How to Start an Electrician Business in Delaware: Board of Electrical Examiners Licenses, $203 Master Application and 6 Years Under a Master

Starting a legitimate electrician business in Delaware requires a master electrician license from the Board of Electrical Examiners under the Division of Professional Regulation. This is not optional. Delaware has no handyman exception for electrical work. Unlicensed electrical work is a misdemeanor punishable by $500 to $1,500 on a first offense, and up to $2,300 on repeat violations, per offense. To operate as a business you also need a contractor license from the Division of Revenue, and the Board requires proof of general liability insurance for your license. This guide walks through exactly what you need to do, in order, with current fees and timelines.

What You Need Before You Start

Before you file a single application, gather these materials:

• Documentation of 6 years of full-time experience working under a licensed master electrician (or equivalent qualification: 8,000 hours plus 576 hours of related instruction, or 4 years plus 2 years of technical training)
• Passing score on the Delaware master electrician exam (the statute requires it after the experience requirements are met)
• A current general liability insurance policy (required for license renewal; check the Board for the current minimum coverage amount)
• Social Security number
• Proof of workers' compensation insurance or coverage (required if you will hire employees)

Understand the License Types

Delaware offers several electrician licenses. If you plan to run a full-service electrician business, you want a master electrician license. This allows you to work independently and supervise other electricians. Other types exist: limited electrician ($127 application fee), journeyperson ($105), and residential ($105), but these carry restrictions on the scope of work or types of buildings. For a business, master is what you need.

A master special license covers specific areas (elevators, HVAC, electric signs, primary distribution, pools, or refrigeration) and costs $200 to apply. This is not the right license if you want to do general electrical work.

Verify Your Experience Meets Delaware Requirements

You must have one of these three qualification paths:

1. Six years of full-time experience under a master: This is the most direct path. You must have worked at least 6 years (roughly 2,000 hours per year) under a licensed master electrician. Gather written confirmation from your employer or supervisor. The Board will need to verify this.
2. 8,000 hours plus classroom time: 8,000 hours of electrical work experience plus 576 hours of related instruction (typically formal apprenticeship coursework), or an apprenticeship certificate from an approved program.
3. Four years plus technical training: 4 years of electrical work experience plus 2 years of formal technical or trade school training.

If you are unsure whether your experience qualifies, contact the Board of Electrical Examiners at (302) 744-4500 or check their website at dpr.delaware.gov/boards/electrician before applying. They can review your specific background.

Pass the Master Electrician Exam

You must pass the Delaware master electrician exam. The statute requires a written, standardized examination with a passing score set by the Board in its rules, taken after you fulfill the experience requirements. Contact the Board for exam content, the passing score, and scheduling.

Ask the Board whether you can sit for the exam before or after you submit your application.

Apply for Your Master Electrician License

Once you meet the experience requirement and have passed the exam, apply through the Board of Electrical Examiners:

1. Contact the Board: Phone (302) 744-4500 or visit dpr.delaware.gov/boards/electrician. Request an application packet for a master electrician license. Applications and fees are handled in DELPROS (Delaware Professional Regulation Online Services).
2. Complete the application: Fill out all required fields. List your experience in detail, including the names and contact information of employers or supervising masters. Attach copies of exam passing scores, work history documentation, and any certificates or apprenticeship records.
3. Pay the application fee: $203 for a master electrician license as of 2026. Fees are paid in DELPROS by credit or debit card; the Division does not accept cash, checks or money orders by mail.
4. Submit the application: Submit it as the Board directs. The Board of Electrical Examiners is at 861 Silver Lake Blvd, Cannon Building Suite 203, Dover, Delaware 19904. The Board does not publish a standard turnaround time.
5. Wait for approval: The Board will review your experience and exam scores. If anything is unclear or missing, they will contact you. Ask the Board how your license will be issued once approved.

Your license will expire on June 30 of the next even-numbered year (the next expiration date is June 30, 2028 for licenses issued in 2026). You may renew up to 1 year after expiration if you miss the deadline.

Obtain a Contractor License from the Division of Revenue

Your electrician license from the Board covers the technical and legal right to perform electrical work. However, to operate a business in Delaware, you also need a contractor license from the Division of Revenue. This is a separate filing and fee.

