Licensing
Electrician Licensing in Delaware
Delaware licenses electricians statewide. The journeyman-level credential is the Journeyperson Electrician, issued by the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners.
Source: Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, checked 2026-10-07
Before you start: You need this state credential before you start electrical work in Delaware.
- Credential
- Apprentice Electrician license (School Apprentice variant listed separately)
- Issued by
- Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners
- Fee
- $100 application fee (Apprentice Electrician)
- How to apply
- Apply for the Apprentice Electrician license if you are enrolled in a Board-approved apprenticeship program.
Official source · Checked 2026-10-07
Page last reviewed 2026-10-05 against official sources. Confirm with the issuing authority before applying.
Licensed in another state? See reviewed routes into Delaware.
How Delaware's System Works
Delaware's electrical licensing system includes 13 individual licenses and one facility license issued through the Board of Electrical Examiners.
Credential-specific requirements
Requirements differ by credential. Expand any credential for the work or business activity you plan to perform. Issued by Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners unless noted.
Apprentice Electrician License
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May learn and assist with electrical services only under the direct onsite supervision of a licensed Master, Master Special, Limited, Limited Special, Residential, or Journeyperson Electrician.
- Experience or qualification
- Be at least 18 and enrolled in a Board-approved apprenticeship program.
- Examination
- No separate licensure examination is stated for the Apprentice license itself.
- Application fee
- $100 application fee.
- Renewal
- The July 1, 2026 statute has three cohorts. Licenses held five years or more as of that date cannot renew beyond their current expiration. Licenses held less than five years as of that date cannot renew, and the expiration is five years from the issue date. Licenses issued on or after July 1, 2026 expire after five years. The Board may allow a one-year extension for good cause. Admin Code §§ 7.1 and 7.2.3 still describe ordinary even-year renewal and progress toward completion. Apprentices are exempt from the $300,000 general-liability insurance requirement. Apprentice training can count toward the 5-hour continuing-education rule that applies to this class.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
School Apprentice Electrician License
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May learn and assist with electrical services only under the direct onsite supervision of a licensed Master, Master Special, Limited, Limited Special, Residential, or Journeyperson Electrician.
- Experience or qualification
- Be enrolled in a Board-approved vocational program at a Delaware vocational high school.
- Examination
- No separate licensure examination is stated for this license.
- Application fee
- The fee schedule does not state a dollar amount. The application instructions say to submit the application and fee in DELPROS.
- Renewal
- The license does not renew. Under 24 Del. C. § 1411(b)(4), it remains valid as long as the holder is enrolled in a board-approved vocational program at a vocational high school in this State or has attained the age of 18, whichever is later.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Journeyperson Electrician License
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May perform electrical services under supervision while gaining experience toward higher electrician licenses.
- Experience or qualification
- Be at least 20 and either complete a Board-approved apprenticeship with its final examination, or document over 8,000 full-time hours under a licensed Master Electrician, Master Electrician Special, Limited Electrician, or Limited Electrician Special. For the experience route, at least 4,000 hours must be under a licensed Master Electrician.
- Examination
- Pass the Board-approved written standardized licensure examination on the experience route. The separate journeyperson examination is waived after successful completion of the approved apprenticeship and its final examination. Admin Code 1400 § 4.0 sets the passing grade at 75%; only the NEC book may be used during the test.
- Application fee
- $105 application fee.
- Renewal
- Renew by June 30 of even-numbered years through DELPROS. Admin Code 1400 says licensees, with the exception of journeyperson, residential, and apprentice electricians, shall maintain general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Complete 5 hours of Board-approved continuing education related to the NEC during a full renewal period; 2 hours if licensed at least one year but less than two; none if licensed less than one year. The renewal fee is disclosed during renewal and is not printed on the fee schedule.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Master Electrician License
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May plan, estimate, lay out, perform, and supervise residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work.
- Experience or qualification
- Have residential, commercial, and industrial electrical knowledge and either six years full-time under a licensed Master Electrician, 8,000 full-time hours under a licensed Master plus 576 hours of related instruction or approved apprenticeship training, or four years full-time under a licensed Master plus two years of technical training.
