Transfer Your Nursing License to Delaware: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to Delaware?
Yes — Delaware participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so an RN with a multistate license from another member state can work in Delaware without applying for anything as long as they live in another compact state (moving here means applying by endorsement). Coming from a non-compact state, you apply to the Delaware Board of Nursing by endorsement ($181 (RN application fee via DELPROS; + Delaware/FBI fingerprint fee; optional temporary permit $40)); the NCLEX is never repeated.
Moving to Delaware from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
NLC member — multistate license honored
Whether you need to do anything at all depends on the license in your pocket. If you hold a multistate license and your primary residence stays in another compact state — a travel contract, a border commute, telehealth — Delaware requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to Delaware, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the Delaware Board of Nursing to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — a multistate license from another compact state is honored in Delaware without endorsement unless Delaware becomes the nurse's primary state of residence.
Delaware requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; verification of original licensure by examination is obtained through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $181 (RN application fee via DELPROS; + Delaware/FBI fingerprint fee; optional temporary permit $40) |
| Processing time | board publishes no processing time; a temporary permit may be issued while the application is pending |
Comparing Delaware with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm Delaware's current requirements on the Delaware Board of Nursing website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Delaware Board of Nursing (application linked on this page).
- 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
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Delaware:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering Delaware:
Delaware for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in Delaware
- Real Estate in Delaware
- Contractor in Delaware
- Teaching in Delaware
- CPA / Accounting in Delaware
- Electrician in Delaware
- Plumber in Delaware
- Engineering in Delaware
- Pharmacy in Delaware
- Physical Therapy in Delaware
- Psychology in Delaware
- Counseling in Delaware
- Social Work in Delaware
- Occupational Therapy in Delaware
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in Delaware?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; verification of original licensure by examination is obtained through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is Delaware in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — Delaware is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in Delaware without any application, as long as your primary residence stays in a member state.
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)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com