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Professional Regulation

RN/LPN License by Examination

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  3. RN/LPN License by Examination

When to Apply by Examination

Submit an application only if you wish to take the NCLEX examination and your home state of residence is either Delaware or a state that is not an Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) state.

  • Your home state of residence (also called the primary state of residence) is your declared fixed, permanent and principal home for legal purposes. If your home state of residence is another eNLC state, you must apply for licensure by examination in your home state, not in Delaware.
  • If you hold a current, active Nursing license of the same type in another state, U.S. territory or District of Columbia and you have never held a Delaware Nursing license of the same type, apply by reciprocity.
  • If you have ever held a Delaware license of the same type and that license is now in expired status able to reinstate or it is in Inactive status, apply by reinstatement.


Information on How to Apply for a License in DELPROS

All applications are submitted our online system DELPROS. We no longer accept paper applications.


PRIOR TO APPLYING

In order to apply for a license or submit a service request, you must first have a DELPROS user account. To LOG IN or CREATE a DELPROS (Delaware Professional Regulation Online Services) user account:

  1. Go to: https://delpros.delaware.gov/OH_HomePage.
  2. Click GO on the Apply/Manage a License and Service Requests tile.
  3. If you do not have a DELPROS user account, click the REGISTER button on the left side of page for NEW USERS.
  4. If you already have a DELPROS user account, enter your email address and password on the right side for EXISTING USERS and click the LOGIN button.

DELPROS allows you to save your incomplete application and return to it later to finish the process. You only have six (6) months to submit your application once you begin.

  • If you do not submit your application within six months of starting it, you will be required to restart the entire online application again.

You may check the status of your application online throughout the entire application process by using the “View Application Status” feature in DELPROS on your e-License dashboard.


KNOW YOUR REQUIREMENTS AND COLLECT YOUR DOCUMENTS

  1. Know the requirements for the license you are pursuing.
  2. Request and gather all documents required to upload on the Attachments page. All information and forms are located on your profession’s webpages.


ATTACHING AND ACKNOWLEDGING DOCUMENTS

On the ATTACHMENTS page of your application, you may be instructed to:

  • either “attach” or “upload” the required document(s) directly to your application. This means you will find the document(s) saved on your computer or device and upload it to your application.
  • click “acknowledge.”  This means you will either mail the documents yourself or request the “third-party” to mail the document(s) directly to the Board office.
    • Examples of “third-party forms” are transcripts from schools, employment verifications from a supervisor, or license verifications from another state.
  • Forms requiring a supervisor signature, seal, or notary may have to be MAILED to the Board office directly UNLESS the document specifically indicates to UPLOAD the document.


Requirements for Examination Applicants

In addition to submitting the application and fee in DELPROS, you must submit:

  • A State of Delaware and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal background check (CBC). Follow the instructions on the Criminal History Record Check Authorization form to arrange to be fingerprinted. Submit both the form and payment to the State Bureau of Identification (SBI). Do not send these forms to the Board office.
    • Allow at least four weeks for the SBI to send criminal history records to the Board office.
    • A new criminal background check is required even if the person recently had a criminal background check done for some other reason.
  • A copy of your driver’s license or official identification card from the Division of Motor Vehicles.
    • The state (or other jurisdiction) on the identification you provide is considered your home state of residence.
    • If you don’t have a driver’s license or official identification from the Division of Motor Vehicles, you may submit a voter registration card, federal tax return, military form 2058 or a Form W-2 showing your home state of residence.
  • A copy of your CGFNS CES Report if you received your Nursing education outside the U.S. (including Canada) or in Puerto Rico. Contact CGFNS to order your CES Report. CGFNS must send the CES Reports directly to the Board office.
  • An official transcript showing the degree you received and the date if you received your Nursing education in the U.S. or a U.S. territory other than Puerto Rico. The school must send the transcript directly to the Board office. The Board office cannot approve you to sit for the examination until it receives this final transcript.
    • The nursing program must be acceptable to the Board. Section 2.4.1 of the Board’s Rules and Regulations explains the criteria for an acceptable Nursing program, such as 200 hours of clinical experience required for LPN students and at least 400 hours of clinical experience required for RN students. If your program is in Delaware, see Approved Delaware Nursing Education & Refresher Programs.
    • If 12 months or more have elapsed since your graduation, you must submit a Service Request to re-take the exam (after one year after graduation) in DELPROS.
    • If two years (24 months) or more have elapsed since your graduation, you are required to submit evidence of completing an NCLEX review course within the previous six months. To be acceptable, the course must include a test(s) and provide a certificate from the provider as proof of completion. (An email or payment receipt from the course provider is not sufficient.) Before enrolling, make sure that the course meets these requirements. To find a course, we suggest you check with your school of nursing, or search  the internet.
    • If five years (60 months) or more have elapsed since your graduation, you are no longer eligible for licensure by examination.


Registering for NCLEX Examination

Register for the NCLEX online on the Pearson Vue website as soon as you are ready to take the test.

  • When all required documents are received, reviewed and approved, the Board office will notify Pearson Vue that you are eligible to take the exam provided you have registered with Pearson Vue. The Board office cannot make you eligible until you have registered.
  • If you are eligible, Pearson Vue sends you an Authorization to Test (ATT) form by email. If you do not receive an ATT form, contact Pearson Vue. The Board office has no information about the status of your ATT form.
  • If you are not eligible to test, the Board office notifies you.
  • When you receive the ATT, schedule an appointment with Pearson Vue to take the exam.
  • If you passed and the Board office has received all of the documents required for licensure, the Board office will send you an email with your exam results and inform you that your license has been issued. You may print your own license.
  • If you did not pass, the Board office will send you your exam results. You must submit a Service Request in DELPROS to re-take the exam. No exam results are given out by phone!


Temporary Permit for RN or LPN

For information on applying for a temporary permit, see RN/LPN Temporary Permit. Carefully read the instructions about when you may apply. Do not begin orientation or employment until you are assigned a temporary permit number.

 

 


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