1. Apply through Delaware One Stop: Visit onestop.delaware.gov or contact the Division of Revenue. Select "contractor" as your business license category.
2. Provide proof of workers' compensation insurance: Before the Division of Revenue issues a contractor license, it requires a certificate of insurance showing workers' compensation coverage as state law requires (or a Department of Labor self-insurer certificate). Confirm with the Division what applies if you have no employees.
3. Provide your Department of Labor certificate of notice: The Division will not issue the license until you have filed a certificate of notice issued by the Delaware Department of Labor, certifying that you have notified it that you will be entering into contracts to perform labor on construction projects in Delaware.
4. Pay the contractor license fee: The contractor license fee is $75 a year (30 Del. C. 2502(a)); check with the Division of Revenue at the link above for the current amount and any additional location fees. The license expires December 31 each year.
5. Owe gross receipts tax: Contractors in Delaware pay a gross receipts tax (not sales tax) at 0.6472% on gross receipts. This is filed monthly or quarterly with the Division of Revenue. New businesses file quarterly. The monthly exclusion is $100,000 (quarterly is $300,000), meaning you pay tax on receipts above this threshold.

The contractor license is not the same as your electrician license. Both are required to legally operate.

Register a Business Name (if Applicable)

If you will operate under a name other than your legal name (for example, "Smith Electrical Services" instead of "John Smith"), register a trade name (DBA) with the Division of Revenue through Delaware One Stop. The registration fee is $25 and does not expire or renew. You must have an active Division of Revenue business license to register a trade name.

Set Up Insurance and Inspection Requirements

Before you begin work, arrange two key items:

1. General liability insurance: You will need a current general liability insurance policy to renew your license every two years. The Board requires this (check dpr.delaware.gov/boards/electrician for the current minimum coverage amount). Shop with local and national insurers that cover contractor or electrician liability.
2. Certificate of inspection: Every electrical installation you complete in Delaware must have a certificate of inspection from a Board-licensed inspection agency. When you start a job, submit an application to the inspection agency within 5 working days. Electrical work needs a certificate of inspection unless it is specifically exempt. Clarify in your contract with each customer who files the inspection application.

Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Do not work unlicensed: Even "small jobs" or "helper work" for friends requires a license in Delaware. There is no handyman exemption. The penalty is a $500 to $1,500 misdemeanor per offense, and you can face multiple offenses on a single job if the work is large.
• Verify your experience documentation early: If you cannot locate your employer from 6 years ago, contact them now. The Board needs written confirmation of your years worked. If your employer is no longer in business, ask the Board what other evidence it accepts.
• Do not skip the exam: You cannot be licensed without passing the exam. There is no equivalent by experience or test waiver. Budget several months for study.
• Track your hours precisely: If you pursue the 8,000-hour path instead of 6 years, keep detailed time records. The Board may ask you to verify hours worked.
• Keep insurance current: A lapsed general liability policy will cause your license renewal to be denied. Set a calendar reminder for your renewal date and have insurance in place before you renew.
• File for inspection within 5 days: Late inspection requests can delay your project completion and customer satisfaction. Build this into your job scheduling.
• Notify the Board if you leave a firm: If a firm loses its license holder, the firm must notify the Board in writing within 7 days. The Board may issue a temporary license valid for 100 days so the firm can continue operating while someone associated with it applies for a license (24 Del. C. 1418).

License Renewal and Continuing Education

Your license expires June 30 of even-numbered years. To renew, you must:

• Complete 10 hours of continuing education (5 of which must be on the National Electrical Code from your second renewal onward)
• Submit a continuing education attestation to the Board
• Provide proof of current general liability insurance
• Pay the renewal fee (you are told the amount at renewal; a late renewal adds a late fee of 50% of the renewal fee)

Plan ahead. Many electricians complete their CE hours early in the renewal period to avoid a last-minute rush.

Expected Timeline and Results

From the moment you apply to the Board, ask the Board how long review currently takes, since it does not publish a standard turnaround. Once you have both licenses and your insurance is in place, you are legally permitted to perform electrical work and operate your business.

However, this timeline assumes you already have the required 6 years of experience and have passed the exam. If you are building your experience hours, the process will be much longer (the master path requires years of experience). If you are studying for the exam, add several months to your preparation.

Disclaimer

This article is informational only and is not legal or tax advice. Licensing, permit, and tax requirements change, and this guide reflects information accurate as of October 2026. Before applying, confirm all current fees, forms, and requirements directly with the Board of Electrical Examiners at (302) 744-4500 or dpr.delaware.gov/boards/electrician, and with the Division of Revenue at revenue.delaware.gov or onestop.delaware.gov. Consult a Delaware CPA or tax professional regarding gross receipts tax compliance and business structure (sole proprietor, LLC, or corporation). Consult a Delaware attorney if you need help with liability protection, contract drafting, or employment law for your electrician business.

Next Steps

If you have the required experience and are ready to start your business, contact the Board of Electrical Examiners today at (302) 744-4500 to request an application. Gather your experience documentation, schedule your exam, and plan a timeline for your contractor license application. Once both licenses are in hand and your insurance is active, you can legally accept your first job. Good luck with your electrician business in Delaware.