If you wish to become a general contractor, plumber, or electrician in the state of Delaware, you must complete the appropriate exams and applications to be approved by the Division of Professional Regulation. Electrical work in the state of Delaware is defined by the Board as any activity covered by the National Electrical Code as it has been adopted by the Delaware State Fire Commission. 

In Delaware, there are seven types of electrical licensure:

• Master
• Master Special
• Limited
• Limited Special
• Journeyperson
• Residential
• Apprentice

Each level of certification for licensure has its own requirements, and some include further areas of specialty, each requiring a separate application process for the particular areas of expertise. To meet the requirements for a residential, journeyperson, or another type of electrical license, an apprenticeship program must be completed, and all requirements fulfilled. A journeyperson license allows the applicant to obtain more on-the-job experiences and mastery of skills to pass the examinations for further electrical licensure. 

Delaware Electrical License Application and Insurance Requirements

To receive an electrical license in the state of Delaware, you must complete an electrical license application for the classification of certification you wish to receive. The application forms for the various electrical licenses include:

• Application for Licensure as Electrician
  • This application includes:
    • Master Electrician
    • Limited Electrician
    • Master Electrician Special
    • Limited Electrician Special
• Application for Licensure as a Journeyperson Electrician
• Application for Licensure as a Residential Electrician
• Application for Licensure as an Apprentice Electrician

All applications must be filled out completely, signed and notarized. Applications must include the non-refundable processing fee. Fees associated with applications are listed as follows:

• Master Electrician: $172
• Master Special Electrician: $172
• Limited Electrician: $99
• Limited Special Electrician: $94
• Journeyperson Electrician: $84
• Residential Electrician: $84
• Apprentice Electrician: $69

Fees due are paid by check or money order made payable to “State of Delaware”, and mailed to:

Division of Professional Regulation
Cannon Building, Suite 203
861 Silver Lake Blvd.
Dover, Delaware 19904

Proof of general liability insurance of at least $300,000 must be submitted at the time of application. The liability insurance may be carried by an employer, but you must submit proof that you are covered by the employer’s policy. Exams may be taken before proof of insurance, but a license cannot be issued until the Board office receives proof of insurance.

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Any and all individual electrician licenses issued by any kind of jurisdiction must be submitted to the Board by a letter of license verification of good standing. A letter is required from each jurisdiction in which you have ever held a license. License verification documentation must be sent directly from the jurisdiction to the Delaware Board Office. Licenses that were not individual, and as such were issued for an electrical business that encompasses all its employees, do not require verification.

All renewals of licensure — including renewing inactive licenses — require renewal fees. The cost of a license renewal fee will be determined at the time of renewal. If a renewal application is submitted after the expiration date, it will incur a late fee in addition to the renewal fee. The late fee is 50% of the renewal fee. 

Delaware Electrical Examination Requirements

To take the examination for an original license, the Board must approve you to sit for the examination. This is called applying by examination. The following items must be included in addition to the application requirements and must be submitted 45 days before the scheduled test date. Dates are posted by the Board of Electrical Examiners.

You must provide proof of experience that meets the requirements of the type of license in which you are applying. This must be done through the completion of a Verification of Employment Form which must be completed by both the applicant, as well as the applicant’s licensed supervisor. The form must be submitted by the applicant’s licensed supervisor. Any forms submitted by the applicant alone will not be accepted. 

Once the Board has approved an application by examination, the Board office will send you the examination registration form. The exam registration form must be fully completed, include a $100 examination fee, and be submitted to Prometric, the testing service used. Contact Prometric for specific times and locations of the exams. Applicants must score a minimum of 75% to pass the exam.

Delaware Electrical License Reciprocity

For applicants applying for reciprocity, the following items are required in addition to the application requirements listed above. 

For substantially similar license standards, you do not need to submit proof of experience. This includes: 

• Michigan;
• Wyoming.

For licenses that are not substantially similar, you must submit proof of experience for at least five years after licensure. This is done through a Verification of Employment Form that must be submitted by your supervising electrician. If you cannot obtain a Verification of Employment Form from a previous supervising electrician, you must include W-2 tax forms showing full-time employment, as well as a letter that explains why you cannot obtain the form. For self-employment experience, you may submit a tax Form C as proof. This includes:

• Arkansas
• Colorado
• D.C.
• Florida
• Georgia
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Texas
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia

For any state or U.S. territory not listed above, the applicant must submit a copy of the other jurisdiction’s laws and regulations for evaluation. The license standards of the jurisdiction will be evaluated by the Board. 

If your current license is not substantially similar to those of Delaware, and you do not have the required five years of experience, you must meet the requirements for licensure by examination, you cannot be licensed through reciprocity.

Types and Qualifications of Delaware Electrical Licensing 

If you are hoping to become licensed as an electrician in the state of Delaware, there are a variety of licenses available. Each license has its own requirements for experience and education per Title 24 of the Delaware Code. 

Master

A person that holds a master electrician license may work in residential, commercial and industrial areas. They will also meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Six years of full-time experience under the supervision of a licensed master electrician.
• Complete 8,000 hours of full-time experience under the supervision of a licensed master electrician, plus 576 hours of related instruction, or other Board-approved training. This training must be verified by a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship.
• Four years of full-time experience under the supervision of a licensed master electrician, with two years of technical training.

