14 Del. Admin. Code § 1582 – School Nurse

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Professional Standards Board

1500 Professional Standards Board (Licensure, Certification and Professional Development)

1582 School Nurse

1.0 Content

This regulation shall apply to the issuance of a School Nurse Standard Certificate pursuant to14Del.C.§1220(a). The School Nurse Standard Certificate is required for all school nurses providing services to children in Delaware public schools.

2.0 Definitions

The following words and terms when used in this regulation shall have the following meaning:

"Department" means the Delaware Department of Education.

"Educator" means a person licensed and certified by the State under 14Del.C.Ch. 12 to engage in the practice of instruction, administration or other related professional support services in Delaware public schools, including charter schools, pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Professional Standards Board and approved by the State Board of Education. The term 'educator' does not include substitute teachers.

"Employing authority" means any entity which employs educators, and includes, but is not limited to, school districts, charter schools, boards of directors, and management companies.

"Immorality" means conduct which is inconsistent with the rules and principles of morality expected of an educator and may reasonably be found to impair an educator's effectiveness by reason of the educator's unfitness or otherwise.

"License" means a credential which authorizes the holder to engage in the practice for which the license is issued.

"Regionally accredited" means institutional accreditation from an agency that was designated as a regional accreditor before July 1, 2020, and is currently recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a reliable indicator of the institution's educational quality.

"Standard Certificate" means a credential issued to certify that an educator has the prescribed knowledge, skill or education to practice in a particular area, teach a particular subject, or teach a category of students.

"Standards Board" means the Professional Standards Board established pursuant to14Del.C.§1201.

"Supervised clinical nursing experience" means that the applicant has worked as a licensed registered nurse in a clinical setting providing care to patients and that the applicant was supervised and evaluated by a licensed registered nurse supervisor or other healthcare provider. For the purpose of this regulation, other healthcare provider means a licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant.

"Valid and current license or certificate" means a current full or permanent certificate or license issued by another state or jurisdiction. This means the educator is fully credentialed by having met all of the requirements for full licensure or certification in another state or jurisdiction and is in good standing in that state or jurisdiction. It does not include temporary, emergency, conditional certificates of eligibility or expired certificates or licenses issued from another state or jurisdiction.

3.0 Issuance of a Standard Certificate

3.1 In accordance with14Del.C.§1220(a), the Department shall issue a School Nurse Standard Certificate to an applicant who:
1. 3.1.1 Holds a valid Delaware Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or a Professional Status Certificate issued by the Department prior to August 31, 2003 and meets the requirements set forth in Section 4.0 of this regulation; or
2. 3.1.2 Has met the requirements for licensure in Delaware and presents proof of a valid and current license or certificate as a school nurse from another state or jurisdiction whose requirements are substantially similar to the requirements in Section 4.0 of this regulation; or
3. 3.1.3 Has met the requirements for licensure in Delaware and meets the requirements set forth in Section 5.0 of this regulation.
3.2 Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, the Department shall not act on an application for a School Nurse Standard Certificate if the applicant is under official investigation by any national, state, or local authority with the power to issue educator licenses or certifications. The Department shall not act where the allegations include conduct such as immorality, misconduct in office, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, disloyalty, or falsification of credentials, until the applicant provides evidence of the investigation's resolution.

4.0 Prescribed Education, Knowledge, and Skill Requirements

4.1 The Department may issue a School Nurse Standard Certificate to an applicant who has satisfied the requirements in subsections 4.1.1 through 4.1.4.
1. 4.1.1 The applicant shall hold a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited college or university.
2. 4.1.2 The applicant shall hold an active, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse issued by the Delaware Board of Nursing or an active, unencumbered multi-state compact registered nurse license.
3. 4.1.3 The applicant shall hold valid and current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) use.
4. 4.1.4 The applicant shall have completed 3 years of supervised clinical nursing experience as a registered nurse consisting of a minimum of 500 hours per year for a total of 1,500 hours during the 3-year period. This requirement shall not be met in a school setting.

5.0 Reciprocity

5.1 If an applicant is already licensed or certified as a school nurse in a state or jurisdiction whose requirements are not substantially similar to the requirements in Section 4.0 of this regulation, the applicant shall have satisfied the requirements in subsections 5.1.1 through 5.1.4 in order for the Department to issue a School Nurse Standard Certificate:
1. 5.1.1 The applicant shall hold a valid and current license or certificate as a school nurse.
2. 5.1.2 The applicant shall hold a bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN) from a regionally accredited college or university.
3. 5.1.3 The applicant shall hold an active, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse issued by the Delaware Board of Nursing or an active, unencumbered multi-state compact registered nurse license.
4. 5.1.4 The applicant shall hold valid and current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) use.

