It is illegal to perform electrical work or to offer electrical services in the State of Delaware without a license. Electrical Contractors are required to hold a license from the Division of Professional Regulations’ Board of Electrical Examiners.
The Board protects the welfare and safety of the public by maintaining professional standards and ensuring that all licensed persons are competent to perform electrical work. As part of the licensing process, contractors are required to prove that they meet the Board’s requirements for education or work experience, and pass a qualifying exam.
License Types and Classifications for Electrical Contractors in Delaware
The Board of Electrical Examiners offers the following license classifications and types to Electrical Contractors:
- Master Electrician License
- Master Electrician Special License
- Limited Electrician License
- Limited Electrician Special License
- Journeyperson License
- Apprentice License
Those applying for a ‘Special’ license classification are allowed to specialize in a specific area of the electrical trade:
- Master Electrician Special License:
- Electric Signs
- Elevators
- HVAC
- Refrigeration
- Pools
- Primary Distribution Systems
- Limited Electrician Special License
- HVAC
- Pools
*A separate application is required for each specialty for which the contractor is applying.
Process to Obtain an Electrical Contractor License in Delaware
- Contractors must meet the education or work experience requirement for their chosen license classification
- Contractors must complete and submit an application to the Board, along with the required documents and fees
- Contractors are required to take and pass an exam based on the most current National Electric Code.
- Contractors are required to submit their passing exam scores to the Board along with proof of liability insurance
- Contractors are required to attend 5 to 10 hours of approved continuing education courses, depending on their license classification, every 2 years upon renewal.
Education and Work Experience Requirement
In order to gain approval to take the examination, contractors are required to prove that they meet the Board’s requirements for education/training and/or work experience.
Contractors are required to submit proof of education and/or work experience at least 45 days before the scheduled exam that they wish to take. To view a list of exam dates, please visit:
State of Delaware- Exam Information
If the contractor is using education/training to satisfy the requirement, they must submit a certificate of completion, proving that they have attended an apprenticeship training program, approved by the Board or the Department of Labor.
Apprentice Electricians must prove that they are currently enrolled in an apprenticeship program that is approved by the Board or the Department of Labor. In order to prove enrollment, Apprentices must submit an official letter from their school or program director, or enrollment from the Department of Labor
OR
If the contractor is using work experience to satisfy the requirement, they must prove the following, based on their chosen classification:
- Master Electrician- 6 years of full-time work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed Master Electrician or 4 years of full-time experience under the supervision of a licensed Master Electrician with 2 years of technical training
*To prove technical training, the school must forward the contractors transcripts directly to the Board office.
- Master Electrician Special- 6 years of full-time work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed Master Electrician or Master Electrician Special
- Limited Electrician- 3 years of full-time work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed Limited Electrician or Master Electrician
- Limited Electrician Special- 3 years of full-time work experience under the direct supervision of a licensed Limited Electrician Special, Master Electrician or Master Electrician Special
- Journeyperson Electrician- 8,000 hours of work experience under the supervision of a licensed Master Electrician
*Journeypersons are now required to take and pass an exam if they are using work experience to obtain a license. However, the exam may be waived if the contractor has successfully completed an apprenticeship program that is approved by the Board or Department of Labor, in which a final exam was taken and passed at the end of the program.
Proof of work experience must be submitted in the form of an affidavit, completed by the licensed electrician who supervised the contractor’s work. The affidavit must describe, in detail, the nature of the contractor’s work and experience.
For a copy of the Verification of Employment form, please visit:
Verification of Employment Form
*To receive credit for any experience obtained in Delaware after June 30, 2012, the contractor is required to have obtained the experience while working as a licensed Apprentice or Journeyperson Electrician.
For more information about the education and work experience requirements for each license classification, contact the Board at:
302-744-4500
OR
Visit: State of Delaware- Electrician License
Preparing and Submitting an Application
All contractors must complete and submit an application to the Board. For a copy of the application, please visit:
Be sure to read and follow all instructions on the application. Applications are to be completed in the contractor’s name, not the business name. All applications must be signed and notarized.
*If the contractor has ever held an electrical license in another state or jurisdiction, they must submit license verification to the Board, in the form of a letter of good standing, from each jurisdiction in which they were licensed.
Along with the application, contractors are required to submit a license processing fee in the following amounts:
- Master Electrician and Master Electrician Special- $157
- Limited Electrician and Limited Electrician Special- $84
- Journeyperson Electrician- $72
- Apprentice Electrician- $59
The Board accepts payments in the form of check or money order, made payable to, “State of Delaware.” Cash is not accepted.
