Nursing License from California to Delaware: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Delaware accept a California nursing license?
A nursing license transfers from California to Delaware by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Delaware Board of Nursing, verify your California license, and meet Delaware's endorsement requirements. NCLEX is not retaken; verification of original licensure by examination is obtained through Nursys.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
This direction has a silver lining. California is outside the compact, so you have been carrying a single-state license — but Delaware is a member. Endorse into Delaware, establish it as your primary residence, meet the uniform licensure requirements, and the license you receive is multistate: one application turns into practice privileges across the whole compact.
What's different between California and Delaware
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Delaware. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
California to Delaware (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
Delaware to California (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from California matter?
Coming from California matters here: only 11 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Delaware.
The others get: compact multistate — already covered (39).
- NLC membership
California is not in the NLC; Delaware is an NLC member state.
Because they are not both active members, the NLC does not cover this move.
A multistate license issued by Delaware does not cover practice in California.
- Application fee
Delaware lists $181 for an out-of-state applicant and California lists $350 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Processing time
California lists 10–12 weeks for the reverse move; Delaware has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.
- Exam rules on record
Delaware and California carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Delaware (this move): NCLEX is not retaken; verification of original licensure by examination is obtained through Nursys
- California (the reverse move): NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys
What changes, California → Delaware
| California (current) | Delaware (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | Licensure by endorsement | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $350 (US-educated endorsement application ($750 if internationally educated); + $49 fingerprint hard card if out of state (Live Scan vendor fees vary); optional $100 temporary license) | $181 (RN application fee via DELPROS; + Delaware/FBI fingerprint fee; optional temporary permit $40) |
| Processing time | 10–12 weeks (board processing-times page (updated 10/22/2026) lists a 10-12 week timeframe for US endorsement applications, processed in date order received; temporary license available (2-3 weeks)) | board publishes no processing time; a temporary permit may be issued while the application is pending |
| Licensing authority | California Board of Registered Nursing | Delaware Board of Nursing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Delaware sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Delaware's current requirements on the Delaware Board of Nursing website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Delaware Board of Nursing (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Delaware state and FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check (checks done for employment or other states are not accepted).
- Verification of original licensure by examination through Nursys (or a state verification form for non-participating boards).
- Meet one recent-practice option: 1,000 practice hours in the last 5 years, 400 hours in the last 2 years, graduation within the last 2 years, or a board-approved refresher program.
- Apply online through the DELPROS portal.
- If you meet the practice requirement through practice hours, complete at least 30 hours of continuing education within the past 2 years and list each course in the DELPROS CE Tracker.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from California to Delaware?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Delaware DPR — RN/LPN License by Endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Delaware Board of Nursing — Fee Schedule ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- California BRN — Licensure by Endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- California BRN — Endorsement Application Fees & Instructions (PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- California BRN — Processing Times ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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