6.0 Application Requirements

6.1 If an applicant is applying for an Initial License, a Standard Certificate must be applied for simultaneously with an application for an Initial License, and the applicant shall also provide all required documentation for the license.
6.2 If the applicant is also applying for the issuance or renewal of an educator's license or paraeducator's permit, the applicant must disclose the applicant's criminal conviction history upon application. Failure to disclose a criminal conviction history is grounds for denial of the license or permit application as specified in14Del.C.§1219and it could delay the processing or result in the denial of the application for a School Nurse Standard Certificate.
6.3 For applicants who are applying for the School Nurse Standard Certificate under subsection 3.1.1 of this regulation, the following documentation is required:
1. 6.3.1 Official transcript from the applicant's regionally accredited college or university.
  1. 6.3.1.1 Electronic transcripts may be submitted by the employing authority or by the applicant's regionally accredited college or university; or
  2. 6.3.1.2 Sealed paper transcripts may be submitted.
  3. 6.3.1.3 The Department will not accept copies of transcripts; and
2. 6.3.2 Documentation that the applicant holds an active, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse issued by the Delaware Board of Nursing or an active, unencumbered multi-state compact registered nurse license; and
3. 6.3.3 Documentation that the applicant holds a valid and current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) use; and
4. 6.3.4 If applicable, the Department-approved form verifying the applicant's completion of the clinical experience as provided in subsection 4.1.4 of this regulation; and
5. 6.3.5 Additional documentation as required by the Department.
6.4 For applicants who are applying for the School Nurse Standard Certificate under subsection 3.1.2 of this regulation, the following documentation is required:
1. 6.4.1 An official copy of the valid and current license or certificate; and
2. 6.4.2 Documentation that the applicant holds an active, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse issued by the Delaware Board of Nursing or an active, unencumbered multi-state compact registered nurse license; and
3. 6.4.3 Documentation that the applicant holds a valid and current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) use; and
4. 6.4.4 Additional documentation as required by the Department.
6.5 For applicants who are applying for the School Nurse Standard Certificate under subsection 3.1.3 of this regulation, the following documentation is required:
1. 6.5.1 An official copy of the valid and current license or certificate; and
2. 6.5.2 Official transcript from the applicant's regionally accredited college or university.
  1. 6.5.2.1 Electronic transcripts may be submitted by the employing authority or by the applicant's regionally accredited college or university; or
  2. 6.5.2.2 Sealed paper transcripts may be submitted.
  3. 6.5.2.3 The Department will not accept copies of transcripts; and
3. 6.5.3 Documentation that the applicant holds an active, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse issued by the Delaware Board of Nursing or an active, unencumbered multi-state compact registered nurse license; and
4. 6.5.4 Documentation that the applicant holds a valid and current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) use; and
5. 6.5.5 Additional documentation as required by the Department.

7.0 Secretary of Education Review

7.1 The Secretary of Education may, upon the written request of a local school district or charter school, review credentials submitted in an application for a School Nurse Standard Certificate on an individual basis and grant such a Standard Certificate to an applicant who otherwise does not meet the requirements for a School Nurse Standard Certificate but whose effectiveness is documented by the local school district or charter school.
7.2 The request shall be approved as provided in subsections 7.2.1 and 7.2.2.
1. 7.2.1 For school districts, requests shall be approved by the superintendent of the school district.
2. 7.2.2 For charter schools, requests concerning the head of school of the charter school shall be approved by the charter school's board of directors and requests concerning all other applicants shall be approved by the charter school's head of school.

8.0 Validity of a Standard Certificate

8.1 A School Nurse Standard Certificate is valid regardless of the assignment or employment status of the holder provided that the educator’s license remains current and valid.
8.2 A School Nurse Standard Certificate is not subject to renewal.

9.0 Requirements Related to the Retention of a School Nurse Certificate

9.1 In order to retain a School Nurse Standard Certificate, the educator shall:
1. 9.1.1 Complete a training program approved by the Department within 2 school years of the date the School Nurse Standard Certificate is issued; and
2. 9.1.2 Hold an active, unencumbered license to practice as a registered nurse issued by the Delaware Board of Nursing or an active, unencumbered multi-state compact registered nurse license; and
3. 9.1.3 Hold a valid and current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automatic external defibrillator (AED) use; and
4. 9.1.4 Annually affirm and document to the Department that the educator satisfies the requirements in subsections 9.1.2 and 9.1.3.
9.2 If an educator fails to meet any of the requirements related to retaining a School Nurse Standard Certificate, the educator shall immediately notify the Department in writing.
9.3 The requirements set forth in subsections 9.1.2, 9.1.3, and 9.1.4 apply to all educators regardless of the date the School Nurse Standard Certificate was issued to them.

10.0 Disciplinary Action

10.1 An educator’s School Nurse Standard Certificate may be revoked, suspended, or limited for cause as provided in14DE Admin. Code1514Limitation, Suspension, and Revocation of Licenses, Certificates, and Permits or for the educator’s failure to comply with the requirements related to the retention of a School Nurse Standard Certificate as provided in Section 9.0 of this regulation.
10.2 An educator's School Nurse Standard Certificate shall be revoked if the educator’s Initial, Continuing, or Advanced License or Professional Status Certificate is revoked, or the educator made a materially false or misleading statement in the educator’s application in accordance with14Del.C.§1222.
10.3 An educator whose certificate is noticed for disciplinary action is entitled to a full and fair hearing before the Standards Board. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with14DE Admin. Code1515Hearing Procedures and Rules.

11.0 Past Certificate Recognized

The Department shall recognize a School Nurse Standard Certificate that was issued prior to the effective date of this regulation. An educator holding such a Standard Certificate shall be considered certified to practice as a school nurse.

12.0 Contact Information and Change of Name or Address

12.1 All applicants and educators are required to update their contact information in DEEDS if their contact information changes.
12.2 An educator who legally changes the educator's name and wishes to change the name on the School Nurse Standard Certificate shall provide a notarized copy of evidence of the name change such as a marriage license or court action.
12.3 An applicant or educator whose mailing address, email address, or phone number changes shall provide the Department with the new mailing address, email address, or phone number within 14 calendar days of the change.
Renumbered effective 06/01/07 - see Conversion Table

14 DE Reg. 1228 (05/01/11)

23 DE Reg. 1031 (06/01/20)

24 DE Reg. 1067 (06/01/21)

14 DE Reg. 1228 (05/01/11)

23 DE Reg. 1031 (06/01/20)

24 DE Reg. 1067 (06/01/21)

29 DE Reg. 46 (07/01/25)

14 DE Reg. 1228 (05/01/11)

23 DE Reg. 1031 (06/01/20)

24 DE Reg. 1067 (06/01/21)

29 DE Reg. 46 (07/01/25)

14 DE Reg. 1228 (05/01/11)