Delaware Electrician License Requirements (2026)

The Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners, under the Division of Professional Regulation, licenses electricians statewide under Delaware Code Title 24 Chapter 14. Delaware issues five electrician classifications: Apprentice, Journeyperson, Master, Limited, and Special. The Master Electrician license is the highest and authorizes the holder to contract for electrical work of any kind in Delaware. Limited and Special licenses restrict the scope to specific work categories (for example, sign installation or low-voltage). All Delaware electrician examinations are based on the current National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) as adopted by the Board. A contractor working as a Delaware electrician must also hold a Delaware Division of Revenue business license.

Regulatory Oversight

This license is issued and enforced by Delaware Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) pursuant to Delaware Code Title 24 (Professions and Occupations); Title 30 (Business License, Division of Revenue). The Delaware Division of Professional Regulation administers the trade licensing boards for electricians, plumbers, HVACR, and master pipefitters. Delaware does not issue a state general contractor license — any person doing contracting work in Delaware must instead hold a Delaware Business License from the Division of Revenue.

Official portal: https://dpr.delaware.gov/
Address: Cannon Building, 861 Silver Lake Blvd, Suite 203, Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 744-4500

Who May Apply

At a minimum the applicant has to be 18 years old and supply a valid Social Security Number. No Delaware residency requirement.

Good moral character

The Board conducts a fitness review on every applicant. Criminal convictions are reviewed individually under 24 Del. C. § 1420.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application. The Board may request a state and federal background check.

Required Experience and Education

Plan to substantiate 7 years of Master Electrician requires seven years of practical electrical experience, at least two of which must be as a licensed Delaware Journeyperson electrician. Journeyperson requires four years (8,000 hours) of apprentice-level experience under a licensed Master. with hard records. Payroll, tax, project logs, and supervisor verification are what the board relies on when it reviews the claim.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Board Experience Verification Form signed by each licensed Master Electrician supervisor
W-2 statements, pay stubs, or 1099 records covering the qualifying period
Approved electrical apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)

Education substitution

Completion of a U.S. Department of Labor registered electrical apprenticeship satisfies the Journeyperson experience requirement. Accredited electrical trade school programs may substitute for up to one year of experience at the Board's discretion.

Examination Requirements

Examinations are administered by Prometric (under contract to the Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners). The applicant must pass the following examination parts before the license can issue:

Delaware Master Electrician Examination — National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), theory, and Delaware business and law — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $79 examination fee paid to Prometric at scheduling.

Retake policy: Failed examinations may be re-taken by paying a new Prometric fee. The application remains valid for one year from Board approval.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited state source set does not require a contractor license surety bond for this credential. Contractors should still confirm project-specific bond, permit-bond, or public-works bond requirements before bidding.

General liability

Delaware does not impose a state-level general liability minimum for electricians. Commercial owners commonly require $1,000,000/$2,000,000.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation coverage is mandatory under Delaware Code Title 19 Chapter 23 for any employer with one or more employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement is required by the Board of Electrical Examiners.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$157
Examination	$79
Initial license	$157
Renewal (every 2 years)	$157

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Delaware Master Electrician (Board of Electrical Examiners) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $157. Delaware electrician licenses renew every two years on June 30 of odd-numbered years.

Continuing education: Ten hours of Board-approved continuing education per two-year renewal cycle, including at least one hour on the current National Electrical Code.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Delaware Electrician License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity and License Transfer

The NASCLA Accredited Examination is not accepted by Delaware for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Delaware does not maintain formal statutory reciprocity agreements with other states, but the Board may waive the Journeyperson experience requirement for applicants who hold an equivalent master-level license in another state and have at least two years of active licensure there.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Electrician license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

Application Process, Step by Step

Register as a Delaware Apprentice Electrician. Enroll in a Board-approved apprenticeship or file the Apprentice registration form before performing electrical work.
Complete 8,000 hours as an apprentice. Four years of qualifying experience under a licensed Delaware Master Electrician.
Pass the Journeyperson exam. Prometric NEC-based Journeyperson examination at 75% or higher.
Work two years as a Delaware Journeyperson. Accumulate at least two years of active Journeyperson experience under a Master.
Submit the Master Electrician application. File the Board of Electrical Examiners application with documented experience and Board fee.
Pass the Master Electrician exam. Prometric NEC-based Master Electrician examination at 75% or higher.
Obtain the Delaware Business License. Register with the Division of Revenue before contracting electrical work in Delaware.

Document Checklist

The most critical documents or confirmations the applicant should have in hand before filing with DPR:

☐ Delaware Apprentice registration
☐ 8,000 hours of documented electrical experience
☐ Delaware Journeyperson license
☐ Two years of Journeyperson experience
☐ Master Electrician application with Board fee
☐ Prometric Master Electrician exam pass at 75%+
☐ Delaware Division of Revenue business license
☐ Workers compensation coverage (if employees)

Recommended References

What follows are the regulator-cited and commonly used preparation references for this trade. They appear here for convenience only; CLR takes no compensation for them.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70, current Delaware-adopted edition) — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference. Open-book at Prometric.
Delaware Code Title 24 Chapter 14 and Board Rules — State of Delaware. Licensing law and Board rules.
Mike Holt Master Electrician Exam Prep — Mike Holt Enterprises. Widely used NEC exam preparation resource.

Frequent Application Errors

Drawn from the board instructions and sources cited on this page, the pitfalls below are the ones most likely to slow down or sink a Delaware Electrician application.

Skipping the apprentice registration

Delaware requires apprentices to register with the Board before performing electrical work. Hours logged without registration are not counted.

Counting non-Delaware Journeyperson time

The two-year Journeyperson prerequisite must be active Delaware licensure unless the Board grants an equivalency waiver.

Using an outdated NEC edition

The exam is based on the Board-adopted NEC edition. Studying the wrong edition is the most common failure cause.

Forgetting the business license

Delaware electrician contractors must also carry a Division of Revenue business license to operate legally.

Missing continuing education

Ten CE hours with at least one NEC hour are required each two-year renewal. Shortfalls block renewal.

Other Delaware Trade Licenses

If the Electrician license is not the right fit, the following published Delaware trade guides are also covered by CLR:

Questions Applicants Ask

What are the Delaware electrician license classes?

Apprentice, Journeyperson, Master, Limited, and Special. Master is the broadest and authorizes all electrical contracting work in Delaware.

How many hours of experience does Delaware require?

Four years (8,000 hours) to qualify for the Journeyperson exam, plus two additional years of Journeyperson experience to qualify for the Master Electrician exam — seven years total.

What code does the Delaware electrician exam use?

The current National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) as adopted by the Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners.

Does Delaware have electrician reciprocity?

There are no formal statutory reciprocity agreements, but the Board may waive the Journeyperson experience step for applicants with an equivalent out-of-state master license held for two years or more.

Do I need a Delaware business license in addition to the electrician license?

Yes. Any electrician contracting for work in Delaware must also register with the Division of Revenue for a Contractor Business License.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-23 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-22