Delaware Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist license renewal and CE requirements
Delaware nurse anesthetists must complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Delaware Board of Nursing (Division of Professional Regulation).
Delaware does not issue a standalone nurse anesthetist credential. A nurse anesthetist holds an advanced practice registered nurse license in the certified registered nurse anesthetist role, which Board rule 8.4 defines as a registered nurse who graduated from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs and who is certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists or another board approved certifying organization. The APRN license expires on the same date as the holder's Delaware RN license, and the RN license must be renewed first. Delaware staggers nursing expirations across three dates in odd numbered years: February 28, May 31 or September 30. All newly issued RN licenses expire on September 30 of odd numbered years, and an APRN who holds no Delaware RN license also expires September 30 of odd numbered years. Renewal is every two years through DELPROS. At renewal the nurse anesthetist attests to specialty practice hours: 1,500 hours over the past five years in the role and population focus, or 600 hours over the past two years, or graduation from the specialty program within the past two years.
Summary
Delaware nurse anesthetists must complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Delaware Board of Nursing (Division of Professional Regulation). Delaware does not issue a standalone nurse anesthetist credential. A nurse anesthetist holds an advanced practice registered nurse license in the certified registered nurse anesthetist role, which Board rule 8.4 defines as a registered nurse who graduated from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs and who is certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists or another board approved certifying organization. The APRN license expires on the same date as the holder's Delaware RN license, and the RN license must be renewed first. Delaware staggers nursing expirations across three dates in odd numbered years: February 28, May 31 or September 30. All newly issued RN licenses expire on September 30 of odd numbered years, and an APRN who holds no Delaware RN license also expires September 30 of odd numbered years. Renewal is every two years through DELPROS. At renewal the nurse anesthetist attests to specialty practice hours: 1,500 hours over the past five years in the role and population focus, or 600 hours over the past two years, or graduation from the specialty program within the past two years. Delaware also mandates specific subjects. Substance abuse: 3 contact hours every renewal cycle. Recognition of and response to suspected or known sexual abuse, physical abuse, exploitation, trafficking, or domestic violence of vulnerable persons: 1 contact hour every renewal cycle. Controlled substance prescribing practices, treatment of chronic pain, or other topics related to prescribing controlled substances: 2 contact hours every renewal cycle (nurse anesthetists who hold a Delaware controlled substance registration). Hours do not carry over between cycles and the first renewal is exempt.
Delaware Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist renewal and continuing education rules
"Not stated" means the board's pages and rules we read do not address it. We do not fill in typical values.
| Renewal cycle | Two-year (24 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Board-specific scheduleFirst renewal is prorated. |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 30 contact hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | No |
| First renewal exempt | Yes |
| Other accepted activities | National certification or recertification, worth 20 contact hours during the biennium in which it is awarded, with any hours beyond 20 applied toward the 30; Academic and extension courses related to nursing, at five contact hours per academic semester hour; Authoring an article, book chapter or independent study related to nursing, up to five contact hours per biennium; Conferences, independent study and qualifying inservice education |
Delaware sets no separate advanced practice hour count. The nurse anesthetist meets the same 30 contact hours per biennium that Board rule 9.2.1.1 requires of every registered nurse, and the two named subject minimums sit inside that 30: at least three hours in substance abuse, and at least one hour on recognizing and responding to suspected or known sexual abuse, physical abuse, exploitation, trafficking or domestic violence of vulnerable persons. Rule 9.2.3 states plainly that hours from a previous licensure period do not count and may not be accumulated for a future period, so there is no carryover, and rule 9.2.6.1 exempts a nurse licensed by examination within a biennium from that biennium's hours. What the advanced practice layer adds is not hours but two conditions. Rule 8.12.1 requires the APRN to meet the recertification requirements of the certifying agency, so for a nurse anesthetist current NBCRNA certification is a renewal condition; Delaware does not adopt the NBCRNA credit totals as its own figure, but rule 9.3.3 lets a recertification count as 20 of the 30 contact hours in the biennium it is awarded, with any excess recertification hours applied toward the remainder. Rule 8.12.2 adds the practice hour attestation. Prescriptive authority is granted automatically with APRN licensure under rule 8.14.1 rather than applied for separately, and rule 8.14.3 and 8.14.4 authorize an APRN, without carving out the nurse anesthetist role, to prescribe, administer and dispense legend medications including Schedule II through V controlled substances. A nurse anesthetist who holds a Delaware controlled substance registration renews it separately and owes two hours of controlled substance continuing education for it; the board states that continuing education completed for the practitioner license can satisfy that requirement.
