NURSE LICENSURE GUIDE 2023

Find Your Nursing Licensure Guide

Delaware, DE

eNLC: Yes
Walk-Through: No
Temp License: Yes
Nursys: Yes
P: (302) 744-4500

 

FEES

Endorsement Application: $170.00

Temporary Permit: $40.00

TIMING

Permanent License

The BON does not commit to a timeframe for permanent licensure.

Temporary License

Approximately 7 business days upon receipt of all required materials.

LICENCE RENEWAL

  • Renewal cadence: Biannually, in odd-numbered years, in 3 groups (February 28th, May 31st, or September 30th). The expiration month depends on when your license was originally issued. All newly issued RN licenses expire on September 30 of odd-numbered years.
  • Renewal fee: Varies. Your renewal fee will be communicated to you by the Board at the time of renewal. Late renewals will incur an additional 50% fee.
  • Required contact hours: Requirements vary based on your license type and renewal date. See here for exact details.
  • Late renewals are accepted up to 60 days past your renewal date. If you do not renew your license during the renewal period, your license will lapse. If you wish to practice in Delaware, you will be required to apply for reinstatement.

Important Things to Know

  • No paper applications are accepted.
  • Allow at least four weeks for the SBI to send criminal history records to the Board office.
  • Your application is valid for 6 months. If incomplete after 6 months have passed, your application will be discarded and you must reapply and repay the application fee.

Licensure by Endorsement

Process

Permanent License 

  1. Submit an application online and pay the fee.
  2. Provide copy of your Driver’s License or official Identification Card. If you don’t have these documents, you may submit a voter registration card, federal tax return, military form 2058 or a Form W-2 showing your home state of residence.
  3. Provide a background check with fingerprints. Instructions for fingerprinting can be found here.
  4.  Provide a Nursing Employer Reference Form(s) from your employer if you:

    1. Have been employed during the past 6 months as the same type of nurse for which you are applying, or

    2. If you have not been employed for at least 6 months and you did not graduate from nursing school within the past 2 years, but you were employed as the same type of nurse for which you are now applying within the past 5 years.
  5. Provide a Nursing School Reference Form from your nursing school if you have not been employed as the same type of nurse for which you are applying for at least the past 6 months but you graduated from your nursing program within the past 2 years.
  6. Request verification of licensure via Nursys from your original state of licensure. If this state does not participate in Nursys, you will need to contact that state’s BON and request verification be sent to the Delaware BON via the Verification of Original Licensure form.

Temporary License 

  1. You may only submit an application for a temporary permit if you have already applied for a Delaware RN license and you meet All of the following conditions:

    1. You can provide a job offer letter from an employer locating in Delaware.

    2. Your start date will be before the endorsement process is complete.

    3. Your application is on file with the Delaware BON.

    4. The results of your background check have been received by the Delaware BON

    5. Your nursing reference forms have been received by the Delaware BON
  2. Temporary permits are valid for 90 days. 
  3. A permit can be extended for a total of six months. The second period is for 60 days and the third period is for 30 days.
  4. You may only use the permit at the facility you indicated on your application.
  5. The Board will send you a notification each time your temporary permit is extended and you may print your own permit.