Delaware Low Voltage Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners issues a Limited Electrician — Low Voltage Specialty license under 24 Del. C. Chapter 14 covering all systems operating at less than 50 volts: telephone, sound, intercom, structured cabling, fire alarm, burglar alarm, monitored CCTV, and access control. Delaware consolidates all low-voltage work into the same Limited Electrician credential — there is no separate state alarm board. Fire alarm acceptance follows NFPA 72 and is enforced by the Office of the State Fire Marshal. New Castle County, Wilmington, and Sussex County may impose additional local permit requirements.

Regulatory Oversight

Under Delaware Code Title 24 (Professions and Occupations); Title 30 (Business License, Division of Revenue), Delaware Division of Professional Regulation (DPR) is the body that issues this license and enforces compliance with it. 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 reviews criminal history. Felony convictions involving fraud or theft are reviewed under 24 Del. C. §1411.

Background investigation

The Board requires criminal disclosure on the application. Fingerprint background checks are not required for the Low Voltage Specialty.

Required Experience and Education

Plan to substantiate Two years of practical low-voltage experience or 4,000 documented hours under a Delaware-licensed Limited Electrician (Low Voltage) or Master Electrician under 24 Del. C. §1407. 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 supervising licensee
W-2 statements covering the qualifying period
Approved electrical apprenticeship completion certificate
NICET Fire Alarm Systems certificates (recommended)

Education substitution

The Board credits accredited electrical or electronics technology degrees toward up to one year of experience.

Examination Requirements

Prov Inc. under contract to the Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners. runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

Prov Delaware Limited Electrician — Low Voltage Specialty Trade examination — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%
Prov Delaware Business and Law examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $92 per part to Prov.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually after 30 days. The application file remains active for one year.

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

The Board requires a minimum $300,000 commercial general liability and $50,000 property damage policy under 24 Del. C. §1409.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under 19 Del. C. §2374 for any Delaware employer.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$147
Examination	$184
Initial license	$147
Renewal (every 2 years)	$147

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Delaware Limited Electrician — Low Voltage Specialty (Board of Electrical Examiners) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $147. Renews every two years on June 30 of odd-numbered years.

Continuing education: The Board requires 10 hours of approved continuing education each two-year cycle for the Limited Electrician — Low Voltage Specialty, including a code update module.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Delaware Low Voltage 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
Maryland	Limited reciprocity	Bilateral electrical reciprocity with Maryland MHIC for active license holders.
Pennsylvania	Limited reciprocity	Case-by-case recognition of Pennsylvania master electrician credentials.

Delaware has limited bilateral reciprocity with Maryland and Pennsylvania. Out-of-state Limited Electrician applicants must take the Prov exam.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Document two years of supervised experience. Compile Board Experience Verification Forms signed by Delaware-licensed electricians covering two years of low-voltage work.
Pass the Prov Limited Electrician — Low Voltage Trade and Business and Law exams. Score 75% on each.
Submit the Board application. File with the $147 fee, exam pass certificates, $300,000 general liability certificate, and qualifying agent designation.
Receive the Limited Electrician — Low Voltage license. The Board issues the license at the next monthly meeting after document review.
Verify NICET / NFPA 72 for fire alarm work. Most Delaware AHJs and the State Fire Marshal require NICET Fire Alarm Level II for commercial fire alarm acceptance.
Renew biennially. Limited Electrician licenses renew every two years on June 30 of odd-numbered years.

Document Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with DPR:

☐ Two years of supervised low-voltage experience
☐ Prov Limited Electrician — Low Voltage Trade exam pass at 75%
☐ Prov Delaware Business and Law exam pass at 75%
☐ Board application with $147 fee
☐ $300,000 commercial general liability and $50,000 property damage certificate
☐ Workers comp coverage certificate (if employer)

Recommended References

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Delaware-adopted edition — NFPA. Open book at the Prov exam.
Delaware Limited Electrician Prov Candidate Information Bulletin — Prov. Official content outline.
NFPA 72 — National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code — NFPA. Required reference for fire alarm content and State Fire Marshal acceptance.

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 Low Voltage application.

Missing the 75% passing score

Delaware requires 75% on both exams — higher than most states. Plan study time accordingly.

Forgetting the property damage coverage

Delaware requires $300,000 general liability AND $50,000 property damage. Many applicants only file general liability and stall their application.

Skipping NICET on commercial fire alarm

Most Delaware AHJs require NICET Fire Alarm Level II for commercial fire alarm acceptance.

Confusing scope with full electrical

Limited Electrician — Low Voltage authorizes systems under 50 V only. Tying into 120 V branch circuits requires a Master Electrician.

Missing the biennial renewal

Renewal is on June 30 of odd-numbered years. Late renewal triggers a surcharge and 30-day suspension if not corrected.

Other Delaware Trade Licenses

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

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Delaware have a separate alarm contractor license?

No. Burglar alarm, fire alarm, and CCTV all fall under the Limited Electrician — Low Voltage Specialty issued by the Board of Electrical Examiners under 24 Del. C. Chapter 14.

How much experience is required?

Two years (4,000 hours) of practical low-voltage experience under a Delaware-licensed electrician.

Is the passing score 70% or 75%?

Delaware requires 75% on both the Trade and Business and Law exams.

Does Delaware require NICET for fire alarm?

Most Delaware AHJs and the State Fire Marshal require NICET Fire Alarm Level II for commercial fire alarm acceptance even though the Board does not require NICET as a license prerequisite.

How often does the license renew?

Every two years on June 30 of odd-numbered years.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-25 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-23