- Examination
- After satisfying the experience or training route, pass the Board-approved written standardized licensure examination. Admin Code 1400 § 4.0 sets the passing grade at 75%; only the NEC book may be used during the test.
- Application fee
- $203 application fee.
- Renewal
- Renew by June 30 of even-numbered years through DELPROS. Maintain general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Complete 10 hours of approved continuing education each renewal period; beginning with the second renewal, 5 of the 10 hours must relate to the NEC. A person licensed less than 1 year needs no CE at the first renewal, and a person licensed 1 year but less than 2 years submits 5 hours. The renewal fee is disclosed during renewal.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Residential Electrician License
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May work without direct onsite supervision only in the two categories in 24 Del. C. § 1422A: electrical work on or within a residential dwelling or building before that dwelling or building is connected to the electric grid, and work to or beyond the breaker panel or fuse box in a residential dwelling or building.
- Experience or qualification
- Document over 4,000 full-time hours under a licensed Master or Limited Electrician or while individually licensed, or complete a Board-approved residential apprenticeship.
- Examination
- Pass the Board-approved Residential Electrician examination. Admin Code 1400 § 4.0 sets the passing grade at 75%; only the NEC book may be used during the test.
- Application fee
- $105 application fee.
- Renewal
- Renew by June 30 of even-numbered years through DELPROS. Admin Code 1400 says licensees, with the exception of journeyperson, residential, and apprentice electricians, shall maintain general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Complete 5 hours of Board-approved continuing education related to the NEC during a full renewal period; 2 hours if licensed at least one year but less than two; none if licensed less than one year. The renewal fee is disclosed during renewal and is not printed on the fee schedule.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Limited Electrician License
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- Work is limited to structures containing four or fewer dwelling units, as determined by the applicable building code.
- Experience or qualification
- Have residential electrical knowledge and either three years of full-time experience under a licensed Master or Limited Electrician, or 4,000 full-time hours under one of those license classes plus 288 hours of related instruction or other approved apprenticeship training.
- Examination
- After satisfying the experience or training route, pass the Board-approved written standardized licensure examination. Admin Code 1400 § 4.0 sets the passing grade at 75%; only the NEC book may be used during the test.
- Application fee
- $127 application fee.
- Renewal
- Renew by June 30 of even-numbered years through DELPROS. Maintain general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Complete 10 hours of approved continuing education each renewal period; beginning with the second renewal, 5 of the 10 hours must relate to the NEC. A person licensed less than 1 year needs no CE at the first renewal, and a person licensed 1 year but less than 2 years submits 5 hours. The renewal fee is disclosed during renewal.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Limited Electrician Special — HVAC Specialty license
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May perform the Limited Special package for air conditioning, heating, and oil burners. Work is limited to structures containing four or fewer dwelling units, as determined by the applicable building code.
- Experience or qualification
- Have specialty electrical knowledge and either three years of full-time experience under a licensed Master Electrician, applicable Master Electrician Special, or applicable Limited Electrician Special, or 4,000 full-time hours under those permitted classes in the specialty plus 288 hours of related instruction or other approved specialty apprenticeship training.
- Examination
- After satisfying the experience or training route, pass the Board-approved written standardized licensure examination. Admin Code 1400 § 4.0 sets the passing grade at 75%; only the NEC book may be used during the test.
- Application fee
- $127 application fee for this separately applied-for specialty.
- Renewal
- Renew by June 30 of even-numbered years through DELPROS. Maintain general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Complete 10 hours of approved continuing education each renewal period; beginning with the second renewal, 5 of the 10 hours must relate to the NEC. A person licensed less than 1 year needs no CE at the first renewal, and a person licensed 1 year but less than 2 years submits 5 hours. The renewal fee is disclosed during renewal.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Limited Electrician Special — Pools Specialty license
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May perform Limited Special electrical work for swimming pools. Work is limited to structures containing four or fewer dwelling units, as determined by the applicable building code.
