General Information

To perform electrical services in Delaware, you are required to hold a Delaware professional license as an electrician. Performing “electrical services” or “electrical work” is defined by the Board 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 Licenses

Types of electrician licensure in Delaware include Master, Master Special, Limited, Limited Special, Journeyperson, Residential and Apprentice (24 Del. C. 1408 (a)).

If you have completed all education and experience requirements of an approved apprenticeship program and received your certificate of completion, you may apply for either a Residential Electrician or Journeyperson Electrician or other type of Electrician license. Journeyperson Electrician licensure allows you to perform electrical services under supervision while you obtain more experience and master the skills that you will need to pass the examination for the other types of Electrician licensure.

If you do not qualify as a Master Electrician but have knowledge in an area(s) of specialty, you may apply for a Master Electrician Special license in one of these specialty areas:

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

If you do not qualify as a Limited Electrician but have knowledge in an area(s) of specialty, you may apply for a Limited Electrician Special license in one of these specialty areas:

• HVAC
• Pools

If you have more than one specialty area, you must file a separate application for each area.

Selecting Type of Application

The application asks whether you are filing for licensure by examination or reciprocity.

• If you do not hold a current electrical license of the same type for which you are now applying that was issued by another state, U.S. territory or District of Columbia, apply for licensure by examination.
• 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, apply for licensure by reciprocity.

Note: In the state of Pennsylvania, electrical licenses are not issued by a state board. If the only current license(s) you hold was issued by a Pennsylvania municipality or other jurisdiction, you must apply by examination.

Requirements for All Applications

• Submit completed, signed and notarized Application for Licensure as Electrician.

• Enclose the non-refundable processing fee by check or money order made payable to “State of Delaware.”

• Submit proof of general liability insurance of at least $300,000. Your name must be on the insurance document you submit even if your employer holds the policy.
  • If your employer carries general liability insurance of at least $300,000.00 covering its employees, the proof you submit must show that you are covered by your employer’s policy. (See Sections 6.2 and 6.3 of the Board’s Rules and Regulations.)
  • You may take the exam before submitting proof of insurance, but you must submit it after you pass. Your license cannot be issued until the Board office receives proof of insurance.

• If you have ever held any kind of individual electrician license issued by any kind of jurisdiction, arrange for the Board office to receive a license verification (letter of good standing) from each jurisdiction where you have ever held a license, sent directly from the jurisdiction to the Delaware Board office.
  • The jurisdiction may be a state, U.S. territory, District of Columbia or any other governmental jurisdiction, such as a city or county.
  • If the license issued by another jurisdiction was a license for an electrical business that encompassed all its employees, instead of your own license as an individual, it is not necessary to obtain a license verification for that business.

Additional Requirements for Licensure by Examination

If you are applying by examination, the following items are required in addition to those listed under Requirements for All Applications above. If you need to take the examination for an original license, the Board of Electrical Examiners must approve you to sit for the examination. Submit the following items for Board approval at least 45 days before the scheduled test date (Section 4.0 of the Board’s Rules and Regulations):

• Submit proof of experience. The experience requirement depends on which kind of license you are applying for.

• If you cannot obtain the required Verification of Employment form from the supervising licensed electrician, submit tax form W-2 showing full-time employment and a letter explaining why you cannot obtain the form. Acceptance of proof other than the Verification of Employment form is at the discretion of the Board.
• To receive credit for any experience you obtained in Delaware after June 30, 2012, you must have been licensed as an Apprentice or Journeyperson Electrician at the time.

When the Board has approved your application, the Board office will send you the examination registration form. For more information, see Exam Information.

Additional Requirements for Applications by Reciprocity

If you are applying by reciprocity, the following items are required in addition to those listed under Requirements for All Applications above:

• If none of the jurisdictions where you hold a current license (of the same type for which you are now applying) has licensure standards “substantially similar” to those of Delaware, you must submit proof of your experience. Use this table to decide whether to submit proof of experience.

• The determination of substantial equivalence may change based, for example, on changes in the other jurisdiction’s law or regulations.
• If none of the jurisdictions where you hold a current license (of the same type for which you are now applying) has licensure standards “substantially similar” to those of Delaware and if you do not have the required five years of experience, you must meet the requirements for licensure by examination as explained under Additional Requirements for Applications by Examination above. You cannot be licensed by reciprocity.