Updated April 2021
The Delaware Board of Nursing requires all nursing licenses to renew every two years.
Renewal notice emails are sent out weeks before any Delaware nursing license renewal is due. Specific instructions on the detailed nursing license renewal process are sent to complete the online renewal. A frequently asked question by nurses is: “How do I renew my Delaware nursing license?”.
The Delaware Nursing Board specifies the renewal requirements as follows:
Registered Nurse Licenses
Delaware nursing license renewals for RNs expire in odd-numbered years on:
- February 28
- May 31
- September 30
The expiration month depends on when the license was originally issued, however, all newly issued RN licenses expire on September 30 of odd years (2021, 2023, etc.).
As of April 2021, there are no Delaware nursing license renewal extensions due to COVID-19.
Registered nurses require 30 nursing CEUs for renewal, three of which must be in substance abuse education. All nursing CEUs can be taken online.
Additionally, RNs must prove they have practiced at least 1,000 hours in the past five years or 400 hours in the past two years.
Substance Abuse Continuing Education for Delaware Nurses
Three of the CE hours must be in the area of substance abuse.
The 3-contact-hour course “Substance Abuse Education for DE Nurses: Drug Diversion Training and Best-Practice Prescribing” satisfies the Delaware Board of Nursing requirement focusing on prescription drug abuse and diversion, challenges in managing chronic pain, and best practices for prescribing controlled substances.
Licensed Practical Nurse Licenses
Delaware nursing license renewal deadline for LPNs is February 28 of even-numbered years (i.e., 2022, 2024, etc.).
Delaware Licensed Practical Nurses require 24 contact hours of nursing continuing education and must show that they have practiced at least 1,000 hours in the past five years or 400 hours in the past two years.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Licenses
APRN licenses expire on the same date as Delaware RN licenses. If a nurses does not hold a Delaware RN license, the APRN license expires on September 30 of odd years.
To renew, APRNs must attest that they have met one of the following practice requirements in the role and population focus area in which they are licensed:
- Practice of 1,500 hours over the past five years in the specialty, or
- Practice of 600 hours over the past two years in the specialty, or
- Graduation from the specialty program within the past two years
If an APRN has prescriptive authority, it expires at the same time as the license.
To renew prescriptive authority, nurses must attest to completing 10 hours of nursing continuing education (CNE) in pharmacology/pharmacotherapeutics in the past two years.
For more detailed information about being audited, requesting inactive status or reactivating an inactive nursing license, or renewing a lapsed nurse license, refer directly to the Delaware Nursing Board webpage.
Delaware nursing license renewal deadline for LPNs is February 28 of even-numbered years (i.e., 2022, 2024, etc.).
Is Delaware a Compact State for Nursing?
Delaware is a compact state for nursing.
In order to receive a new multistate license, a nurse who lives in a compact state must meet the following 11 uniform licensure requirements:
- Have graduated from a board-approved education program or have graduated from an international education program (approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country and verified by an independent credentials review agency)
- Have passed an English proficiency examination (applies to graduates of an international education program not taught in English or if English is not the individual’s native language)
- Have passed an NCLEX-RN® or NCLEX-PN® examination or predecessor exam
- Be eligible for or hold an active, unencumbered license (i.e., without active discipline)
- Have submitted to state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks
- Have no state or federal felony convictions
- Have no misdemeanor convictions related to the practice of nursing (determined on a case-by-case basis)
- Not be a current participant in an alternative program
- Self-disclose current participation in an alternative program
- Have a valid United States Social Security number
How Does NLC Affect a Delaware Nursing License?
- You must meet all 11 uniform licensure requirements (ULRs) that apply to all NLC states in order to receive a multistate license (see above). If you don’t meet all ULRs, you may still receive a single-state license valid only in Delaware.
- If you have an active Delaware Single-State RN or LPN license and Delaware is your primary state of residence, you may apply for Multistate licensure.
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