- Experience or qualification
- Have specialty electrical knowledge and either three years of full-time experience under a licensed Master Electrician, applicable Master Electrician Special, or applicable Limited Electrician Special, or 4,000 full-time hours under those permitted classes in the specialty plus 288 hours of related instruction or other approved specialty apprenticeship training.
- Examination
- After satisfying the experience or training route, pass the Board-approved written standardized licensure examination. Admin Code 1400 § 4.0 sets the passing grade at 75%; only the NEC book may be used during the test.
- Application fee
- $127 application fee for this separately applied-for specialty.
- Renewal
- Renew by June 30 of even-numbered years through DELPROS. Maintain general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Complete 10 hours of approved continuing education each renewal period; beginning with the second renewal, 5 of the 10 hours must relate to the NEC. A person licensed less than 1 year needs no CE at the first renewal, and a person licensed 1 year but less than 2 years submits 5 hours. The renewal fee is disclosed during renewal.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Master Electrician Special — Electric Signs Specialty license
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May plan, estimate, lay out, perform, and supervise electrical work for electric signs. This Master Special scope has no dwelling-unit limit.
- Experience or qualification
- Have specialty electrical knowledge and either six years of full-time experience under a licensed Master Electrician or applicable Master Electrician Special, or 8,000 full-time hours under those permitted classes plus 576 hours of related instruction or other approved specialty apprenticeship training.
- Examination
- After satisfying the experience or training route, pass the Board-approved written standardized licensure examination. Admin Code 1400 § 4.0 sets the passing grade at 75%; only the NEC book may be used during the test.
- Application fee
- $200 application fee for this separately applied-for specialty.
- Renewal
- Renew by June 30 of even-numbered years through DELPROS. Maintain general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Complete 10 hours of approved continuing education each renewal period; beginning with the second renewal, 5 of the 10 hours must relate to the NEC. A person licensed less than 1 year needs no CE at the first renewal, and a person licensed 1 year but less than 2 years submits 5 hours. The renewal fee is disclosed during renewal.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Master Electrician Special — HVAC Specialty license
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May plan, estimate, lay out, perform, and supervise electrical work for air conditioning, heating, and oil burners. This Master Special scope has no dwelling-unit limit.
- Experience or qualification
- Have specialty electrical knowledge and either six years of full-time experience under a licensed Master Electrician or applicable Master Electrician Special, or 8,000 full-time hours under those permitted classes plus 576 hours of related instruction or other approved specialty apprenticeship training.
- Examination
- After satisfying the experience or training route, pass the Board-approved written standardized licensure examination. Admin Code 1400 § 4.0 sets the passing grade at 75%; only the NEC book may be used during the test.
- Application fee
- $200 application fee for this separately applied-for specialty.
- Renewal
- Renew by June 30 of even-numbered years through DELPROS. Maintain general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Complete 10 hours of approved continuing education each renewal period; beginning with the second renewal, 5 of the 10 hours must relate to the NEC. A person licensed less than 1 year needs no CE at the first renewal, and a person licensed 1 year but less than 2 years submits 5 hours. The renewal fee is disclosed during renewal.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Master Electrician Special — Primary Distribution Systems Specialty license
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May plan, estimate, lay out, perform, and supervise overhead and underground primary distribution systems. This Master Special scope has no dwelling-unit limit.
- Experience or qualification
- Have specialty electrical knowledge and either six years of full-time experience under a licensed Master Electrician or applicable Master Electrician Special, or 8,000 full-time hours under those permitted classes plus 576 hours of related instruction or other approved specialty apprenticeship training.
- Examination
- After satisfying the experience or training route, pass the Board-approved written standardized licensure examination. Admin Code 1400 § 4.0 sets the passing grade at 75%; only the NEC book may be used during the test.
- Application fee
- $200 application fee for this separately applied-for specialty.
