Delaware requires active RNs to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education per renewal cycle, including 3 mandatory hours in substance abuse. As a Nurse Licensure Compact state, Delaware also offers multistate licensing for qualifying nurses. Here's your complete renewal guide.
Delaware RN License Renewal Requirements Overview
The Delaware Board of Nursing requires all active nurses to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education during each renewal period. Of those 30 hours, 3 hours must be in substance abuse. Nurses must also meet a practice hour requirement and register with Nursys e-Notify.
Delaware is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, allowing nurses with a multistate license to practice across all compact states without obtaining additional licenses.
What Is Required for Renewal?
For RNs:
- 30 total CE hours per 2-year renewal cycle
- 3 hours in substance abuse (included in the 30-hour total)
- 1 hour on abuse and violence from an approved provider (included in the 30-hour total)
- Practice requirement: At least 1,000 hours of nursing practice in the past 5 years or 400 hours in the past 2 years
- Nursys e-Notify registration: Must register and maintain a free Nursys e-Notify account for workforce data collection
- Renewal fee: $170
For LPNs:
- Same CE and practice requirements as RNs (30 hours including 3 in substance abuse)
- Renewal fee: $170
For APRNs:
- Same CE requirements as RNs, plus any additional certification-specific requirements
- APRN license expires on the same date as your Delaware RN license
- Renewal fee: $170
Important Renewal Dates
Delaware has different expiration dates depending on your license type:
- RN and APRN licenses: September 30 of odd-numbered years (next deadline: September 30, 2027)
- LPN licenses: February 28 of even-numbered years
- Late renewal: You may file a late renewal application within 2 months after the expiration date with a late fee equal to 50% of the renewal fee. This is not a grace period — you may not practice until your license is renewed to active status.
Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your Delaware Nursing License
- Log in to DELPROS. Visit delpros.delaware.gov (Delaware Professional Regulation Online Services) to access your renewal application.
- Select your license type and click Renew. Choose RN, LPN, or APRN.
- Attest to completing 30 CE hours. Confirm that you have completed all 30 hours, including the 3 mandatory substance abuse hours.
- Attest to meeting the practice hour requirement. Confirm at least 1,000 hours in 5 years or 400 hours in 2 years.
- Confirm your Nursys e-Notify registration. Provide workforce data as required by the Board.
- Pay the renewal fee. $170 for RN, LPN, or APRN.
- Submit before your license expiration date. Late renewal within 2 months incurs a 50% late fee; beyond 2 months requires full reinstatement (per the Board, $150 reinstatement fee for RN/LPN — confirm current rate on the DELPROS portal).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting the 3-hour substance abuse requirement. While 30 hours of general CE is straightforward, many nurses forget that 3 of those hours must specifically cover substance abuse. Make sure to plan for this topic early.
- Not registering for Nursys e-Notify. This is a newer requirement, and skipping it can delay or block your renewal. Register at no cost at nursys.com before starting your renewal.
- Ignoring the practice hour requirement. In addition to CE hours, you must attest to 1,000 hours in 5 years or 400 hours in 2 years. If you've been out of practice, you may need to complete additional steps.
- Confusing the late renewal period with a grace period. Delaware allows late renewal within 2 months, but you cannot practice during this time. The 50% late fee on top of the $170 renewal fee means you'll pay $255 total.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal
- Complete substance abuse hours first. Get the 3 mandatory substance abuse hours done early in your renewal cycle so you can focus on the remaining 27 hours of general CE.
- Register for Nursys e-Notify now. If you haven't already, create your free account at nursys.com. This will save you time when your renewal comes due.
- Take advantage of compact state benefits. As an NLC member state, your Delaware multistate license lets you practice in other compact states — ideal for travel nursing or telehealth.
- Use RenewRN to stay organized. RenewRN tracks your CE hours including specific topic requirements, sends deadline reminders, and keeps all your credentials in one dashboard.
The Two Mandatory Topic Requirements
Per the Board, Delaware has two specific mandatory topic requirements within the 30-hour total:
- 3 hours in substance abuse — must specifically cover substance abuse content
- 1 hour on abuse and violence from an approved provider — covers identification and response to patient abuse, domestic violence, and similar topics
Both topics count within the 30-hour total — they're not in addition to. Practical implications:
- With 4 hours dedicated to specific topics, you have 26 hours available for elective CE
- Both courses must come from approved providers — generic CE on related but different topics may not satisfy
- The requirements apply every renewal cycle — not one-time
The Practice Hour Requirement
Per the Board, Delaware requires nurses to have practiced at least 1,000 hours in the past 5 years or 400 hours in the past 2 years. This is in addition to CE hours — both the practice and CE requirements must be met.
