Verify a Delaware Nurse—or Navigate Renewal Without Missing a Requirement
Most visitors need a usable answer, not a directory of government links. They want to know whether a nurse can work today, which expiration date applies, how many CE hours are required or why DELPROS still shows an application instead of an issued license.
Delaware divides those tasks across public License Look-Up, the private DELPROS dashboard, CE Tracker, Nursys and Board application pages. This guide brings the important dates, practice rules, fees, documents and troubleshooting steps into one workflow.
Use License Look-Up for free real-time primary-source verification. Use the private DELPROS dashboard to renew, apply, check an application, update contact information, request a service or download an issued license or permit.
Verify a Delaware nurse
Check license status, expiration, compact status and downloadable discipline documents.
Renew RN, LPN or APRN
Confirm the expiry cycle, enter CE, complete practice attestation and pay online.
Check application status
Review the DELPROS dashboard, attachments, third-party documents and Board review status.
Verify a nursing program
Review Delaware-approved nursing schools, refresher programs and published NCLEX data.
Endorse or use compact privilege
Check primary residence, Nursys verification, practice, CE and background-check rules.
Delaware nursing-license facts that determine your next action
RN expiration varies
Delaware RN licenses can expire February 28, May 31 or September 30 of odd-numbered years depending on the original issue cycle. Newly issued RN licenses expire September 30 of odd years.
LPN expiration is fixed
Delaware LPN licenses expire February 28 of even-numbered years.
APRN follows RN
A Delaware APRN license expires with the Delaware RN license. An APRN relying on another compact-state RN license expires September 30 of odd years.
Renewal notices are electronic
DPR sends renewal and audit notices by email. The licensee remains responsible even when a message is missed or routed to spam.
Delaware is an NLC state
Eligible Delaware-resident RNs and LPNs may hold a multistate license. Delaware does not issue a multistate APRN license.
No mailed paper license
Issued licenses and permits are downloaded from the DELPROS dashboard. Public status should still be confirmed through License Look-Up.
A late-renewal period is not a grace period. It is illegal to practise while the license is expired, even when DELPROS still allows a late application.
Delaware’s public nursing fee page lists current application, reinstatement, permit and service-request fees, but it does not publish one fixed RN/LPN renewal amount. The applicable renewal fee appears inside the DELPROS transaction.
How to verify a Delaware RN, LPN, APRN or temporary permit
DELPROS online verification is free, real-time and considered primary-source verification. Detailed results can show status, issue date, expiration, compact status, APRN prescribing information and public disciplinary documents.
Open official License Look-Up
Choose Individual rather than Facility when checking a nurse, applicant or temporary permit holder.
Open Delaware License Look-UpStart with profession and a partial name
DELPROS warns that entered criteria must match its stored information. Begin with fewer fields, then narrow the results.
Open the license or application number
Click the number shown in the results, then select View More Info to see the detailed record.
Confirm status, type and expiration
Check whether the record is RN, LPN, APRN, temporary permit or application and whether it covers the intended work date.
Read compact and APRN fields separately
An RN/LPN result may show Multistate or Valid Only in DE. An APRN result may separately show prescriptive authority.
Download discipline and print the result
Click Yes under Discipline to open each public document. Use Printer Friendly Version for the verification record.
| What appears | What it means | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Active | The displayed license is currently active. | Confirm expiration, exact credential and compact status. |
| Multistate | The Delaware RN or LPN record has NLC multistate authority. | Confirm Delaware remains the primary state of residence. |
| Valid Only in DE | The RN or LPN license is single-state. | Do not treat it as authority to practise in another compact state. |
| APP number | The record may represent an application rather than a fully issued license. | Do not begin work until an issued license or permit number appears. |
| Temporary permit | Time-limited authority exists under the permit conditions. | Check the expiration and approved employer or facility. |
| Prescriptive Authority: Yes | The APRN record includes non-controlled-substance prescribing authority. | Verify any separate controlled-substance registration when needed. |
| Discipline: Yes | One or more public disciplinary documents are attached. | Open every document and review effective dates and restrictions. |
| Denied | The displayed application was not approved. | Do not interpret the application number as practice authority. |
Search problems to solve first
Do not accept an application receipt, job-offer letter, NCLEX registration or fingerprint confirmation as proof that nursing authority has been issued.
