Delaware

Contractors bidding on jobs over $50,000 must apply for a license. If you don't have a Delaware plumber's license, you will need a license to contract for pump installer work.

To find out if an asbestos worker is certified in Delaware, call (302) 739-5644. To find out if an electrician, plumber or HVAC contractor is licensed in Delaware, click here.

• Asbestos Abatement Certifications

• Electrician's Licenses
   
• Plumber's Licenses
   
• Water Well Driller's License
   
• Pump Installer's License
   
• Department of Transportation (DOT)

• Out-of-State Corporations

To do business in Delaware as a contractor or subcontractor, you must get a license from the Delaware Division of Revenue. If you're a non-resident, you'll also need a surety bond for 6% of any contract work you do totaling $20,000 or more within a calendar year. Before you can bid on a job over $50,000 you must apply for a license. To apply for a license, contact:

Division of Revenue Carvel State Building 820 North French Street Wilmington, DE 19801 (302) 577-5800 (800) 202-7826 (Delaware only) http://revenue.delaware.gov/

The Business License Form is available online at http://www.state.de.us/dedo/small_business.html. 

The license will cost you $75 per year.

Asbestos Abatement Certifications

Unless you're working on your own single family dwelling, you have to be certified to handle asbestos in Delaware. However, the state has two classes of asbestos work -- Class A which is for a business whose primary work is asbestos abatement, and Class B for a business that can reasonably expect some of its projects to involve asbestos abatement. Examples of Class B are roofing/siding contractors and plumbing/HVAC contractors. To apply for certification, contact:

Division of Facilities Management Asbestos Office 540 S. Dupont Hwy. Dover, DE 19901 (302) 739-5644 http://dfm.delaware.gov/envsrv/asbestos/apps.shtml

Delaware requires all asbestos supervisors and workers to have a:

• routine physical exam within year of certification
• pulmonary function test
• "B" Reader chest x-ray
• appropriate training course approved by Delaware
• CPR card (for supervisors only)

Asbestos abatement certification: Supervisor certification costs $50 and worker certification is $25. Both are good for one year. Class A and class B contractor certifications each cost $100.

If you've had asbestos training in a U.S. EPA Region III state, Delaware may accept it under reciprocity. These states are Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Philadelphia, Allegheny County and the District of Columbia.

Electrician's Licenses

Delaware issues licenses for general master electricians, limited master electricians, and specialty electricians. The categories of specialty licenses are air conditioning/heating and elevators. To apply for a license, contact:

Division of Professional Regulation Board of Electrical Examiners 861 Silver Lake Boulevard, Ste 203 Dover, DE 19904 (302) 744-4500 Fax: (302) 739-2711 http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/electrician/index.shtml

Here are the requirements for the electrical licenses:

Master Electrician: Four years full time work experience and two years education after high school graduation or no education and six years full time work experience

Master Limited: Three years full time practical training or proof of 4,000 hours of full time experience, plus 288 hours of related instruction

Master Electrician Special: Six years full time work experience or proof of 8,000 hours of full time experience

Limited Electrician Special: Three years full time work experience

The Board requires you to pass an exam to get a license. It's an open book exam on the NFPA-70 National Electrical Code book. The exam is four hours long with 100 multiple choice questions for the master electrician's general license and three hours long with 60 questions for the limited license. Here's a percentage breakdown of the subjects on the exam by license type:

Exams are given by:

Thomson Prometric 1260 Energy Lane St. Paul, MN 55108 (800) 626-0750 http://www.prometric.com

After you take the exam, Prometric will send your score directly to the Board. If you scored at least 75%, the Board will send you their information packet on how to proceed to get your license.

Electrican's license fees: It will cost you $10 nonrefundable to file an application for a license. The exam costs $60 nonrefundable. Check with Prometric to find out if they've got a practice exam available for purchase. A license is good for two years. However the two-year period is set by the Board so your license and its cost will depend on when you get it.

If you have a license in another state, you may qualify for a license in Deleware. You will have to submit a copy of the reciprocal state's current requirements and regulations. If the board finds the state's requirements substantially similar, you will need to show verification of licensure or good standing, pay the application fee of $22 and the prorated license fee.

Plumber's Licenses

Delaware issues licenses for:

• Submit a complete and notarized application and non-refundable application fee made payable to "State of Delaware." 
• Applicants with a "Journeyman Certificate" issued by an approved plumbing apprenticeship program must submit a copy of the certificate and use the verification of employment form to verify two years of supervised work experience gained after receiving the certificate. 