Practical implications:
- Most full-time clinical nurses easily meet the 400-in-2 or 1,000-in-5 thresholds through normal employment
- Part-time nurses, those on extended leave, or those transitioning to non-clinical roles may need to verify they meet the threshold
- Practice hours can be verified through employment records, contract assignments, or supervisor attestation
- If you don't meet either threshold, additional steps (such as a refresher course) may be required for renewal
The Nursys e-Notify Registration Requirement
Per the Board, Delaware requires nurses to register and maintain a free Nursys e-Notify account as a renewal requirement for workforce data collection.
Practical implications:
- Nursys e-Notify is operated by NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) — sign up at nursys.com at no cost
- The account collects workforce data (employment status, practice setting, demographics) used by Delaware for nursing workforce planning
- Failing to register can delay or block your renewal — handle this before submitting your renewal application
- The same Nursys account works across multiple states if you hold licenses in other states with similar requirements
The Three-Date RN/LPN/APRN Calendar
Per the Board, Delaware uses different expiration dates for different license types:
- RN and APRN licenses: September 30 of odd-numbered years (the renewalDeadline JSON field also notes February 28 and May 31 odd-year alternatives based on when the license was issued — confirm your specific date in DELPROS)
- LPN licenses: February 28 of even-numbered years
For nurses who hold both an RN and APRN, they renew together on the same date. For nurses who hold both an RN and LPN credential, you have two separate renewal cycles.
Late Renewal — Not a Grace Period
Per the Board, Delaware allows a 2-month late renewal window after expiration with a late fee equal to 50% of the renewal fee. Critically, this is not a grace period:
- You may file a late renewal application within 2 months after expiration
- The late fee is 50% of $170 = $85, on top of the $170 base fee — totaling approximately $255
- You may not practice during the late renewal period until your license is renewed to active status
- After 2 months, full reinstatement is required ($150 per the Board)
How Delaware Audits Work
Per the Board, Delaware may conduct random CE audits. Retain CE certificates for at least 4 years. Documentation auditors verify:
- Course certificates for all 30 hours, with provider name, course title, hours, and completion date
- Specifically the 3-hour substance abuse and 1-hour abuse and violence certificates from each renewal cycle
- Practice hour documentation (1,000 hours in 5 years OR 400 hours in 2 years)
- Nursys e-Notify account registration
Failed audits can result in license discipline. Save certificates digitally with clear filenames covering the rolling 4-year retention window.
NLC Compact and Delaware
Per the Board, Delaware is a Nurse Licensure Compact member state. If your primary state of residence is Delaware, you can apply for a multistate license through the DELPROS portal and practice in any of the other 41 NLC member states without separate applications.
Two practical notes:
- A multistate Delaware license still requires the 30 CE hours (with mandatory topics) and the practice hour requirement every renewal cycle
- The Nursys e-Notify registration applies to multistate license holders too
APRN Renewal in Delaware
Per the Board, APRNs in Delaware have the same 30-hour CE requirement (with the same mandatory topics) as RNs/LPNs and the same $170 renewal fee. APRN license renewal happens on the same date as the underlying RN license.
APRNs with DEA registration also need to complete the federal 8-hour MATE Act training on opioid and substance use disorder treatment — a federal requirement at DEA registration or renewal, separate from Delaware state CE.
Delaware RN Renewal FAQ
Are the substance abuse and abuse/violence courses really required every renewal? Yes. Per the Board, both topics are required every renewal cycle within the 30-hour total.
What if I don't meet the practice hour requirement? Per the Board, additional steps (such as a refresher course) may be required. Contact the Board to discuss specific options for your situation.
Why do I need a Nursys e-Notify account? Per the Board, the account collects workforce data Delaware uses for nursing workforce planning. Registration is free at nursys.com.
Can I take all 30 hours online? Yes. Delaware doesn't require any in-person CE.
Does my multistate license from another state work in Delaware? Yes. Delaware is an NLC member state — multistate license holders from other compact states can practice in Delaware.
Track Your Delaware License with RenewRN
With 30 CE hours to complete, a mandatory substance abuse topic, a practice hour requirement, and Nursys e-Notify registration, Delaware renewal has several moving parts. RenewRN sends reminders at 90, 60, 30, 7, and 1 day before your license expires and helps you track every requirement so nothing falls through the cracks.