Renew a Delaware RN, LPN or APRN license in DELPROS
An active license must be renewed before the exact expiration date shown in License Look-Up. DELPROS asks for renewal answers, CE entries, practice attestation and secure online payment.
Verify the exact expiration date
RN dates vary, so do not assume every Delaware RN expires September 30. Check the live record first.
Check License ExpirationUpdate the DELPROS email and address
Renewal and audit notices are sent by email. The account email is also the DELPROS username.
Enter every CE course separately
Open Continuing Education in the blue navigation bar, choose Add Course and save each course in CE Tracker.
Confirm the practice requirement
Attest to 1,000 nursing-practice hours in five years, 400 hours in two years or the applicable approved refresher alternative.
Complete the renewal transaction
Log in, open the license tile, follow the renewal prompts, answer disclosures and pay the amount displayed.
Open DELPROS DashboardVerify the renewed record
Return to public License Look-Up and confirm that the status and future expiration date have updated.
| License type | Normal expiration | Renewal order | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | February 28, May 31 or September 30 of odd years, depending on issue cycle. | Renew directly in DELPROS. | RN CE plus active-practice requirement. |
| Newly issued RN | September 30 of odd years. | Check reduced first-renewal CE based on issue date and route. | Do not automatically assume 30 hours on the first renewal. |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | February 28 of even years. | Renew directly in DELPROS. | LPN CE plus active-practice requirement. |
| APRN with Delaware RN | Same date as the Delaware RN license. | Renew the Delaware RN before the APRN. | Specialty practice and current certification. |
| APRN using another compact RN | September 30 of odd years. | The compact RN must show a future expiration before APRN renewal. | Notify Delaware of changes to the compact RN status. |
Expired means no practice. Delaware allows a late-renewal application for two months after expiration, but the nurse cannot work until the license is actually returned to active status.
If the license is not renewed within the two-month late period, it terminates. A non-telehealth nurse must submit a reinstatement application rather than an ordinary renewal.
Delaware RN and LPN CE, specialty topics and audit rules
Full-cycle CE differs by license type. First-renewal requirements may be reduced to zero, half-cycle hours or full hours depending on whether the license was issued by examination, endorsement or reinstatement and when it was issued.
Full RN renewal period
An active RN completes at least 30 approved contact hours during the applicable two-year licensure period.
Full LPN renewal period
An active LPN completes at least 24 approved contact hours during the two-year licensure period.
Required topic minimums
At least three hours must address substance abuse, and at least one hour must address abuse, exploitation, trafficking, domestic violence or related reporting duties involving vulnerable persons.
First-renewal CE decision table
| License and route | Time licensed before renewal | Typical first-renewal CE | Important check |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN by examination | Less than two years. | May be zero or 30 hours depending on issue date in the cycle. | Use the official date table rather than estimating. |
| RN by endorsement or reinstatement | Less than one year. | Generally zero. | Exact issue-date window controls the requirement. |
| RN by endorsement or reinstatement | At least one year but less than two years. | Generally 15 hours. | Later issue dates near renewal may require zero or full hours. |
| LPN by examination | Less than two years. | May be zero or 24 hours depending on issue date. | Use the LPN-specific official table. |
| LPN by endorsement or reinstatement | Less than one year. | Generally zero. | Confirm the actual issue-date window. |
| LPN by endorsement or reinstatement | At least one year but less than two years. | Generally 12 hours. | Some late-cycle issue dates require zero or full hours. |
| Subsequent RN renewal | Full two-year period. | 30 hours. | Include the required topic hours. |
| Subsequent LPN renewal | Full two-year period. | 24 hours. | Include the required topic hours. |
Practice requirement
Five-year work route
Complete at least 1,000 hours of nursing practice during the five years before renewal.
Two-year work route
Complete at least 400 hours of nursing practice during the two years before renewal.
