Best Delaware LPN to RN/BSN Programs 2026
In Delaware, LPN to RN bridge programs combine academic instruction with supervised clinicals to prepare nurses for advanced roles. Students learn advanced health assessment, nursing theory, and patient management. These programs emphasize readiness for RN licensure and professional growth in healthcare.
Delaware LPN to RN Program Overview
Eligibility and Admission Requirements
Delaware LPNs pursuing RN licensure typically apply to either an Associate Degree in Nursing bridge or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing prelicensure pathway that grants advanced standing. Admission is competitive. Common requirements include:
- An active, unencumbered LPN license. Delaware is part of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a valid multistate LPN license is acceptable for practice and clinical placement in the state.
- Completion of prerequisite college courses with minimum grades set by the program. Typical prerequisites include Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab, Microbiology with lab, English Composition, General Psychology, Human Growth and Development or Lifespan Psychology, and College Algebra or Statistics.
- Proof of recent, successful foundational sciences. Some programs require that science prerequisites be completed within five to seven years.
- A standardized admissions test such as TEAS or HESI, meeting a program-specific minimum score.
- Current American Heart Association BLS for Healthcare Providers certification, required immunizations, drug screening, and a criminal background check for clinical clearance.
- Professional standing. Working LPNs may receive advanced placement or credit-by-examination for prior learning and clinical experience, often via a transition course.
The Delaware Board of Nursing approves prelicensure nursing programs in the state and requires graduation from an approved RN program and passing the NCLEX-RN for licensure.
Program Curriculum and Accreditation
LPN to RN bridge curricula build on practical nursing knowledge and emphasize professional nursing scope and decision-making. Students progress through:
- Transition to professional nursing, role development, and evidence-based practice
- Advanced adult medical-surgical nursing across acute and chronic conditions
- Maternal-newborn and pediatrics
- Mental health and community or population health nursing
- Pharmacology, pathophysiology, health assessment, and leadership
- Supervised clinical rotations in hospitals, long-term care, clinics, and community settings, with skills and simulation lab components
Accreditation matters in Delaware for licensure eligibility, credit transfer, and employer recognition. Programs should be approved by the Delaware Board of Nursing and hold national accreditation appropriate to the degree level, such as ACEN for associate degrees or CCNE for baccalaureate degrees. Board approval confirms the curriculum meets state requirements for clinical education and NCLEX-RN preparation; national accreditation supports financial aid eligibility and mobility into RN to BSN and graduate programs.
LPN to RN Schools and Classes
In Delaware, LPN to RN prelicensure bridge options that grant advanced standing are primarily offered through public community colleges delivering associate degree RN pathways. While LPNs may apply to baccalaureate prelicensure programs at universities, these programs typically admit LPNs as general transfer students rather than through a dedicated LPN-to-RN bridge track.
Offerings vary by campus and cohort, and some locations provide evening or weekend schedules to accommodate working nurses.
Coursework typically includes transition-to-RN courses, advanced health assessment, complex adult health, maternal-child and pediatric nursing, psychiatric-mental health, and community health. You will also complete clinical practicums in medical-surgical units, specialty areas, and community-based settings, plus simulation to develop clinical judgment, teamwork, and patient safety competencies.
Career Outlook
RNs in Delaware work in hospitals, ambulatory care, long-term care, home health, hospice, schools, public health, and behavioral health. Shift options include days, evenings, nights, and weekends, with many hospital roles requiring 12-hour shifts; outpatient and community roles may offer more traditional schedules. Employers look for graduates from Board-approved programs with strong clinical preparation and readiness for NCLEX-RN.
Compared with LPN roles, RN practice in Delaware includes broader assessment, care planning, patient education, independent clinical decision-making, and leadership responsibilities. This expanded scope generally corresponds with a wider range of job options and higher earning potential than LPN positions. Demand for RNs is sustained by hospital staffing needs, an aging population, and retirements, and RNs have clearer pathways into specialized practice areas and advanced degrees.
