How to Become an Electrician in Delaware
Delaware licenses electricians statewide through the Board of Electrical Examiners. The journeyperson license takes 8,000 hours under a licensed master — and completing an approved apprenticeship waives the exam. From there the ladder runs up through Limited and Master licenses.
Licensing in Delaware at a glance
- How it's licensed
- Statewide license through the Board of Electrical Examiners
Age — At least 18 to register as an apprentice, 20 to apply for licensure; high school diploma or GED.
Journeyperson — 8,000 hours of full-time experience under a licensed master (or limited) electrician. Completing a DOL or approved apprenticeship program means you don't have to sit the exam; otherwise the journeyperson exam is 70 questions, 3 hours.
Limited Electrician — Three years of full-time experience under a master or limited electrician.
Master Electrician — Six years full-time experience, or four years under a master plus a transcript showing two years of technical training. Exam is 80 questions, 3 hours.
A clean statewide ladder
Delaware's Board of Electrical Examiners (in Dover) licenses electricians for the whole state, with a clear progression: journeyperson, limited, and master. Your license works statewide.
The apprenticeship advantage
Delaware gives a real reward for finishing a registered apprenticeship: if you complete a DOL or approved program, you skip the journeyperson exam entirely. Otherwise you document 8,000 hours under a licensed master and pass the 70-question exam. Either way, the 8,000 hours of supervised experience is the core.
Moving up
Master requires six years (or four under a master plus two years of documented technical training). One quirk to note: Delaware sets a minimum age of 20 for licensure, so plan your timeline accordingly.
Your next step
Register as an apprentice (18+), get hired under a licensed master, and log your 8,000 hours — ideally through a registered apprenticeship so you can skip the exam. The national How to Become an Electrician guide covers the trade overall.
⚠️ Always verify current requirements
Licensing rules change and often vary by city or county. Before you count on anything here, confirm the current requirements directly with Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation).