How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Delaware 2026
Delaware licenses advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) through the Delaware Board of Nursing under full practice authority. Applicants must hold an active RN license, complete an accredited graduate program, and earn national certification in their specialty. New graduates must complete a supervised transition period before practicing independently.
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Delaware recognizes four APRN roles: nurse practitioner (NP), clinical nurse specialist (CNS), certified nurse midwife (CNM), and certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Each role carries specific population foci. For NPs, the Board cites adult, family, acute care, pediatric, geriatric, and women’s health as examples. CNS foci include maternal-child, pediatric, gerontology, and psychiatric-mental health. Regardless of role, all APRNs follow the same core licensure path: hold an RN license, complete a qualifying graduate program, obtain national certification, and apply to the Delaware Board of Nursing.
Use the links below to jump to specific APRN requirements, application steps, and renewal information.
- Understand Delaware’s practice authority model
- Review educational requirements
- Find approved certification agencies
- Understand prescriptive authority and controlled substance registration
- Check the recency requirement
- Complete the application process
- Renew your APRN license
- Contact the Board and professional associations
Practice Authority in Delaware
Delaware is a full practice authority state. Since HB 141 took effect in August 2021, APRNs licensed by the Delaware Board of Nursing have been authorized to practice to the full extent of their education and training, without a physician oversight agreement required for licensure. Delaware Code §1935 grants APRNs authority to diagnose, prescribe, and treat patients within their role and population focus, and to be designated as primary care providers.
There is one condition for new graduates. APRNs who have not yet accumulated two years and a minimum of 4,000 hours of collaborative clinical practice in their population focus area must complete a supervised transition period before practicing independently. During this period, the APRN works under a collaborative agreement. Once those hours are met and submitted to the Board, independent practice is permitted.
Employers and health care organizations may still require collaborative agreements of their own accord, independent of the state licensure rules.
Educational Requirements
To qualify for APRN licensure in Delaware, a candidate must complete an accredited master’s degree or post-basic program in a nursing specialty. The Board defines a post-basic program as one completed after initial RN licensure that spans at least one academic year and includes a minimum of 400 supervised clinical hours. Programs may be offered by a higher education institution or an approved health agency. For a full list of APRN programs in Delaware, see the Delaware NP programs page.
Accreditation is required from an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Secretary of Education. The Board will accept programs with accreditation pending, provided the program is on track to obtain it.
APRNs must hold RN licensure before applying for APRN status. See Delaware RN license requirements for the full application process. An RN license from a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state is accepted. Even so, Delaware APRN licensure must come from the Delaware Board, regardless of where the underlying RN license was issued.
Certification Requirements
Most APRNs will need national certification appropriate to their role and population focus. The Delaware Board has approved the following certifying agencies:
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
- American Association of Nurse Practitioners
- American Midwifery Certification Board
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
- National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
This list is not exhaustive. The Board may accept other certifying bodies that meet the criteria established in Title 24 of the Delaware Administrative Code. The certification process includes credential review and a written examination.
If no certification exam exists for a nurse’s chosen specialty, the Board may accept education alone as sufficient for licensure. This is the exception, not the rule.
Prescriptive Authority and Controlled Substance Registration
Non-controlled substance prescribing authority is granted automatically when the Delaware APRN license is issued. No separate application or documentation of coursework is required for this authority.
APRNs who wish to prescribe controlled substances must apply separately for a Delaware Controlled Substance Registration (CSR). The CSR application is submitted through the Division of Professional Regulation after APRN licensure is obtained. Confirm the current CSR fee with the Board before applying, as fees are subject to change.
Out-of-state APRNs seeking prescriptive authority who completed their APRN program more than two years ago may be subject to additional continuing education requirements. Contact the Delaware Board of Nursing to confirm current requirements before applying.
Recency Requirement
Delaware requires APRNs to demonstrate recent experience in their specialty role, unless they graduated from their APRN program within the prior two years. The Board accepts either 600 practice hours accrued over the prior two years or 1,500 hours accrued over the prior five years. New graduates within the two-year window are exempt from this requirement separately.
The Application Process
All APRN applications are submitted through DELPROS, the Delaware Professional Regulation Online Services portal at delpros.delaware.gov. Applications are no longer submitted by mail. Applicants have six months to complete and submit an application once it is started in DELPROS. Application status can be checked online throughout the process.
All applicants must complete fingerprint-based state and federal background checks through IdentoGO, even if a background check was previously completed for the Delaware Board of Nursing. Background checks completed for any other purpose — employment, licensure in other states — do not satisfy this requirement. The exception: an applicant simultaneously applying for both RN and APRN licensure needs only one set of fingerprints.