• Before applying for a plumbing license, each applicant must have performed plumbing services for at least 7 years under the supervision of a licensed plumber and have completed and received a passing score on the Apprenticeship-By-Pass Examination. To take this examination, contact one of the schools listed below. An official copy of the passing score must be forwarded to the Board office:

• Submit a complete and notarized application and  the non-refundable application fee made payable to "State of Delaware."
• Applicants with 7 years of supervised work experience must submit proof of supervised work experience by using the verification of employment form. 

Contact:

Division of Professional Regulation Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners 861 Silver Lake Boulevard Canon Building, Suite 203 Dover, DE 19904 (302) 744-4500 http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/index.shtml

Exams are given by:

Thomson Prometric 1260 Energy Lane St. Paul, MN 55108 (800) 626-0750 http://www.prometric.com

Master plumber's exam subjects:

After you take the exam, Prometric will send your score directly to the Board. If you scored at least 75%, the Board will send you their information packet on how to proceed to get your license.

Plumber's license fees: The processing fee is determined by the date on the postmark of the mailing date of the application. Check with the Board for the fee schedule. The exam costs $70 nonrefundable.

HVACR License

Delaware issues Master and Master HVACR Limited licenses. Limited categories include:

• heating- forced air systems, ventilation, air conditioning and gas piping
• heating- hydronic systems and gas piping
• commercial hood systems
• refrigeration

For details, contact:
 

Division of Professional Regulation Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners 861 Silver Lake Boulevard Canon Building, Suite 203 Dover, DE 19904 (302) 744-4500 http://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/index.shtml

You will have to pass an exam for licensure. Contact the Board for details.

HVACR license fees: The processing fee is determined by the date on the postmark of the mailing date of the application. Check with the Board for the fee schedule.

Water Well Driller's License

You need a license to perform contracting work for drilling, boring, coring, driving, digging construction, installation or repair of a well in Delaware. 

Contact:

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Division of Water Resources Water Supply Section 89 Kings Highway Dover, DE 19901 (302) 739-4860 http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/

To qualify for a license you must be at least 18 years old and have at least two years related experience. The Board will review your application and references. Once you're application is approved, you'll be required to pass an exam at a time and date determined by the Board. The exam covers basic drilling methods, basic well construction and state laws and ordinances.

Water well contractors are required to carry and maintain the following contractor's liability insurance coverage:
Bodily injury - $100,000 each person, 300,000 each occurrence
Property damage - $50,000 each occurrence, $50,000 each aggregate

Water well driller's license fees: The well driller license is $30 (must work under the supervision of a water well contractor). The water well contractor's license is $150. The license expires on December 31st of the following year.

Pump Installer's License

You need a license to contract for the installation, maintenance, or repair of pumps and pumping equipment in and for wells in Delaware. If you already have a Delaware state plumber's license, you do not need a license to do pump installation work. 

Contact:

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Division of Water Resources Water Supply Section 89 Kings Highway Dover, DE 19901 (302) 739-4860 http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/

To qualify for a license you must be at least 18 years old and have at least two years related experience. The Board will review your application and references. Once you're application is approved, you'll be required to pass an exam at a time and date determined by the Board. The exam covers basic drilling methods, basic well construction and state laws and ordinances.

Pump installer contractors are required to carry and maintain the following contractor's liability insurance coverage:
Bodily injury - $100,000 each person, 300,000 each occurrence
Property damage - $50,000 each occurrence, $50,000 each aggregate

Pump installer's license fees: The pump installer's license is $15 (must work under supervision of a pump installer contractor). The pump installer contractor's license is $115. Licenses expire on December 31st of the following year.

Department of Transportation (DOT)

To bid on Delaware Department of Transportation projects you fill out a short form called Registry of Construction Contractors. To get the form, contact:

Department of Transportation 800 Bay Road PO Box 778 Dover, DE 19903-0778 (302) 760-2080 Fax: (302) 739-2254 http://www.deldot.gov/index.shtml

On the form, you specify whether you want to bid on highway, bridge, and/or building construction.

Out-of-State Corporations

Corporations doing business in Delaware must register with the Delaware Secretary of State to do business in the state. For information, contact:

Division of Corporations John G. Townsend Building P.O. Box 898 Dover, DE 19903 (302) 739-3073 Fax: (302) 739-3812 http://sos.delaware.gov/default.shtml

Forms are available online at http://www.deldot.gov/static/publications_forms.shtml.

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