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)
- 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 ($272).
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.
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.