50-State Guide
Delaware
Data provenance — all states
- Licensure Verified 2026-08-14 Report an error
- Endorsement Unverified Report an error
- Renewal Unverified Report an error
- CME Unverified Report an error
- Practice Verified 2026-08-14 Report an error
- Relinquishment Verified 2026-08-14 Report an error
- Value Unverified Report an error
At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| IMLC Member | Yes |
| FCVS | Accepted |
| NP Independent Practice | Yes |
| PA Independent Practice | Yes |
| Physician-Owned PC Allowed | No |
| Max NPs per Physician | No Limit |
| Max PAs per Physician | 4 |
Licensure
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial License | $440 |
| Renewal Fee | $344 |
| Renewal Cycle | Biennial |
| Annualized Cost | $172 |
| Controlled Substance Registration | Yes ($123 per biennial cycle) |
Endorsement & Reciprocity
Not yet researched — whether this state offers license-by-endorsement or reciprocity, and its prerequisites, is being verified.
Unverified Report an error
APC Supervision
In-state requirement for supervising physicians: MD must be licensed/available.
Nurse Practitioners
NPs can practice independently in Delaware.
- Maximum NPs per physician: No Limit (FPA)
Physician Assistants
PAs can practice independently in Delaware.
- Maximum PAs per physician: 4
CME & Training Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Total CME | 40 hours |
| Category 1 Minimum | 40 hours |
| Cycle | Biennial |
| Child Abuse | Required per cycle |
| DEA MATE Act | 8 hrs one-time (federal) |
| Jurisprudence Exam | Not required |
Fingerprint Requirements
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Required | Yes |
| FBI Check | Yes |
| Method | IdentoGO |
| Out-of-State Options | Contact board |
Malpractice Insurance
- Compensation fund: Delaware Code Title 18, Chapter 68, Subchapter VII ('Compensation for Health Care Injuries,' §§6861-6865) is not a state patient compensation fund; it consists of litigation-procedure rules (advance payments, nonassignability of claims) in medical negligence lawsuits, not a fund physicians pay into or draw on.
Verified 2026-08-14 Report an error
Giving Up a License
- Status after lapse: Physician (MD/DO) registration must be renewed biennially (expires March 31 of odd-numbered years); a late renewal application may be filed without full reapplication up to one year after expiration; if not renewed within that window the license terminates.
- Lapse consequences: Practicing on an expired license is illegal. Late renewal (within the 1-year window) requires a late fee in addition to the standard renewal fee; the statute leaves the exact grace-period length and penalty amount to be set by Division procedure rather than fixing them in the code itself.
- Reinstatement: Within one year of expiration, renewal can occur via a late renewal application plus late fee. After termination (i.e., beyond that window), the physician must reapply in DELPROS as a brand-new applicant, subject to current licensing requirements.
Verified 2026-08-14 Report an error
Quirks & Gotchas
- Initial application: $430 (MD or DO) — non-refundable.
- Late renewal penalty: 50% of the renewal fee added if submitted after the expiration date.
- License verification: $35 (or $45 with exam scores/history) — needed for credentialing at hospitals, which is a practical hidden cost.
- All fees are non-refundable.
- Critical gotcha: Background checks completed for any other purpose (another state, employer, etc.) do not satisfy this requirement. Delaware requires its own dedicated fingerprint submission.
These quirks are researched from state board websites and may change. Verify with the board directly before applying.
Resources
- Delaware Board of Medical Licensure
- FSMB State Licensure Directory
- Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
Sources
Data compiled from state medical board websites, FSMB, and regulatory filings.
Have a correction or update? Let us know.