Required CE topics for Delaware certified registered nurse anesthetists
State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Applies to | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substance abuseAt least three of the 30 contact hours. The board lists acceptable subjects including chemical dependency and the workplace, colleague chemical dependency, warning signs of substance use disorder, and drug diversion. These hours also help satisfy the two credit controlled substance registration requirement for a nurse anesthetist who holds a Delaware CSR. | 3 contact hours | Every renewal | All licensees | 24 DE Admin. Code 1900, rule 9.2.1.1 |
| Recognition of and response to suspected or known sexual abuse, physical abuse, exploitation, trafficking, or domestic violence of vulnerable personsAt least one of the 30 contact hours. The subject is broader than trafficking alone and includes the licensee's mandatory reporting obligations; the canonical key is the closest match. | 1 contact hour | Every renewal | All licensees | 24 DE Admin. Code 1900, rule 9.2.1.1 |
| Controlled substance prescribing practices, treatment of chronic pain, or other topics related to prescribing controlled substancesTwo hours during each full controlled substance registration renewal period, which runs July 1 to June 30 of odd numbered years and is renewed on a separate application from the nursing license. The board states the same coursework may satisfy both the practitioner license and the controlled substance registration requirement. | 2 contact hours | Every renewal | nurse anesthetists who hold a Delaware controlled substance registration | Not stated |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | Not stated |
| Board audits compliance | Yes |
| Approved providers | All contact hours must be earned through an approved method or from a board approved provider. Providers request board approval through DELPROS; the board approves providers rather than individual courses. Continuing education is entered in the DELPROS CE tracker and certificates are uploaded only if the licensee is selected for a random audit. Rule 9.2.5 requires the licensee to retain all original certificates or transcripts. The board separately audits APRNs for compliance with the practice hour requirement, with the employer returning the verification form directly to the board. |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Delaware CRNA need to renew?
- Delaware nurse anesthetists must complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license with the Delaware Board of Nursing (Division of Professional Regulation). Delaware sets no separate advanced practice hour count. The nurse anesthetist meets the same 30 contact hours per biennium that Board rule 9.2.1.1 requires of every registered nurse, and the two named subject minimums sit inside that 30: at least three hours in substance abuse, and at least one hour on recognizing and responding to suspected or known sexual abuse, physical abuse, exploitation, trafficking or domestic violence of vulnerable persons. Rule 9.2.3 states plainly that hours from a previous licensure period do not count and may not be accumulated for a future period, so there is no carryover, and rule 9.2.6.1 exempts a nurse licensed by examination within a biennium from that biennium's hours. What the advanced practice layer adds is not hours but two conditions. Rule 8.12.1 requires the APRN to meet the recertification requirements of the certifying agency, so for a nurse anesthetist current NBCRNA certification is a renewal condition; Delaware does not adopt the NBCRNA credit totals as its own figure, but rule 9.3.3 lets a recertification count as 20 of the 30 contact hours in the biennium it is awarded, with any excess recertification hours applied toward the remainder. Rule 8.12.2 adds the practice hour attestation. Prescriptive authority is granted automatically with APRN licensure under rule 8.14.1 rather than applied for separately, and rule 8.14.3 and 8.14.4 authorize an APRN, without carving out the nurse anesthetist role, to prescribe, administer and dispense legend medications including Schedule II through V controlled substances. A nurse anesthetist who holds a Delaware controlled substance registration renews it separately and owes two hours of controlled substance continuing education for it; the board states that continuing education completed for the practitioner license can satisfy that requirement.
- How often does a Delaware CRNA license need to be renewed?
