Delaware Solar Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Delaware issues no standalone solar license. Solar PV is electrical work under 24 Del. C. ch. 14 and 24 DE Admin Code 1400, governed by the Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners under DPR. Every solar business needs a Delaware Master Electrician as qualifying party plus a Delaware Division of Revenue contractor business license. Electrical work means anything covered by the NEC as adopted by the Delaware State Fire Commission — Article 690 and 705 govern PV. Solar thermal hot water requires a Delaware Master Plumber. NABCEP PV Installation Professional is voluntary.

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

Board reviews criminal history.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Required Experience and Education

The applicant must document and verify at least two years of Master-level experience on top of Journeyman credential (which itself requires four years and 8,000 hours). Keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records to support the claim, as the board can request proof for any period within its lookback window.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Board experience affidavits signed by Delaware Master Electricians
Certified payroll covering the qualifying period
DE-registered apprenticeship completion certificate

Education substitution

DE-registered apprenticeship satisfies the apprenticeship hours.

Examination Requirements

PSI Services LLC (under contract to the Board) runs the examination for this credential. Issuance is contingent on passing every part below:

Delaware Master Electrician Examination — NEC, DE amendments, business and law — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 75%

Examination fee: $94 examination fee.

Retake policy: Failed exams may be retaken after 30 days.

Insurance and Financial Requirements

The cited materials impose no contractor license bond for this credential. Bear in mind that specific contracts, permits, or public works can still require their own bonds.

General liability

Board requires $300,000 commercial general liability minimum.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation insurance is mandatory under 19 Del. C. ch. 23 for any business with employees.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement required.

Licensing Fees

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$130
Examination	$94
Initial license	$130
Renewal (every 2 years)	$130

Keeping the License Current

Renewal of the Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners Master Electrician License comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $130. Delaware Master Electrician licenses renew every two years.

Continuing education: Ten hours of Board-approved CE every two years.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Delaware Solar 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	Trade exam waived	Limited reciprocity (verify with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).
Pennsylvania (local)	Trade exam waived	Limited limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare).

Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with Maryland.

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

Application Process, Step by Step

Complete a DE electrical apprenticeship. 8,000 hours under a DE Master Electrician.
Pass the Journeyman Electrician exam. Prerequisite to the Master credential.
Document two years at Master level. Required for the Master Electrician credential.
Pass the Master Electrician exam at 75%. PSI administers the exam.
Apply for the Master Electrician license. File with the application fee.
Register with DE Division of Revenue as a contractor. Required for any Delaware contractor.
Pull local building and electrical permits per project. Each DE jurisdiction requires local permits.

Document Checklist

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

☐ 8,000 hours of electrical apprenticeship
☐ Delaware Journeyman Electrician credential
☐ Two years at Master level
☐ Master Electrician examination pass
☐ Division of Revenue contractor registration
☐ $300K commercial general liability insurance
☐ Workers' compensation coverage

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.

NEC Article 690 — Solar Photovoltaic Systems — NFPA. Primary technical reference.
24 Del. C. ch. 14 — State of Delaware. Statutory framework.
PSI Delaware Master Electrician Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI. Free PDF outlining exam content.

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 Solar application.

Skipping Division of Revenue registration

All DE contractors must also register with the Division of Revenue.

Missing the 10-hour CE

Mandatory every two years.

Letting workers compensation lapse

Mandatory for any business with employees.

Forgetting solar thermal is plumbing

Solar hot water requires the Master Plumber license.

Skipping local permits

State licensure does not exempt you from county permits.

Other Delaware Trade Licenses

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

Questions Applicants Ask

Does Delaware have a solar license?

No. Solar PV is regulated as electrical work under the Master Electrician license.

Is NABCEP required?

No. NABCEP is voluntary in Delaware.

Do I need a Division of Revenue contractor registration?

Yes. All Delaware contractors must register with the DE Division of Revenue.

What about solar thermal?

Solar hot water requires a Delaware Master Plumber license.

Does Delaware reciprocate?

Yes. The Board maintains limited reciprocity (verify directly with the board; solar-specific reciprocity is rare) with Maryland.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-06-07 · Next scheduled review 2026-09-05