The application package must include: a copy of a driver’s license or government-issued ID; official transcripts sent directly from the APRN program; a copy of the national certification notice or current re-certification card; official certification verification sent directly from the certifying organization; and an original self-query report from the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), mailed to the applicant’s address and then submitted to the Board.
The current application fee is $181. Confirm this amount directly with the Board before submitting, as fees are subject to change.
Applicants should submit at least ten business days before a scheduled Board meeting to be placed on that meeting’s agenda.
License Renewal and Continuing Education
RN and APRN licenses in Delaware renew on the same cycle. If the APRN holds a Delaware RN license, both licenses share the same expiration date and renew together in odd-numbered years. If the underlying RN license is from another compact state, the APRN license expires September 30 of odd years.
APRN renewal requires meeting the recertification requirements of the applicable national certifying agency. Delaware also requires continuing education each renewal cycle. Confirm current CE hour requirements with the Delaware Board of Nursing, as requirements are subject to regulatory change.
Temporary APRN permits are available for applicants awaiting national certification results. A permit must be applied for simultaneously with the full APRN application in DELPROS. The fee is $40. A standard temporary permit is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. If the applicant has not yet passed the certifying exam, they must work under supervision while the permit is active and will not have controlled substance prescriptive authority. Failing the certification exam terminates the permit immediately, but the Board may grant an extension on petition. Do not begin employment or orientation until a permit number is assigned.
Delaware has enacted the APRN Compact (HB 21, August 2021), which would allow APRNs to hold a multistate license and practice across member states. Per the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, the Compact requires 10 states to enact legislation before it becomes operational. As of 2025, four states — Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah — have enacted it. Check the Board of Nursing website for the current status.
Nursing Board and Additional Resources
The Delaware Board of Nursing operates under the Division of Professional Regulation (DPR). The Board can be reached by email at [email protected] or by phone at (302) 744-4500. Licensing information, fee schedules, and the DELPROS application portal are available at dpr.delaware.gov/boards/nursing/.
Professional associations serving Delaware APRNs include:
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Delaware a full practice authority state for nurse practitioners?
Yes. Delaware enacted full practice authority for APRNs in August 2021, removing the requirement for a physician collaborative agreement for licensure. APRNs are authorized under Delaware Code §1935 to diagnose, prescribe, and treat patients to the full extent of their education and training. New graduates without two years and 4,000 hours of collaborative practice experience must complete a supervised transition period before practicing independently.
What certification is required to become an APRN in Delaware?
Delaware requires national certification appropriate to the APRN’s role and population focus. The Board has an approved list of certifying agencies, including the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Midwifery Certification Board, among others. If no certification exam exists for a particular specialty, education credentials alone may be accepted.
Does Delaware require a collaborative agreement for APRN practice?
Not for licensure. Since August 2021, collaborative agreements are no longer required to obtain or hold an APRN license in Delaware. However, new graduates who have not yet completed two years and 4,000 hours of collaborative practice must work under a collaborative agreement during a transition period before practicing independently. Individual employers may also require collaborative agreements separate from the state licensure rules.
What is the recency requirement for Delaware APRN licensure?
Unless the applicant graduated from their APRN program within the last two years, they must show recent experience in their specialty role. The Board accepts 600 hours of practice within the prior two years or 1,500 hours within the prior five years. New graduates within the two-year window are exempt from this requirement.
Does Delaware participate in the APRN Compact?
Delaware has enacted the APRN Compact legislation, but the Compact is not yet operational. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing requires 10 states to enact the legislation before it takes effect. As of 2025, four states have enacted it. Check the Board of Nursing’s website for the current status as more states consider joining.
Key Takeaways
- Delaware is a full practice authority state — Since August 2021, APRNs can diagnose, prescribe, and treat patients without a physician oversight agreement. New graduates must complete a supervised transition period of two years and 4,000 hours before independent practice.
- Graduate program plus national certification required — APRN licensure requires an accredited master’s degree or post-basic program with at least 400 clinical hours, plus certification from a Board-approved agency in the relevant role and population focus.
- Non-controlled prescribing is automatic — Basic prescriptive authority for non-controlled substances comes with the APRN license. Controlled substance prescribing requires a separate Delaware Controlled Substance Registration.
- Applications are online through DELPROS — All APRN applications, including the temporary permit, are submitted through the Delaware Professional Regulation Online Services portal. The current application fee is $181.
- APRN Compact enacted but not yet active — Delaware has passed APRN Compact legislation; the multistate license framework takes effect once 10 states enact it. Four states have done so as of 2025.
Use the search tool below to find accredited NP and APRN programs approved for Delaware licensure applicants.