General Information
To perform electrical services in Delaware, you are required to hold a Delaware professional license as an electrician. The Board defines “electrical services” or “electrical work” to mean any activity that is covered by the National Electrical Code (NEC) as adopted by the Delaware State Fire Commission. Examples are provided in Section 1.0 of the Board’s Rules and Regulations. Types of electrician licensure include Master, Master Special, Limited, Limited Special, Journeyperson, Residential and Apprentice (24 Del. C. 1408 (a)).
A Residential Electrician allows you to conduct 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. Residential Electricians are only allowed to perform electric work:
- on or within a residential dwelling or building prior to the dwelling or building being connected to the electric grid.
- to or beyond the breaker panel or fuse box in a residential dwelling or building. For more information see (24 Del. C. §1422A.)
To be licensed as a Residential Electrician in Delaware, you must:
- have over 4000 hours of full-time experience under the supervision of a licensed limited or master electrician, or have completed a residential apprentice program approved by the Board AND
- pass the residential examination.
Even if you hold a current residential license issued in any jurisdiction (State, U.S. territory, District of Columbia) or a certificate of completion issued by the Department of Labor or approved apprentice program in Delaware or any jurisdiction, you must pass the Residential Electrical Examination to be licensed in Delaware. When the Board approves your application, the Board office sends you the examination registration form and instructions. For more information, see Exam Information.
Information on How to Apply for a License in DELPROS
All applications are submitted our online system DELPROS.
- Click on the titles below in each section to expand the information.
In order to apply for a license or submit a service request, you must first have a
DELPROS user account . To LOG IN or CREATE a DELPROS (Delaware Professional Regulation Online Services) user account:
- Go to: https://delpros.delaware.gov/OH_HomePage.
- Click GO on the Apply/Manage a License and Service Requests tile.
- If you do not have a DELPROS user account, click the REGISTER button on the left side of page for NEW USERS.
- If you already have a DELPROS user account, enter your email address and password on the right side for EXISTING USERS and click the LOGIN button.
DELPROS allows you to save your incomplete application and return to it later to finish the process. You only have six (6) months to submit your application once you begin.
- If you do not submit your application within six months of starting it, you will be required to restart the entire online application again.
You may check the status of your application online throughout the entire application process by using the “View Application Status” feature in DELPROS on your e-License dashboard.
- Know the requirements for the license you are pursuing.
- Request and gather all documents required to upload on the Attachments page. All information and forms are located on your profession’s webpages.
On the ATTACHMENTS page of your application, you may be instructed to:
- either “attach” or “upload” the required document(s) directly to your application. This means you will find the document(s) saved on your computer or device and upload it to your application.
- click “acknowledge” . This means you will either have to mail the documents yourself or request the “third-party” mail the document(s) directly to the Board office.
- Examples of “third-party forms” are transcripts from schools, employment verifications from a supervisor, and license verifications from another state.
- Forms requiring a supervisor signature, seal, or notary may have to be MAILED to the Board office directly UNLESS the document specifically indicates to UPLOAD the document.
The requirements for this license type are provided in the following section(s).
In addition to submitting the application and fee in
DELPROS, you must submit:
- 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.
- A copy of or links to the law and rules and regulations from each state, U.S. territory or the District of Columbia where you hold a current residential electrician license.
- You do not need to provide licensure law and regulations from jurisdictions that are not states, U.S. territories or the District of Columbia (e.g., cities or counties).
- A Verification of Employment form(s) showing proof of your 4,000 hours full-time experience under the supervision of a licensed master electrician, limited electrician, or have been individually licensed.
- If you cannot obtain a Verification of Employment form for one or more periods of employment (e.g., your former employer has gone out of business), you may substitute tax form W-2s for those periods. However, you must include a letter explaining why you cannot obtain the form and a detailed outline of your experience.
- A certificate of completion of apprenticeship from a state-approved, bona fide, registered apprenticeship program such as a program approved by the Department of Labor or a Board-approved program if you completed a Residential Apprentice program.