Refresher alternative
Complete an approved nursing refresher course within two years or obtain approval for an alternate supervised practice plan when no refresher is available.
Do not upload CE certificates or practice documentation merely because you entered the courses. Upload supporting documents when DELPROS or the Board notifies you that you were selected for audit.
During an audit, the employer-completed Nursing Audit Verification of Practice/Employment form must be sent directly to the Board when practice hours are used.
Delaware nursing application, permit and verification fees
Delaware processes nursing payments online through DELPROS. Application and service fees are non-refundable, and cash, checks or money orders should not be mailed for these transactions.
| Transaction | Current published fee | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse application | $181 | Examination or endorsement-related application fee shown by the nursing schedule. |
| Licensed Practical Nurse application | $181 | Background check, Nursys or examination costs can be separate. |
| APRN application | $181 | All APRN types use the current published application amount. |
| RN reinstatement | $272 | Used after the late-renewal period or for applicable inactive/expired routes. |
| LPN reinstatement | $272 | Practice, CE and documentation requirements can also apply. |
| APRN reinstatement | $272 | Underlying RN and certification requirements must also be satisfied. |
| Temporary permit | $40 | A regular RN, LPN or APRN application must also be submitted. |
| Nursing telehealth registration | $50 | Use only when the current telehealth-registration pathway applies. |
| Upgrade to multistate license | $50 | Requires Delaware residence, documentation and a new Delaware/FBI background check. |
| Standard written verification | $35 | Use Nursys instead when the receiving nursing board requires Nursys verification. |
| Verification with exam scores, hours or history | $45 | Use when the basic real-time public lookup is insufficient. |
| NCLEX re-examination service request | $25 | The testing-company examination fee is separate. |
| RN/LPN/APRN renewal | Displayed in DELPROS | Review the amount inside the actual renewal transaction before paying. |
| Late renewal | Renewal fee plus late fee | The two-month late period does not authorize practice. |
IdentoGO fingerprinting, FBI/Delaware criminal-history processing, Nursys verification, NCLEX registration and national certification may create additional charges outside the DELPROS application fee.
Check a Delaware nursing application in DELPROS
DELPROS allows applicants to apply, upload documents, acknowledge third-party submissions, pay fees and check status. The Board reviews only complete applications and may place a completed file on its next scheduled meeting agenda when Board action is required.
Sign in to the original DELPROS account
Use the email address and password connected to the application instead of registering a duplicate account.
Open DELPROSOpen the application tile
Review its current status and the checklist or attachment instructions associated with that exact application.
Separate upload items from acknowledge items
Upload items are attached by the applicant. Acknowledged items may need to be mailed or sent directly by a school, employer, certifier or licensing board.
Confirm direct-source documents
Check Nursys verification, transcript, employer reference, certification and background-check requirements individually.
Submit additional information through a service request
Use Submit Additional Documentation when DELPROS or Board staff instructs you to add material after the application was filed.
Confirm issuance in public verification
Do not begin orientation or employment until an issued license or temporary-permit number appears.
| Possible missing item | Who usually sends it | Action to take |
|---|---|---|
| Original-state verification | Nursys or the original licensing jurisdiction. | Check the Nursys order or ask the state board for its direct-sending date. |
| Nursing-school reference | The nursing education program. | Confirm the school used the required Delaware form and delivery route. |
| Employment or practice verification | Employer or nursing supervisor. | Provide the correct form and ask for the exact submission date. |
| Criminal background check | Delaware/FBI process through the authorized fingerprint route. | Use the nursing service code; an employment background check does not replace it. |
| National certification | The APRN national certifying organization. | Confirm the role, population focus and direct verification destination. |
| NPDB self-query | The applicant receives and submits the original report. | Follow the current APRN application instruction for the original report. |
| Job-offer letter | The applicant or Delaware employer as instructed. | Required when requesting the applicable temporary permit. |
“I submitted my Delaware _____ application on _____. My DELPROS dashboard currently shows _____. The item named _____ was sent by _____ on _____ through _____. Please confirm whether it has been matched to my application and identify the exact remaining requirement.”