Master Special

A master special electrician may work with electricity as it relates to a specific type of specialty such as:

• Electric Signs
• Elevators
• HVAC
• Primary Distribution Systems
• Pools
• Refrigeration

They must meet one of the following requirements:

• Six years of full-time experience under the supervision of a licensed master electrician, or master electrician special specific to the designated specialty. 
• Complete 8,000 hours of full-time experience under the supervision of a licensed master electrician, or master electrician special, in addition to 576 hours of related instruction or approved training verified by certification of completion of an apprenticeship program.

If you wish to license in more than one specialty area, you must file separate applications for each license

Limited

Those that hold a limited electrical license may work in residential areas. They must meet one of the following requirements:

• Three years of full-time experience under the supervision of a licensed master or limited electrician.
• Four thousand hours of full-time experience under the supervision of a licensed master or limited electrician in addition to 288 hours of related instruction or other approved training, that must be verified by a certificate of completion from apprenticeship.

Limited Special

A limited special license holder has special knowledge of electricity as it relates to the type of specialty, such as:

• HVAC
• Pools

They must meet one of the following requirements:

• Three years of full-time experience under the supervision of a master electrician, or a limited electrician special in the applicable specialty.
• Complete 4,000 hours of full-time experience under the supervision of a master electrician, or a limited electrician special in the applicable specialty in addition to the completion of 288 hours of related instruction or approved training that is verified by a certificate of completion of an apprenticeship. 

If you wish to license in more than one specialty area, you must file separate applications for each license.

Journeyperson

A journeyperson license allows the holder to perform electrical work and services under supervision to gain additional experience and skills needed to pass the examinations for licensure as a master, limited, master special, or limited special electrician. 

Those seeking a journeyperson license must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 20 years of age.
• Must complete either:
  • Complete an apprenticeship program that has been approved by the board, and successfully passed the final exam. This track do not have to take the licensure exam.
  • Have over 8,000 hours of full-time experience performing electrical work under the supervision of a licensed master electrician, master electrician special, limited electrician, or limited electrician special.

Residential

Those with a residential electrical license are allowed to perform residential electrical work without having to be under the direct onsite supervision of a licensed master electrician, master electrician special, limited electrician, limited electrician special, or journeyperson electrician. A person with a residential electrical license is only allowed to perform electrical work on or within:

• A residential dwelling or building prior to the dwelling or building being connected to the electrical grid.
• To, or beyond a breaker panel or fuse box in a residential dwelling or building. 

Those seeking a residential electrical license must meet the following requirements:

• Pass a residential electrician exam that has been approved by the Board, and determined by the Division. 
• Have over 4,000 hours of full-time experience in electrical work under the supervision of a licensed master electrician, or limited electrician, or if the applicant was individually licensed. Or; 
• Have successfully completed a residential apprenticeship program that is approved by the Board. 

Apprentice

Those that are currently enrolled in an apprenticeship program approved by the Delaware Board, or by the Department of Labor by any state, must apply for an electrical apprenticeship license. 

If you hold an apprentice electrician license from another jurisdiction but are enrolled in a Delaware apprenticeship program, you must still apply for a Delaware apprenticeship license. The Delaware apprenticeship program may credit experience gained while a licensed apprentice towards completion of the Delaware program.

The requirements of an apprentice electrical license include:

• Be at least 18 years of age, unless enrolled in a Board-approved vocational program at a vocational school.
• Be enrolled in or have successfully completed an apprenticeship program approved by the Board.
• Be enrolled in or have successfully completed a residential apprentice program approved by the Board.

Delaware Electrical Apprentice Jobs

To find a job working as an electrical apprentice consider contacting the Local 313 IBEW union to find out more about their joint apprenticeship and training committee (JATC). 

Local 313 JATC
8814 West Basin Road
New Castle, DE 19720
(302) 322-5089

Alternatively, you may seek work as a licensed apprentice with a company or appropriately licensed individual. These opportunities may often be found through job search boards such as Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and Glassdoor. 

Electrical Trade Schools in Delaware

For potential apprenticeships or technical training, consider the following electrical trade education opportunities in Delaware.

Delaware Technical Community College:

• Charles L. Terry Jr. Campus
  100 Campus Drive
  Dover, Deaware 19904
  Phone: (302) 857-1000
  Public
• Jack F. Owens Campus
  21179 College Drive
  Georgetown, Delaware 19947
  Phone: (302) 259-6000
  Public
• Stanton Campus, Innovation and Technology Center (ITC)
  97 Parkway Circle
  New Castle, DE 19720
  Phone: (302) 266-3300
  Public
• Orlando J. George, Jr. Campus
  300 North Orange Street
  Wilmington, Delaware 19801
  Phone: (302) 571-5300
  Public

Adult Education Division
1703 School Lane
Wilmington, DE 19808
Phone: (302) 683-3652

PolyTech Adult Education
823 Walnut Shade Road
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 697-4545

Delaware Professional License Search

It is important to lookup an electrical contractor, business, or license holder, to validate their professional license or credentials. This is especially important for those seeking to apprentice or gain work experience under the supervision of a license holder. To check the credentials and standing of a license holder, consult the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation online license verification service.

For More License and Career Guides

To find out how to become an Plumbing Contractor in another state, start here. 

For information on other trades in Delaware, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:

• Delaware General Contractor License Requirements
• How to Become an Electrician in Delaware
• Delaware Handyman License Guide
• Delaware Welding Schools and Career Guide
• How to Get an HVAC License in Delaware