Delaware Master Electrician Exam and Journeyperson Test (2026)

The Delaware master electrician exam is 80 questions in 180 minutes at Prov, open book on the 2020 NEC, and you need 75% to pass. Limited (70 questions) and Residential (60) use the same code edition, time limit and passing score. The Journeyperson exam is 70 questions on the 2023 NEC. Prov runs all four for the Delaware Board of Electrical Examiners, under its candidate bulletin dated October 21, 2026.

Two NEC editions, one state. The Master, Limited and Residential exams are graded on the 2020 NEC. The Journeyperson exam is graded on the 2023 NEC, the edition Delaware put into effect on January 1, 2026. JCR's Delaware package is built on the 2020 NEC. It fits Master, Limited and Residential candidates. It is not the right edition for the Journeyperson exam.

Who can take each Delaware electrical exam?

The Board checks your experience before Prov will let you register. Here is what each exam asks for:

• Master: 6 years of full-time experience, or 4 years under a Master plus a transcript showing 2 years of technical training (Master and Limited page).
• Limited: 3 years of full-time work under a Master or Limited electrician.
• Residential: over 4,000 hours of full-time work under a Master or Limited electrician, or a Board-approved residential apprenticeship. Everyone takes this exam, even with another state's residential license (Residential page).
• Journeyperson (Delaware's name for a journeyman, who works under a Master, Limited or their Special versions): 8,000 hours of full-time work under one of them. A completed state- or Board-approved apprenticeship gets you the license with no exam (Journeyperson page).

Once the Board approves you, Prov emails you within 1 to 2 weeks to register. Check your spam folder. For every license route, read JCR's Delaware electrician license guide.

What's on the Delaware master electrician exam and the others?

Prov's bulletin breaks each exam into topics. Here is how many questions each topic gets. An exam not named in a row has no questions on that topic.

Wiring and protection plus wiring methods make up 30 of 80 Master questions and 36 of 70 Limited questions. Those map to NEC Chapters 2 and 3, so know them cold.

What books can you bring into the Delaware exam?

Bring your own copies. Prov lists these open-book references:

• Master: the 2020 NEC, Ugly's Electrical References (2020) and the American Electrician's Handbook, 17th edition
• Limited and Residential: the 2020 NEC and the American Electrician's Handbook, 17th edition
• Journeyperson: the 2023 NEC and the American Electrician's Handbook, 17th edition

Book rules from the bulletin:

• Permanent tabs are allowed (gummed or self-adhesive tabs, or insertable dividers in a 3-ring binder). Add them before exam day.
• Repositionable tabs and sticky notes are not allowed.
• Highlight and underline in pen before the exam. You can't mark your books during it.
• No handwritten notes anywhere in a book.
• Nothing glued, taped or stuck in, such as formula sheets, printed indexes or stickers.
• The title must match. An older or newer edition is allowed, but your exam is graded on the edition listed for it.
• Photocopied books are not allowed, since the Delaware listings don't permit them.

Need help picking books? See what books you need for the electrical exam. For what each state uses, see NEC adoption by state.

How do you schedule and retake the Delaware electrical exam?

• Register at the Prov scheduler (pick "DE - Delaware Division of Professional Regulation") or call or text Prov at (801) 733-4455, 8 a.m. to midnight ET, Monday to Friday.
• Name: enter it exactly as it shows on your photo ID, middle name or initial included. A mismatch gets you turned away and costs the fee.
• Fee: $100, paid to Prov by MasterCard, Visa or AMEX when you book.
• Where: SRCC Testing Services in Dover, Delaware State University in Wilmington, any Prov center in the U.S., or online from home.
• Cancel or move your date for free at least 3 days ahead. Missing the exam or arriving after it starts forfeits the fee.
• ID: a current government photo ID with your signature, such as a driver's license, passport or military ID. Expired IDs are refused.
• Results: Prov scores the exam when you finish and sends the result to the Board. The Board says to allow up to 2 weeks for it to arrive.
• Retakes: wait 7 days after a fail. You get 3 attempts per Board approval, then you must reapply.
• After you pass: Master and Limited candidates upload proof of $300,000 general liability insurance. If you don't activate your license within 12 months of passing, you retake the exam (24 Del. C. § 1408(f)).

Testing from home

• Prov uses Examroom.ai. A proctor checks your ID and watches you over webcam the whole time.
• You need a recent Mac, PC or Chromebook, Chrome or Firefox, a webcam, a microphone and at least 3 Mbps upload. Run the system check before you book.
• Sit at a clear desk in a private room with windows covered and no other electronics.
• No equipment? Prov lends laptops. Call (866) 720-7768.

Master Special, Limited Special and Elevator exams

A Special license covers one specialty for people who don't qualify for the full license (Board page):

• Master Special: electric signs, elevators, HVAC, primary distribution systems, pools or refrigeration. 6 years of full-time work in the specialty.
• Limited Special: HVAC or pools. 3 years of full-time work in the specialty.

Prov's bulletin lists no separate Master Special or Limited Special exam, and Prov says it can't decide which exam you take. The Board names your exam when it approves you. The bulletin does list an Elevator Mechanic exam: 50 questions, 120 minutes, 75% to pass, on the 2023 NEC with ASME A17.1-2010, ASME A17.3-2011 and the American Electrician's Handbook.

Delaware electrical exam prep: how to pass

• Pace yourself. Master gives you about 2 minutes 15 seconds a question. Residential gives you 3 minutes.
• Answer every question. Prov doesn't penalize wrong answers, so a guess beats a blank. Flag hard ones and come back.
• Use the bathroom first. The clock keeps running during breaks.
• Prepare for theory. General electrical knowledge is the largest topic on Master and Limited, and ties for largest on Residential. Ugly's and the Handbook help there.
• Plan 6–8 weeks, about an hour a night, and finish with timed practice exams.

Holding a license from Maryland, New Jersey or another listed state? Check Delaware reciprocity before you pay for an exam.

Delaware electrician exam FAQ

Is the Delaware electrician exam open book?

Yes. All four electrician exams are open book. Bring the NEC edition listed for your exam and the other listed references, with permanent tabs and pen highlighting done ahead of time.

What NEC edition is on the Delaware journeyperson exam?

The 2023 NEC. The Master, Limited and Residential exams are still graded on the 2020 NEC.

How many questions are on the Delaware master electrician exam?

80 questions in 180 minutes. You need 75% to pass, and the fee is $100.

Can I take the Delaware electrical exam online?

Yes. Prov offers remote testing through Examroom.ai, with a live proctor watching by webcam.

How soon can I retake the Delaware electrical exam?

After 7 days. You get 3 attempts on one Board approval before you must reapply.