A complete application requiring Board review is normally considered at the next scheduled Board meeting, not necessarily on the day the final document arrives.
An APP number, completed payment or status such as “submitted” is not an issued nursing license.
Apply for Delaware RN or LPN licensure by endorsement
Endorsement is generally used when the applicant already holds an RN or LPN license in another U.S. jurisdiction and has never held the same Delaware license type.
Confirm that Delaware accepts the application
The primary-state-of-residence rules determine whether a Delaware application is needed or whether another compact-state license already authorizes practice.
Review Residence RulesSubmit the endorsement application in DELPROS
Create or sign in to the account, choose Nursing and select the correct RN or LPN endorsement application.
Order verification of original licensure
Use Nursys when the original licensing jurisdiction participates; otherwise request direct official verification.
Open Nursys VerificationComplete the Delaware and FBI background check
Use the nursing-specific service code and IdentoGO route. A prior employer or another state’s background check does not meet this requirement.
Document practice and CE
Prepare 1,000 practice hours in five years or 400 in two years, plus 30 RN or 24 LPN CE hours completed in the previous two years.
Use a refresher or supervised plan when needed
When the ordinary practice requirement cannot be met, request the approved refresher or alternate supervised-practice route before working.
Already licensed in another compact home state
A nurse holding an active multistate license from another NLC primary state may practise in Delaware under compact privilege without obtaining a separate Delaware RN/LPN license.
Moving primary residence to Delaware
Apply for a Delaware multistate license within 60 days after establishing Delaware as the new primary state of residence.
An applicant who holds a multistate license in another compact state should not apply for a second multistate home-state license until Delaware becomes the legal primary state of residence.
Delaware single-state and multistate nursing licenses
A Delaware multistate license allows an eligible Delaware-resident RN or LPN to practise in other NLC states. A single-state license marked Valid Only in DE does not create interstate compact privilege.
| Situation | Meaning | Correct action |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware resident with multistate RN/LPN | May practise in other NLC states under multistate privilege. | Maintain Delaware residence and all uniform licensure requirements. |
| Delaware license says Valid Only in DE | The license is single-state. | Request a multistate upgrade if Delaware is the primary residence and all requirements can be met. |
| Another compact state is primary residence | That home state normally issues the multistate license. | Use the home-state compact privilege in Delaware when valid. |
| Moving to Delaware | Delaware becomes the new primary state of residence. | Apply for the Delaware multistate license within 60 days. |
| Moving from Delaware to another compact state | The new state becomes the compact home state. | Apply for the new home-state multistate license within 60 days. |
| APRN practice | Delaware does not issue a multistate APRN license. | Obtain and maintain a Delaware APRN license separately. |
Upgrading a Delaware single-state license
A background check completed for employment, another state license or a previous unrelated purpose does not replace the background check required for the Delaware multistate upgrade.
Delaware APRN application, renewal and prescribing checks
Delaware APRNs must maintain an active Delaware RN license or qualifying multistate RN license, graduate-level specialty education and current national certification in the licensed role and population focus.
Current RN authority
The applicant must hold or concurrently apply for a Delaware RN license or hold an active multistate RN license from another compact state.
Graduate education
A master’s degree or post-basic program certificate in a clinical nursing specialty is required.
National certification
Official verification must come directly from a Board-recognized national certifying organization.
| APRN requirement | Official route | Practical reminder |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty practice | 1,500 hours in five years or 600 hours in two years. | Hours must be in the licensed role and population focus. |
| Recent graduate alternative | Graduation from the specialty program within two years. | Prepare direct education and certification evidence. |
| National certification | Current verification from the recognized certifier. | Certification must match the Delaware APRN role and population focus. |
| NPDB self-query | Obtain the self-query and submit the original report as instructed. | Do not upload an incomplete screenshot when an original report is required. |
| Non-controlled prescribing | Included automatically with the APRN license through the current portal process. | Public verification can display Prescriptive Authority: Yes. |
| Controlled substances | Separate Delaware controlled-substance registration. | The CSR has its own renewal and two-hour controlled-substance CE requirement. |
| Renewal sequence | Renew Delaware RN before Delaware APRN. | A compact RN must already have a future expiration date. |
Delaware’s RN/LPN multistate privilege does not create multistate APRN authority. An APRN practising in Delaware needs a Delaware-issued APRN license.