LPN to RN Program Length
- Full-time bridge: Often 12 to 18 months of nursing coursework after prerequisites and awarded advanced standing, depending on the number of credits accepted and clinical sequencing.
- Part-time bridge: Commonly 18 to 30 months after prerequisites. Part-time tracks spread didactic and clinical courses to accommodate working LPNs.
- Evening/weekend bridge: Select campuses offer courses and clinicals scheduled outside traditional weekday hours. Total time to completion is similar to part-time, and clinical availability can affect pacing.
Total duration depends on how many prerequisites you have completed, placement exam outcomes, and clinical site scheduling.
Tuition and Costs
Tuition in Delaware varies by institution and residency. For public LPN to RN bridge pathways, in-state tuition is typically charged per credit. After advanced standing is applied, many students complete roughly 30 to 45 nursing credits; tuition for those credits at public rates commonly falls within a mid four-figure to low five-figure range before fees. Private programs are higher.
Expect additional costs for nursing fees, textbooks and digital resources, uniforms and supplies, background check and drug screening, immunizations, standardized testing and NCLEX prep, and the NCLEX-RN and state licensure application fees. Housing costs in Delaware vary by region, with higher rents near Wilmington and along the coast; many students commute to manage expenses. Budget for transportation to clinical sites and variable parking costs.
Can I Take LPN to RN Classes Online?
Delaware programs may offer hybrid formats that combine online coursework for theory with in-person skills labs and clinical rotations. Fully online prelicensure RN education is not practical because the Delaware Board of Nursing requires supervised direct clinical learning experiences for licensure preparation. Programs can incorporate high-fidelity simulation consistent with state and program standards, but simulation augments rather than replaces required clinical hours.
If you need flexibility, look for bridge cohorts that schedule didactic content online or in hybrid blocks, with labs and clinicals arranged on evenings or weekends. Clinical placements occur at Delaware or regional partner sites under faculty supervision, and you must be able to meet on-site attendance, health, and background requirements.
LPN to RN Licensure Requirements in Delaware
NCLEX-RN Exam Information
Graduates of LPN-to-ADN and LPN-to-BSN bridge programs must pass the NCLEX-RN to become licensed as a Registered Nurse in Delaware. The Delaware Board of Nursing processes RN applications through the DELPROS online system. After the Board reviews and approves your application, you will receive Authorization to Test and can schedule the NCLEX.
- Apply in DELPROS for RN by Examination and pay the required fees.
- Have your nursing program send an official transcript showing degree awarded and graduation date.
- Complete Delaware state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background checks.
- Register for the NCLEX-RN and pay the testing fee on the official NCLEX website.
- Wait for your Authorization to Test, then schedule with Pearson VUE and sit for the exam.
- Results are reported to the Board; licensure is issued upon passing and meeting all requirements.
Delaware may issue a graduate temporary permit to eligible recent graduates who have passed the NCLEX-RN and met all other requirements for licensure by examination while awaiting their permanent license. This permit allows practice under RN supervision and is time limited, becoming invalid upon issuance of the permanent license.
RN Reciprocity and Nurse Licensure Compact
Delaware offers licensure by endorsement for RNs who hold an active, unencumbered RN license in another U.S. jurisdiction and have passed a national exam (NCLEX or SBTPE). Endorsement applicants apply in DELPROS, complete state and federal background checks, and submit license verification from the original state of licensure. A temporary permit may be available while the Board completes its review.
Delaware is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If Delaware is your primary state of residence and you meet NLC criteria, the Board can issue a multistate RN license, allowing you to practice in other compact states without obtaining additional single-state licenses. If you permanently reside in another compact state and hold a multistate RN license there, you may practice in Delaware without a Delaware license. If you move your primary residence to Delaware from another compact state, you must apply for Delaware licensure by endorsement to continue practicing.
Licensure Requirements
The Delaware Board of Nursing regulates RN licensure for the state. LPN-to-RN graduates seeking initial RN licensure by examination must meet the following:
- Graduate from an approved RN program (ADN or BSN) and provide an official transcript.
- Submit an application for RN by Examination in DELPROS and pay fees.
