Delaware

PMHNP Practice Requirements In Delaware: Scope, Prescribing & Collaboration

Short answer: AANP lists Delaware as full practice, so a PMHNP receives full practice and prescriptive authority the day the Board of Nursing issues the APRN license, with no collaborative agreement and no supervised hours period (24 Del. C. 1935(a)). Controlled substance prescribing runs on a Delaware controlled substance registration plus DEA registration, and opioid prescribing follows the state’s safe prescribing regulation and PMP checks.

Delaware PMHNP Rules At A Glance

Topic	Delaware Rule
Practice authority	Full practice. The Board of Nursing grants full practice and prescriptive authority upon issuance of the APRN license, under the exclusive licensure authority of the Board (24 Del. C. 1902, 1935(a)(1)).
Physician agreement	None in law. Section 1936, which required collaborative agreements, was repealed effective August 4, 2021 by HB 141, though the bill’s synopsis notes employers may still require one (24 Del. C. 1936, repealed).
Physician limit	Not applicable. Delaware no longer requires a collaborating physician or a two year, 4,000 hour transition before independent practice, so there’s no ratio to track (24 Del. C. 1935; 24 DE Admin Code 1900-8.4).
Controlled substances	APRNs may prescribe, procure, administer and dispense legend and controlled substances in Schedule II to V with DEA registration and a biennial Delaware controlled substance registration (24 Del. C. 1935(b)(1); 24 DE Admin Code 1900-8.14).
PDMP	Registration is mandatory for every practitioner with a Delaware controlled substance registration (16 Del. C. 4798(u)). Query the PMP before an acute opioid prescription passes seven days and every six months in chronic therapy (regulation 9.6, 9.8).
Regulator	Delaware Board of Nursing, within the Division of Professional Regulation. The Office of Controlled Substances issues the state controlled substance registration and runs the PMP.

Updated October 5, 2026

Practice Authority

Delaware Practice-Authority Category (Full Practice)

AANP currently lists Delaware as a full practice state on its State Practice Environment map. In practice, PMHNPs there evaluate and diagnose patients, order and interpret tests, and start and manage treatment, including prescribing, under the exclusive licensure authority of the Delaware Board of Nursing. The state doesn’t require a career-long collaborative or supervisory agreement. An initial period of collaborative practice hours may apply before fully independent practice.

The AANP State Practice Environment map shows how Delaware compares nationally, and AANP’s practice information by state adds state-specific detail. The rules you’re held to come from the Delaware Board of Nursing.

Collaboration

Is A Collaborative Or Supervisory Agreement Required?

In Delaware, there’s no ongoing, career-long collaborative or supervisory agreement to maintain. Look at the start of your career, though. Some full practice states require a defined transition-to-practice period, supervised or collaborative, before an NP practices fully independently, and state rule sets whether one applies to you, how long it runs and how it’s documented.

Want to see what these arrangements usually include? Our guide to PMHNP collaborative practice agreements walks through it in plain language, and the PMHNP scope of practice by state overview covers the rules in other states.

Prescriptive Authority

Prescriptive Authority And Controlled Substances

Prescriptive authority in Delaware comes once you meet the state’s requirements, and it can cover controlled substances when the conditions are met. You’ll also need a separate federal DEA registration for controlled substances, and some carry additional federal or state conditions. The Delaware Board of Nursing and state law set the scope, any limits and the documentation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration covers the federal side.

Next Step

Credentialing Is A Separate Track

Being allowed to practice in Delaware and getting paid there are two different things. Payer enrollment has its own rules, Medicaid program and timelines, which our Delaware credentialing and payer enrollment guide covers in detail. For the national picture, there’s the PMHNP credentialing guide.

Starting a practice from scratch? Our guide on how to start a PMHNP practice and the 90-day launch checklist put licensure, collaboration and enrollment in the right order. For a Delaware launch budget, look at what PMHNP credentialing costs and what it costs to start a PMHNP practice.

When you’d rather not chase payer applications yourself, New Provider Credentialing covers five commercial payers for $2,750 per provider, or $550 per payer if you start smaller. For a first practice, First Practice Launch covers the payers plus the EHR, portals and billing for $6,000, or four monthly payments of $1,500.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can A PMHNP Practice Independently In Delaware?

Yes, from day one. 24 Del. C. 1935(a)(1) says the Board of Nursing grants full practice and prescriptive authority upon issuance of the APRN license, and the Board’s rule defines full practice authority as practicing without a collaborative agreement (24 DE Admin Code 1900-8.4). The old two year, 4,000 hour requirement left the code when section 1936 was repealed in 2021.

Do I Need A Collaborating Physician In Delaware?

No, not for licensure or practice. HB 141 (2021) repealed 24 Del. C. 1936, the collaborative agreement section, and its synopsis states the Act removes the requirement for licensure purposes while employers and health care organizations may still require one. APRNs still must seek consultation when a patient’s needs exceed their expertise (24 Del. C. 1935(c)).

Can A PMHNP Prescribe Adderall In Delaware?

Yes. 24 Del. C. 1935(b)(1) authorizes APRNs to prescribe controlled substances within their role and population focus, and the Board’s rule covers Schedule II to V once you hold DEA registration and the Delaware controlled substance registration (24 DE Admin Code 1900-8.14). PMP registration is mandatory for every holder of that registration (16 Del. C. 4798(u)).

This is general information, not legal advice. It applies the general nurse practitioner rules in Delaware to PMHNPs, and those rules aren’t the same for every role. Rules change, so check with the Delaware Board of Nursing and the AANP State Practice Environment map before you act on it. Last reviewed: September 26, 2026.

Keep Reading

Related PMHNP Resources

Scope By State

Compare requirements across states on our PMHNP scope of practice by state overview.

Start A Practice

See the full sequence in how to start a PMHNP practice.

Credentialing

Learn what we handle on our PMHNP credentialing page, or visit the PMHNP services hub.