- Renewal
- Renew by June 30 of even-numbered years through DELPROS. Maintain general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Complete 10 hours of approved continuing education each renewal period; beginning with the second renewal, 5 of the 10 hours must relate to the NEC. A person licensed less than 1 year needs no CE at the first renewal, and a person licensed 1 year but less than 2 years submits 5 hours. The renewal fee is disclosed during renewal.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Master Electrician Special — Pools Specialty license
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May plan, estimate, lay out, perform, and supervise electrical work for swimming pools. This Master Special scope has no dwelling-unit limit.
- Experience or qualification
- Have specialty electrical knowledge and either six years of full-time experience under a licensed Master Electrician or applicable Master Electrician Special, or 8,000 full-time hours under those permitted classes plus 576 hours of related instruction or other approved specialty apprenticeship training.
- Examination
- After satisfying the experience or training route, pass the Board-approved written standardized licensure examination. Admin Code 1400 § 4.0 sets the passing grade at 75%; only the NEC book may be used during the test.
- Application fee
- $200 application fee for this separately applied-for specialty.
- Renewal
- Renew by June 30 of even-numbered years through DELPROS. Maintain general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Complete 10 hours of approved continuing education each renewal period; beginning with the second renewal, 5 of the 10 hours must relate to the NEC. A person licensed less than 1 year needs no CE at the first renewal, and a person licensed 1 year but less than 2 years submits 5 hours. The renewal fee is disclosed during renewal.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Master Electrician Special — Refrigeration Specialty license
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- May plan, estimate, lay out, perform, and supervise electrical work for refrigeration. This Master Special scope has no dwelling-unit limit.
- Experience or qualification
- Have specialty electrical knowledge and either six years of full-time experience under a licensed Master Electrician or applicable Master Electrician Special, or 8,000 full-time hours under those permitted classes plus 576 hours of related instruction or other approved specialty apprenticeship training.
- Examination
- After satisfying the experience or training route, pass the Board-approved written standardized licensure examination. Admin Code 1400 § 4.0 sets the passing grade at 75%; only the NEC book may be used during the test.
- Application fee
- $200 application fee for this separately applied-for specialty.
- Renewal
- Renew by June 30 of even-numbered years through DELPROS. Maintain general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Complete 10 hours of approved continuing education each renewal period; beginning with the second renewal, 5 of the 10 hours must relate to the NEC. A person licensed less than 1 year needs no CE at the first renewal, and a person licensed 1 year but less than 2 years submits 5 hours. The renewal fee is disclosed during renewal.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Electrical Inspection Agency Facility license
- Issuing authority
- Delaware Division of Professional Regulation — Board of Electrical Examiners →
- Scope of work
- An inspection agency is responsible to ensure that the standards for its inspection are those established in the National Electric Code as adopted by the Delaware Fire Commission and in any applicable local building code. Inspection agencies must submit the names of employees who are inspectors. Inspectors must have 7 years of experience in residential, commercial, or industrial wiring.
- Experience or qualification
- File an application on a form approved by the Board. No inspection agency will be approved until it produces proof of general liability insurance in the amount of at least $1 million and errors and omissions insurance in the amount of at least $1 million. Inspectors must have 7 years of experience in residential, commercial, or industrial wiring and must submit passing scores for the required Electrical examinations.
- Examination
- No individual electrician licensure examination applies to the facility license; the Board reviews the agency application and qualifications.
- Application fee
- $90 application fee.
- Renewal
- Inspection Agency permits expire annually on June 30. Renew through DELPROS and maintain the Board's inspection-agency qualifications and insurance requirements.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Licensed in another state?
Delaware has a reviewed application route for some licenses from 1 state. A route can waive an exam or some experience; you still need the Delaware credential before you work. Expand a state for the routes and their requirements.
Maryland Reciprocity
- If you hold
- Maryland Master Electrician license (Maryland Board of Electricians, Maryland Department of Labor; Title 6 Business Occupations and Professions Ann. Code), exam-based (PSI)
- You can apply for
- Delaware Master Electrician or Limited Electrician license by reciprocity (Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners, Division of Professional Regulation; 24 Del. C. ch. 14, 24 Del. Admin. Code 1400)
To apply:
- hold a current Maryland Master Electrician license issued by the Maryland Board of Electricians (Maryland Department of Labor; Title 6 Business Occupations and Professions Ann. Code), obtained by examination (PSI-administered)
- be in good standing with no disciplinary action or open complaints in Maryland
- have the Maryland Board of Electricians send verification of licensure directly to the receiving board
- hold a current Delaware license 'of the same type for which you are now applying' issued by Maryland ('Apply by reciprocity if you hold a current license of the same type for which you are now applying that was issued by another state, U.S. territory or District of Columbia.')
