Healthcare Recruiting
Connecticut PA License 2026: Physician Assistant Requirements, FPA, and Salary
Connecticut joined the full practice authority movement for physician assistants in 2019, removing the requirement for formal state-filed supervision agreements. Connecticut PAs are licensed through the Connecticut Medical Examining Board (part of the Department of Public Health) and can practice with the collaborative autonomy typical of OTP/FPA states. The state's proximity to Boston and New York creates a competitive compensation environment — Connecticut PA salaries are consistently above the national median.
Practice Model: Full Practice Authority (2019)
Connecticut's 2019 PA practice act amendment eliminated the mandatory state-filed supervision agreement. PAs practice collaboratively with physicians through institutional and practice-level arrangements, but the state Medical Examining Board does not require filing or approval of those arrangements.
- No state supervision filing required: Collaborative relationships are institutionally managed
- Full prescriptive authority: Schedule II–V with DEA registration
- Multiple sites: PAs may practice at multiple locations without separate state approval
Application Requirements
- Active NCCPA certification
- Graduation from ARC-PA accredited program
- Connecticut DPH online application and $250 fee
- Background check
- DEA registration (if prescribing controlled substances)
Processing Timeline
The Connecticut Medical Examining Board typically processes complete PA applications in 6–8 weeks. Total time to practice-ready including DEA: approximately 8 weeks.
PA Salary in Connecticut (2026)
| Setting | Median Base | Typical Sign-On |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital / Inpatient | $132,000 | $8,000–$20,000 |
| Surgical First-Assist | $142,000 | $10,000–$22,000 |
| Emergency Medicine | $136,000 | $8,000–$20,000 |
| Primary Care / Outpatient | $120,000 | $5,000–$12,000 |
| Academic / Research-Affiliated | $128,000 | $5,000–$15,000 |
Top PA Employers in Connecticut
Yale New Haven Health System (Yale New Haven Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital, Greenwich Hospital, Lawrence + Memorial) is the state's dominant academic employer and largest PA recruiter. Yale New Haven offers subspecialty PA roles with strong research infrastructure and academic affiliation. Hartford HealthCare (Hartford Hospital, MidState Medical, Backus Hospital) recruits across the state for inpatient, surgical, and ER PA positions. Trinity Health of New England (Saint Francis, Mercy Medical) covers the Hartford Catholic hospital market. Connecticut Children's Medical Center (Hartford) recruits for pediatric PA roles. The Fairfield County corridor (Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk) features outpatient and concierge-adjacent PA positions with NYC-proximity compensation.
What We See at Ava Health
Connecticut's FPA model and strong regional economy make it a consistently productive PA placement market. The state's relatively small geography means PAs are often commuter candidates from New York, Rhode Island, or Massachusetts — holding multiple state licenses is common, particularly CT+NY or CT+MA. Surgical first-assist and EM roles at Yale New Haven Health commands the highest total compensation in the state.
Related: NP License Connecticut 2026, PA Salary by State 2026, Healthcare Recruiting in Connecticut 2026.
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