To ensure that the contractor’s application is reviewed at the next scheduled Board meeting, applications are due by 4:30pm at least 10 business days before the scheduled meeting. The Board meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 8:30am.
To view a schedule of Board meetings, please visit:
Submit the completed application, along with all the required documents and fees to:
Board of Electrical Examiners
Cannon Building
861 Silver Lake Blvd, Suite 203
Dover, DE 19904-2467
*Board meetings are open to the public and held in Conference Room A at the above address.
Be sure to respond to any communications from the Board requesting additional or missing information. All applications will be kept on file for a period of 1 year. All required information is due within that time.
Once the Board approves the application, they will send the exam registration form, authorizing the contractor to take the exam.
*Apprentices are not required to take and pass an exam. Upon approving the application, their Board will issue a license.
Contractors are required to take the exam within 2 years of their application approval, otherwise the application will be forfeit.
For more information about the application or the application process, contact the Board at:
302-744-4500
OR
Email: customerservice.dpr@state.de.us
Visit: Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners
The Examination
The Board holds a contract with Prometric testing services to administer the exam. The open-book examination is based on the most current National Electric Code (NEC). Contractors are allowed to use the NEC codebook as a reference while taking the test.
At the time that the Board approves the contractor’s application, they will send the exam registration form. Contractors must submit the registration form to Prometric along with the exam fee.
The examination fee is $100.
Exam registration is due on or before the cutoff date for the next scheduled exam. To view a list of scheduled tests and registration cutoff dates, please visit:
State of Delaware- Exam Information
Testing centers are located in the following cities:
- Newark
- Dover
- Harrington
Contact Prometric for more information about specific testing center locations and exam times by calling:
800-864-5309
Contractors are required to pass the exam with a minimum score of 75%.
If the contractor does not pass the exam on the first attempt, they must contact the Board to request another exam registration form, and re-take the test. If the contractor fails the exam more than 2 times, with a score of 50% or less, they must wait one year before they will be allowed to re-test.
Upon passing the exam, contractors are required to submit the following to the Board:
- A copy of their exam results, showing a passing score
- Proof of liability insurance in the minimum amount of $300,000.
*Journeypersons and Apprentices are not required to meet the liability insurance requirement.
The Board will review the contractor’s test scores and insurance information at the next scheduled Board meeting following the exam. Upon reviewing this information, the Board will issue a license.
Upon receiving a license, it is the responsibility of the contractor to keep their contact information current and up-to-date so the Board may issue notices and reminders. To change or update contact information, please visit:
Delaware Online License Services
All licensees, with the exception of Journeypersons and Apprentices, are required to display the words, “Licensed Electrician,” or an abbreviation, along with their license number, on the outside of any work-related vehicles. This information must be no less than 3 inches in height.
Contractors are also required to undergo the proper inspections at the beginning of any new electrical project.
For more information about the exam or the examination process, contact Prometric at:
800-864-5309
OR
Visit: Prometric Website
For questions regarding the final licensing steps or receiving a license, contact the Board at:
302-744-4500
How Long is a Delaware Electrical Contractor License Valid?
All Electrical Contractor license classifications are good for a period of 2 years in the State of Delaware. Licenses must be renewed every 2 years, on the even-numbered year before the 30th of June. All licenses officially expire on July 1st.
Several weeks before the license is set to expire, the Board will issue renewal reminders to the address on file. This notice will contain the contractor’s renewal fee, as well as instructions for online renewal. A credit card may be used to pay the renewal fee.
*Renewal fees are given at renewal time.
In addition to paying the renewal fee, contractors will be required to submit proof that they have completed continuing education, and provide current, up-to-date insurance information (if insurance is required).
Contractors are also required to complete the following continuing education prior to renewal:
- Master Electrician, Master Electrician Special, Limited Electrician, Limited Electrician Special- 10 hours with 5 hours related to NEC.
- Journeyperson and Apprentice- 5 hours
*Approved apprenticeship training may count toward the continuing education requirement.
In order to count toward the continuing education requirement, all courses must be approved by the Board. For a list of approved courses, please visit:
For more information about renewal, contact the Board at:
302-744-4500
OR
Visit: License Renewal
Table of Fees
| Fee | What is it For? | When is it Due? |
| $157 | License Application Processing Fee for Master Electricians and Master Electricians Special | Upon submitting the application |
| $84 | License Application Processing Fee for Limited Electricians and Limited Electricians Special | Upon submitting the application |
| $72 | License Application Processing Fee for Journeyperson Electricians | Upon submitting the application |
| $59 | License Application Processing Fee for Apprentice Electricians | Upon submitting the application |
| $100 | Examination Fee | Upon registering for the exam with Prometric |