- submit no proof of experience ('You are currently licensed in Maryland or New Jersey, you do not need to submit proof of experience. These state's licensure requirements have been determined to be substantially similar to Delaware's.')
- file the DELPROS application with a State/Jurisdiction Licensure Verification 'sent directly to the Board office from each state or jurisdiction in which you currently hold or have ever held a license'
Limits:
- Master/Limited tier only: the DE Journeyperson page names no states and applies a case-by-case substantially-similar review, so the MD Journeyperson tier has no published determination
- Maryland Master/Journeyperson Restricted variants are not 'a current license of the same type' as a DE Master or Limited license; apply by examination or Board evaluation
- the DE license must be issued before work; the reciprocal agreement is not authority to work
Reciprocity. Official source · Checked 2026-09-29.
Worker Progression
School Apprentice and Apprentice are distinct supervised licenses. Journeyperson is a supervised journey-level license with both an apprenticeship route and an experience-and-examination route. Residential Electrician is a separate license limited to the two residential-work categories in 24 Del. C. § 1422A.
Limited and Master Licenses
Limited Electrician and both Limited Special licenses apply to structures containing four or fewer dwelling units, as determined by the applicable building code. The HVAC specialty covers air conditioning, heating, and oil burners.
Master Electrician covers residential, commercial, and industrial electrical work. Five separately issued Master Special licenses cover Electric Signs, HVAC, Primary Distribution Systems, Pools, and Refrigeration.
Inspection Agency
Electrical Inspection Agency is a separately issued facility license. Under 24 Del. C. § 1421, the agency must prove that each of its inspectors has at least 7 years of residential, commercial, or industrial wiring experience and must report each inspector's passing grades on the required electrical examinations.
Other Permits and Temporary Pathways
Homeowner's Permit, Temporary Master Electrician, and Temporary Limited Electrician are narrow permit or temporary mechanisms rather than permanent occupational licenses. SCRA Military Registration and the separate six-month military provisional pathway provide distinct forms of temporary or cross-profession authority; the provisional pathway is controlled by 29 Del. C. § 8735(r).
Elevator specialties were removed from the current statutory definitions effective July 1, 2026. No separate Board of Electrical Examiners trade-specific electrical-contractor entity credential was found.
Before You Apply
This information reflects Delaware statutes, regulations, Division of Professional Regulation pages, forms, fee and renewal guidance, and DELPROS license types available on October 5, 2026. Requirements and fees can change, so confirm current details with the Board before filing.
The Board's public page lists the Division phone (302) 744-4500, fax (302) 739-2711, and the Cannon Building mailing address in Dover.
Journeyperson, residential, and apprentice electricians are exempt from the $300,000 general-liability insurance rule. Other licensees are not. The renewal page names only journeyperson and apprentice exemptions, so the residential exemption is the regulation's text.
Elevator specialties are gone from the current statute and were struck by the July 1, 2026 act. The Board's pages and Admin Code § 6.3 still name elevator specialties.
Admin Code § 3.4.3 still describes 6,000 hours for a limited electrician. The statute states three years, or 4,000 hours plus 288 hours of related instruction.
Admin Code §§ 7.1 and 7.2.3 still describe ordinary even-year renewal for apprentices. The statute's July 1, 2026 three-cohort rule is the text used for the apprentice row.
View Application Information → License Lookup →
Cite this page
- Title
- Electrician Licensing in Delaware
- URL
- https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/delaware
- Information checked
- 2026-10-05
Suggested citation: Electrician Licensing in Delaware. Trades Directory. https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/delaware (information checked 2026-10-05).