNs shall submit written notice to the Department of his or her intention to practice without a collaborative agreement after completing the requirements described above and prior to practicing without a collaborative agreement.  Please select this link for the notification form.
 
There will be no indication on the licensing documents (two wallet-sized cards and 1 suitable for posting) that the APRN is practicing without a collaborative agreement.  However, the licensing look-up page of the DPH website will provide an indication that the APRN has submitted the required notification to the Department and is practicing without a collaborative agreement.
 
Regardless of whether an APRN is currently licensed in another state, an APRN must collaborate with a Connecticut licensed physician for the first three (3) years of licensed practice in Connecticut for a period of not less than three (3) years and for not less than two thousand (2,000) hours.
 
Please select this link for more information regarding APRNs practicing not in collaboration with a licensed physician. 
 
Practice Requiring a Collaborative Agreement
 
For the first three (3) years after obtaining a license in Connecticut, an APRN must practice in collaboration with a physician who is licensed in Connecticut.  "Collaboration" means a mutually agreed upon relationship between such APRN and a physician who is educated, trained or has relevant experience that is related to the work of such advanced practice registered nurse. The collaboration shall address a reasonable and appropriate level of consultation and referral, coverage for the patient in the absence of such APRN, a method to review patient outcomes and a method of disclosure of the relationship to the patient. Relative to the exercise of prescriptive authority, the collaboration between such advanced practice registered nurse and a physician shall be in writing and shall address the level of schedule II and III controlled substances that such APRN may prescribe and provide a method to review patient outcomes, including, but not limited to, the review of medical therapeutics, corrective measures, laboratory tests and other diagnostic procedures that such advanced practice registered nurse may prescribe, dispense and administer.
 
DPH will not collect copies of collaborative practice agreements on a routine basis.  However, APRNs must provide a copy of the collaborative agreement to the Department upon request.