- You can buy up to ten years of additional service, such as out-of-state public school teaching (one year for every two years of full-time Connecticut service), military service, and some leaves of absence. Documentation and payment must be complete before your retirement date.Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 34-37; Filing for Retirement / New Retiree Q&A (AI_FNRQA_200628), p. 1
- Purchased out-of-state or peacetime military service counts at 2% in normal and early benefits, but only 1% a year in proratable and deferred vested benefits.Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 27; Connecticut TRB Retirement Percentage Chart (AI_Rpc_200816)
The rules
Additional credited service (ACS) must be documented and paid for before the retirement date (or when a surviving spouse elects benefits). Overall ACS limit 10 years. Out-of-state teaching: one year per two years of full-time Connecticut service, up to 10 (more at full actuarial value if no other ACS). Prior leaves: one year per five years of full-time Connecticut service, at most 30 consecutive school months, after returning one school year. Peacetime military: up to 30 months (handbook: 3 years); wartime military up to 10 years. Federal Teacher Corps up to 2 years. Substitute: 40+ days in one district in a school year, 18 days = 1 month. Not purchasable if another governmental pension (other than Social Security, or a military pension for military service) is based on it. Withdrawn Connecticut service is bought back at past contributions plus interest. Purchase factors may change every five years; no refunds of a purchase. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 34-41, Purchasable Service Credit; C.G.S. § 10-183e(b)-(d) (2025 rev.); Filing for Retirement / New Retiree Q&A (AI_FNRQA_200628), p. 1
| Kind of service | Limit |
|---|---|
| All bought service | 10 years |
| Out-of-state teaching | 1 year per 2 years of full-time Connecticut service |
| Past leaves of absence | 1 year per 5 years; at most 30 consecutive school months |
| Peacetime military | 30 months |
| Wartime military | 10 years |
| Federal Teacher Corps | 2 years |
| Substitute teaching | 40+ days in one district in a school year; 18 days = 1 month |
Which bought years count as Connecticut service
Purchased wartime military service, formal leaves of absence, substitute teaching and pre-July 2007 SERC staff service count as Connecticut public school service. Other purchased service (out-of-state teaching, peacetime military, state employment, Peace Corps and so on) is 'other' credited service: it counts toward normal and early retirement at 2% but only 1% in proratable and deferred vested benefits. C.G.S. § 10-183e(c) (2025 rev.); Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 27 (peacetime military as non-Connecticut service); Connecticut TRB Retirement Percentage Chart (AI_Rpc_200816) (25+ year rows use all full-time credited service)
- Wartime military service
- Formal leave of absence (after returning one school year)
- Substitute teaching (40+ days in one district in a school year)
- SERC staff service before July 1, 2007
In proratable and deferred vested benefits, out-of-state and peacetime military years count at 1% a year. Some purchased service (wartime military, leaves, substitute days) counts as Connecticut service. Enter those years as Connecticut years.
What would settle it: Connecticut TRB example with deemed-Connecticut ACS.
A current leave
On an approved current leave you may pay the 8.25% contributions (on your full-time salary rate) for up to 10 school months in a career, paid by the end of the leave. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), p. 39, Current Leave of Absence (CLOA)
How to pay
Personal funds, the 1% supplemental or voluntary account, or rollovers from 403(b), 457, 401(a), 401(k) or pre-tax IRA. Active Teachers' Handbook (2022), pp. 39-41, Payment for Credited Service
Cost comes from Connecticut TRB's online estimator and invoice; no cost formula is published in the saved sources.
Connecticut TRB prices service purchases through its online estimator and an invoice. No cost formula is published, so we don't estimate the cost.
What would settle it: Connecticut TRB purchase cost factors or estimator output.
What a year adds: at a normal retirement, 2% of your average salary, $1,800 a year ($150 a month) on a $90,000 average. If you'd retire early, a year can also move you closer to your normal retirement date, or to 30 years and Table B. Try it in the calculator by adding the years, or see one more year.
Questions
How much service can I buy in Connecticut?
Up to 10 years overall. Out-of-state teaching: one year for each 2 years of full-time Connecticut service. Past leaves: one year for each 5 years, up to 30 consecutive school months.
When do I have to pay?
Documentation and payment must be complete before your retirement date.
What is a year of bought service worth?
At a normal or early retirement it counts like any other year: 2% of your average salary at normal retirement ($1,800 a year on a $90,000 average). In proratable and deferred vested benefits, out-of-state and peacetime military years count only 1% a year.
Source: CTRS Active Teachers' Handbook, July 1, 2022, pp. 27, 34-41, 34-37, 39, 39-41. Also: Filing for Retirement / New Retiree Q&A p. 1; Connecticut TRB Retirement Percentage Chart (25+ year rows use all full-time credited service); Connecticut TRB Retirement Percentage Chart; C.G.S. § 10-183e. Last reviewed .