An APRN cannot practise while the underlying RN license is inactive. Verify the RN, APRN and controlled-substance records separately.
Delaware RN, LPN, graduate-nurse and APRN temporary permits
A temporary permit is a separate $40 application available only after the related permanent license application has been filed. A Delaware job-offer letter is required for RN/LPN permit routes.
| Permit type | Initial validity | Major requirement | Immediate termination trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN/LPN by endorsement | 90 days after issue. | Permanent endorsement application, employer reference, job offer and Delaware/FBI background check. | Permanent application decision or other permit condition. |
| Graduate RN/LPN by examination | Up to 90 days after graduation. | Permanent examination application, education proof and Delaware job offer. | Failure of NCLEX. |
| Temporary APRN | 90 days from issue. | Permanent APRN application, RN authority, certification evidence and background check. | Failure of the certification examination when not yet certified. |
File the permanent license application first
The temporary-permit transaction cannot replace the RN, LPN or APRN application.
Obtain the Delaware job-offer letter
RN/LPN permits require an offer from a Delaware employer showing that the start date precedes completion of the ordinary licensing process.
Complete the permit application and fee
Submit the separate temporary-permit transaction in DELPROS and pay the current $40 fee.
Finish the permit-specific documents
Provide the employer reference, offer letter, education or certification evidence and the required Delaware/FBI background check.
Wait for the permit number
Do not begin orientation or employment until the permit is issued and a permit number is assigned.
Download and verify the permit
Use Options, Download Certificate in the dashboard and confirm the permit through public License Look-Up.
The Board FAQ describes possible RN/LPN permit extensions to a total of six months through additional 60-day and 30-day periods. An extension is not automatic; rely on the current permit record and Board notification.
A temporary permit may be limited to the facility identified in the application. It should not be treated as unrestricted authority for a different employer or assignment.
Check Delaware nursing schools and refresher programs
Delaware publishes an approved nursing-education and refresher-program list with school addresses, contacts, websites, telephone numbers and program types.
Identify the intended credential
Determine whether the program leads to practical nursing, diploma RN, associate-degree RN, bachelor’s RN or another Board-recognized route.
Open the official Delaware program list
Match the exact school, address and program type instead of relying only on a recruiter’s statement.
Open Approved ProgramsCheck the exact campus
A school system may operate multiple locations or pathways. Match the enrollment agreement to the official listing.
Review annual NCLEX statistics
Compare the number tested, number passing and multi-year trend rather than one promotional percentage.
Check accreditation separately
State Board approval and national nursing-program accreditation are separate reviews.
A Certified Nursing Assistant pathway is handled through Delaware health and social-services systems rather than the Delaware Board of Nursing’s RN/LPN/APRN application process.
Fix account, address, name and service-request problems
Use the existing account
If DELPROS recognizes an existing profile, enter the connected password or use Forgot Password rather than creating duplicate records.
Email is the username
Changing the DELPROS account email also changes the username used for future sign-in.
Update every license address
Mailing and public addresses are changed from Options, Change Address on the individual license tile. Multiple licenses must be updated separately.
Legal-name request
Submit a Nursing Name Change service request and upload the legal documentation requested by DELPROS.
Use Service Request
Name changes, inactive status, written verification, additional documents, reactivation and multistate upgrades use the Service Request menu.
Download the certificate
Open the issued license or permit tile, select Options and choose Download Certificate when available.
Some application items are uploaded by the applicant, while others must be acknowledged and sent by a third party. Following the wrong submission method can leave the application incomplete.
Internet Explorer is not compatible with DELPROS. Use a current version of Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.
Delaware Board of Nursing phone, email, hours and address
Before contacting DPR, prepare the profession, license or application number, submission date, third-party sender and exact DELPROS status or error message.
