Delaware

Use these resources to help your licensing journey.

NLC: Yes | Walkthrough: No | Temp License: Yes | Nursys: Yes

Temporary License

Approximately within 7 business days upon receipt of all required documents. The temporary license is valid for 90 days.

 

Fees

Processing Fees: $156.00

Temporary License: $40.00

Application Process

Temporary License

  1. Submitted a completed, signed and notarized application for Licensure by Endorsement (see below).
  1. Pay the associated fees (check or money order made payable to “State of Delaware”)
  1. Submit a completed and signed temporary permit application
  • The Board of Nursing must have your application for Licensure by Endorsement on file before you submit the temporary permit application. You will be issued a temporary permit once the Board of Nursing has received the following:
  1. The Board must have received a copy of your job offer letter
  • If you applied by endorsement and are a Delaware resident, your offer of employment may be in Delaware or in another compact state.
  • If you applied by endorsement and you are not a Delaware resident, your offer of employment must be in Delaware.
  • Your start work date will be before the endorsement process is complete
  1. The Board must have received your State of Delaware and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history report (see step 5 below)
  • The Board needs to have your results in hand before issuing you a temporary permit.
  1. The Board must have received your Nursing reference forms (see step 6 below)

 

Permanent License

1. Submit a completed, signed and notarized application for Licensure by Endorsement

• Enclose a copy of your driver’s license, voter registration card, federal tax return or a Form W-2 showing your home state of residence.

• Enclose a photocopy of your nursing license from another jurisdiction or you may send a printout of your state’s online verification.

• Complete the Authorization of Release of Information form (p. 10 of application) and complete your Criminal Background Check.

2. Pay the associated fees (check or money order made payable to “State of Delaware”)

3. Arrange for the Board office to receive Nursing Employer Reference Form(s) or a Nursing School Reference Form as follows:

• If you have been employed as the same type of nurse for which you are applying for at least the past six months, send a Nursing Employer Reference form to each nursing employer where you worked during the past six months.

• If you have not been employed as the same type of nurse for which you are applying for at least the past six months but you graduated from your nursing program within the past two years (24 months), send the Nursing School Reference form to your nursing school for completion.

• If you have not been employed for at least the past six months and you did not graduate from nursing school within the past two years (24 months) but you were employed as the same type of nurse for which you are now applying within the past five years (60 months), send a Nursing Employer Reference form to your most recent nursing employer(s) where you worked for at least six months

• After completing the form, the employer(s) (or nursing school) must return the form by mail directly to the Board office. Forms received from you will be rejected.

4. Provide verification of original state licensure

• If the state participates in Nursys, you must complete the Nursys verification process, pay their fee and designate Delaware as the receipt of the verification.

• If the state does not participate in Nursys, you must contact their state Board directly for further instructions. They will need to submit an official Verification of License form (p. 14 of application) to the Delaware Board of Nursing on your behalf.

5. If you received your Nursing education outside the U.S. (including Canada) or in Puerto Rico, request a CES report or a Certificate verification letter from CGFNS (if applicable).

6. If you have never been issued a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN), submit a Request for Exemption from Social Security Number Requirement (if applicable).

 

Renewal License

Renewal of your license occurs every 2 years

• Registered Nurse (RN) licenses expire on February 28, May 31, or September 30 of odd years (2017, 2019). The expiration month depends on when your license was originally issued.

•All newly issued RN licenses expire on September 30 of odd years. (3 hours related to substance abuse) and one of the following: 1,000 practice hours within the past 5 years

• 400 practice hours within the past 2 years

• Refresher course within the past 2 years A percentage of RN licensees will be selected for audit of their continuing education and practice requirements following their renewals.