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist licenses in Delaware renew every two years. Delaware does not issue a standalone nurse anesthetist credential. A nurse anesthetist holds an advanced practice registered nurse license in the certified registered nurse anesthetist role, which Board rule 8.4 defines as a registered nurse who graduated from a program accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs and who is certified by the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists or another board approved certifying organization. The APRN license expires on the same date as the holder's Delaware RN license, and the RN license must be renewed first. Delaware staggers nursing expirations across three dates in odd numbered years: February 28, May 31 or September 30. All newly issued RN licenses expire on September 30 of odd numbered years, and an APRN who holds no Delaware RN license also expires September 30 of odd numbered years. Renewal is every two years through DELPROS. At renewal the nurse anesthetist attests to specialty practice hours: 1,500 hours over the past five years in the role and population focus, or 600 hours over the past two years, or graduation from the specialty program within the past two years.
- What specific CE topics are required for Delaware nurse anesthetists?
- Substance abuse: 3 contact hours every renewal cycle. Recognition of and response to suspected or known sexual abuse, physical abuse, exploitation, trafficking, or domestic violence of vulnerable persons: 1 contact hour every renewal cycle. Controlled substance prescribing practices, treatment of chronic pain, or other topics related to prescribing controlled substances: 2 contact hours every renewal cycle (nurse anesthetists who hold a Delaware controlled substance registration). Citations: substance abuse (24 DE Admin. Code 1900, rule 9.2.1.1) and recognition of and response to suspected or known sexual abuse, physical abuse, exploitation, trafficking, or domestic violence of vulnerable persons (24 DE Admin. Code 1900, rule 9.2.1.1).
- Do Delaware nurse anesthetists have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Licensees attest to completion at renewal rather than submitting certificates and the board audits a sample of renewals and asks for documentation. All contact hours must be earned through an approved method or from a board approved provider. Providers request board approval through DELPROS; the board approves providers rather than individual courses. Continuing education is entered in the DELPROS CE tracker and certificates are uploaded only if the licensee is selected for a random audit. Rule 9.2.5 requires the licensee to retain all original certificates or transcripts. The board separately audits APRNs for compliance with the practice hour requirement, with the employer returning the verification form directly to the board.
- Is the first Delaware CRNA renewal exempt from CE?
- Yes. Delaware does not require continuing education for a CRNA's first renewal.
Sources
Last verified September 8, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- 24 DE Admin. Code 1900, Board of Nursing (rule 8 advanced practice registered nurse, rule 9 continuing education)Statute or administrative rule, accessed September 8, 2026
- Continuing Education and Audit Information, Delaware Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
- Renewal, Delaware Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
- FAQs, Delaware Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
- Continuing Education and Audit Information, Delaware Controlled Substance Advisory CommitteeState board page, accessed September 8, 2026
Every hour figure was read in the text of 24 DE Admin. Code 1900 on the state's own regulations site, an official host. That site serves an empty Angular shell to automated clients, so the rule text was read in a rendered browser; the same URL pattern is already covered for title 24 chapter 1700 in the repository's link exceptions file and chapter 1900 will need its own entry before the online link check passes. Delaware does not issue a distinct CRNA credential: rule 8.4 defines the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist as one of the advanced practice roles within the single APRN license, so this record covers the APRN license held in the nurse anesthetist role. Compared with the Delaware nurse practitioner record the requirement is identical, because rule 9.2.1.1 is the shared nursing rule and rule 8 contains no role specific continuing education for any advanced practice role. Two things this record adds over the nurse practitioner record, both read in the rule rather than on the board pages: carryover is expressly prohibited by rule 9.2.3, and a national recertification counts as 20 contact hours under rule 9.3.3, which matters to a nurse anesthetist because rule 8.12.1 already requires NBCRNA recertification to maintain the license. Topic key substance_abuse is not in the canonical list, and the abuse and trafficking recognition hour is filed under human_trafficking because that is the closest canonical key even though the required content is broader. Rules 8.14.3 and 8.14.4 grant prescribing authority to APRNs generally with no nurse anesthetist carve out, which is why the controlled substance registration hours are recorded with a conditional scope rather than dropped. Record retention length was not stated: rule 9.2.5 requires retention of original certificates without naming a period.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Delaware Board of Nursing (Division of Professional Regulation) before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.