Licensing, renewal, DELPROS and Board customer-service assistance.
Include profession, license/application number and a concise explanation.
Use fax only when the form or official instruction permits that submission method.
Monday through Friday, excluding Delaware state holidays.
The customer-service telephone line closes between the morning and afternoon periods.
Generally held at 9:00 a.m., except August and December, unless otherwise announced.
“I am contacting the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation about my _____ nursing license/application. My license or application number is _____. I submitted _____ on _____. The third-party document was sent by _____ on _____. DELPROS currently shows _____. Please identify the exact next step.”
Office and mailing address
Division of Professional Regulation
Cannon Building, Suite 203
861 Silver Lake Boulevard
Dover, DE 19904
Before travelling
Call first. An office visit does not guarantee same-day application review, document matching, permit issuance or Board approval.
When a school, employer, licensing jurisdiction or certifier must send a document directly, hand-delivering the applicant’s own copy may not satisfy the source requirement.
Delaware Board of Nursing FAQ
How do I verify a Delaware nursing license?
Use DELPROS License Look-Up. Select Individual, search by name or license number, open the result number and choose View More Info to confirm status, expiration, compact information and public discipline.
Is Delaware online license verification official?
Yes. Delaware states that DELPROS online verifications are free, real-time primary-source verifications.
When does a Delaware RN license expire?
RN licenses expire February 28, May 31 or September 30 of odd-numbered years depending on the original issue cycle. Newly issued RN licenses expire September 30 of odd years.
When does a Delaware LPN license expire?
Delaware LPN licenses expire February 28 of even-numbered years.
How many CE hours does a Delaware RN need?
An RN normally needs 30 contact hours during a full two-year renewal period. First-renewal hours can be reduced based on the issue date and whether licensure was by examination, endorsement or reinstatement.
How many CE hours does a Delaware LPN need?
An LPN normally needs 24 contact hours during a full two-year renewal period. The first-renewal requirement may be zero, 12 or 24 hours depending on the issue date and licensing route.
What special CE topics are required?
At least three contact hours must cover substance abuse. At least one hour must address abuse, exploitation, trafficking, domestic violence or applicable reporting obligations involving vulnerable persons.
How many nursing-practice hours are required for renewal?
Complete at least 1,000 hours of nursing practice during the previous five years or 400 hours during the previous two years. An approved refresher or alternate supervised plan may apply when ordinary practice hours cannot be met.
Do I upload CE certificates with every renewal?
No. Enter each course in DELPROS CE Tracker, but upload certificates and practice documents when the Board notifies you that you were selected for audit.
What happens if a Delaware nursing license expires?
A late-renewal application may be filed within two months after expiration, but the nurse cannot practise until the license is active again. After the two-month period, reinstatement is required.
Is Delaware a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Eligible Delaware-resident RNs and LPNs may hold a multistate license. Delaware does not issue multistate APRN licenses.
How soon must I apply after moving to Delaware from another compact state?
Apply for a Delaware multistate license within 60 days after establishing Delaware as the new primary state of residence.
How long is a Delaware temporary nursing permit valid?
An endorsement permit initially expires 90 days after issue. A graduate permit is valid for up to 90 days after graduation and ends immediately if the applicant fails NCLEX. Current Board approval controls any extension.
Can I start orientation while my temporary permit is pending?
No. Delaware instructs applicants not to begin orientation or employment until a temporary-permit number has been assigned.
What is the Delaware Board of Nursing phone number?
The Division of Professional Regulation customer-service number is 302-744-4500. Telephone hours are 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding state holidays.
Delaware official pages used for this guide
Fees, forms, portal functions and licensing rules can change. Recheck the relevant official page before submitting a renewal, application, service request or payment.
For employers and public users
Verify the exact license or permit, status, expiration, compact designation and public discipline through the live DELPROS record. Save the date checked and reverify before expiration.
For applicants and licensees
Use DELPROS for applications, renewals, CE Tracker, contact updates, service requests and downloadable certificates. This independent guide cannot access or change private licensing records.