Healthcare Resource
Delaware CRNA License 2026: APRN Requirements, Full Practice Authority, Salary
In brief
How to get your CRNA license in Delaware 2026. Delaware Board of Nursing APRN process, full practice authority since 2014, and CRNA salary data for Wilmington, Dover, and Newark.
Steps at a glance
Complete CRNA program and obtain NBCRNA certification
Graduate from a COA-accredited nurse anesthesia program and pass the NBCRNA NCE. Delaware requires current CRNA national certification for APRN licensure.
Hold or obtain Delaware RN license
Delaware is an NLC compact member. CRNAs with a multistate compact license may practice in Delaware. If your primary state is non-compact, apply for Delaware RN licensure by endorsement through the Delaware Board of Nursing.
Submit Delaware Board of Nursing APRN application
Apply online through the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation portal. Submit CRNA certification, RN license verification, anesthesia program documentation, and the $76 APRN application fee, one of the lowest in the region.
Practice independently, full practice authority since 2014
Delaware adopted full practice authority for APRNs including CRNAs in 2014. No physician supervision or collaboration agreement is required. Delaware has opted out of the federal Medicare CRNA supervision requirement.
In this article
Delaware adopted full practice authority for all APRNs including CRNAs in 2014. No physician supervision or collaborative agreement is required, and Delaware has opted out of the federal Medicare CRNA supervision requirement. Delaware's geographic position, immediately adjacent to Philadelphia and within easy access of Baltimore and the Maryland suburbs, means Delaware CRNA compensation reflects the Philadelphia/Mid-Atlantic premium while benefiting from Delaware's no-sales-tax retail environment and historically lower housing costs than the Pennsylvania suburbs.
Practice Model
- Full Practice Authority since 2014, no supervision or collaboration agreement required
- Delaware has opted out of federal Medicare CRNA supervision requirement
- ACT model: ChristianaCare (Newark/Wilmington), largest health system in DE and the dominant employer
- CRNA-independent model: Bayhealth (Dover/Milford), Beebe Healthcare (Lewes/coastal DE), St. Francis Hospital
- Sussex County (coastal Delaware) has growing elective surgical demand from retiree migration and beach-community demographics
Application Requirements
- Active Delaware RN license (compact or DE-issued)
- Current NBCRNA certification
- Official nurse anesthesia program documentation
- Completed Delaware DPR online application + $76 fee
- Criminal background check via Delaware State Police
Processing Timeline
Delaware Board of Nursing processes APRN applications in 4-8 weeks from complete submission. Delaware's Division of Professional Regulation is among the more efficient licensing agencies in the Mid-Atlantic; complete applications process quickly.
CRNA Salary in Delaware (2026)
| Market | Avg CRNA Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington / Newark | $205,000-$235,000 | ChristianaCare dominant; Philadelphia-adjacent premium; ACT + CRNA-independent |
| Dover (Central DE) | $195,000-$222,000 | Bayhealth Kent General; state capital; lower COL than northern DE |
| Coastal DE (Rehoboth / Lewes) | $198,000-$228,000 | Beebe Healthcare; growing retiree market; seasonal surgical demand |
Top Employers in Delaware
- ChristianaCare, Wilmington + Newark; largest health system in DE; both ACT (flagship) and CRNA-independent models; Level I trauma
- Bayhealth, Dover + Milford; Central and Southern DE; CRNA-independent model
- Beebe Healthcare, Lewes + Sussex County; coastal community hospital; CRNA-independent; growing surgical volumes
- St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington; community hospital; CRNA positions across surgical service lines
What We See at Ava Health
Delaware punches above its weight for CRNA compensation given its size. The Wilmington market benefits from Philadelphia and New York proximity without the Pennsylvania or New Jersey income tax burden, Delaware has no sales tax and a relatively modest income tax. Coastal Sussex County (Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Ocean View) is growing rapidly as Mid-Atlantic retirees relocate, driving orthopedic and general surgical demand at Beebe Healthcare. ChristianaCare's ongoing campus expansion reflects the Wilmington metro's continued healthcare growth.
Related: CRNA Salary by State 2026, NP License Delaware 2026, CRNA License Maryland 2026.
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