- Complete a state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background check.
- Register for and pass the NCLEX-RN.
- For internationally educated applicants, provide a credential evaluation and English proficiency documentation as required.
License Renewal
Delaware RN licenses are renewed on a biennial cycle, with RN licenses expiring on February 28 of odd-numbered years. The online renewal period typically opens several weeks before the expiration date in DELPROS. You must attest to meeting continuing education and any other renewal requirements before the deadline.
- Complete at least 30 contact hours of Board-accepted continuing education during each two-year renewal period.
- Keep CE certificates and documentation; the Board conducts random audits and may require proof.
- If your license lapses, you must apply for reinstatement and meet current continuing competency requirements before returning to practice.
- Multistate license holders must continue to meet NLC eligibility, including maintaining primary state of residence and background check requirements.
Average LPN State Salary in Delaware
$66,510
2024 LPN Pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
LPN to ADN Bridge Program
Program Length:
The traditional ADN program at DTCC can be completed in five semesters. LPNs may receive advanced placement after completing a nursing transition course (NUR 190), potentially shortening the overall time to graduation.
Credential Awarded:
Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (ADN or ASN).
NCLEX-RN Eligibility:
Yes, upon successful completion of the program.
Program Focus:
The program focuses on providing the foundational knowledge and clinical skills necessary for direct patient care in various healthcare settings. The curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for the technical, clinical, and day-to-day responsibilities of a Registered Nurse.
Average In-State Tuition in Delaware:
The in-state tuition for the entire five-semester ADN program at Delaware Technical Community College is approximately $9,912.50, with a total estimated program cost of $15,349.50 including books and fees. In-state tuition per credit hour is around $153.
Best For:
LPNs seeking the fastest route to becoming a Registered Nurse, allowing for a quicker entry into the RN workforce.
School Types:
This pathway is offered through community colleges.
LPN to BSN Bridge Program
Program Length:
Typically, these programs take 2 to 4 years to complete, depending on the program's structure and the student's enrollment status (full-time or part-time).
Credential Awarded:
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
NCLEX-RN Eligibility:
Yes, upon successful completion of the program.
Program Focus:
The curriculum builds upon the LPN's existing knowledge and includes a more comprehensive education in nursing theory, research, leadership, and public health. This prepares graduates for a broader range of nursing roles, including those in management and administration.
Average In-State Tuition in Delaware:
Tuition varies significantly by institution. The average tuition for an undergraduate degree at an in-state public four-year institution in Delaware is around $14,230 per year, while private nonprofit four-year institutions average $39,400. Online programs may have different tuition structures.
Best For:
LPNs aiming for long-term career growth, leadership positions, and a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of nursing science and theory. A BSN can also be a stepping stone for advanced nursing degrees.
School Types:
Primarily offered by four-year colleges and universities, with many accessible to Delaware residents through online formats.
Choose LPN→ADN If:
- Faster Entry into the RN Role: The ADN path is the quickest way for an LPN to become eligible to sit for the NCLEX-RN and begin working as a Registered Nurse.
- Lower Cost: Community college tuition is generally more affordable than that of a four-year university, making the ADN a more budget-friendly option.
- Strong Foundational Clinical Skills: ADN programs are known for their focus on developing essential, hands-on clinical skills needed for direct patient care.
- Option to Bridge to a BSN Later: Graduates with an ADN can enter the workforce as an RN and then choose to complete an RN to BSN bridge program, often with the financial assistance of their employer.
Choose LPN→BSN If:
- Broader Career Opportunities: A BSN is often a requirement for nursing roles in leadership, management, research, and public health, opening up a wider range of career paths.
- Higher Earning Potential: Over the course of a career, nurses with a BSN tend to have a higher earning potential compared to those with an ADN.
- Foundation for Advanced Education: A BSN is the necessary stepping stone for pursuing graduate-level nursing education, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
- Meets Industry Recommendations: There is a growing trend in the healthcare industry to favor the hiring of BSN-prepared nurses, with some healthcare systems aiming for a higher percentage of their nursing staff to hold a bachelor's degree.