Transfer Your Contractor License to Delaware: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Plumbing/HVACR and Refrigeration Examiners; Board of Electrical Examiners ↗

Delaware has no blanket contractor reciprocity list, but the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Plumbing/HVACR and Refrigeration Examiners; Board of Electrical Examiners evaluates out-of-state contractors for endorsement based on your license and experience. For the licensed trades the Board SHALL grant a license without a Delaware exam to an applicant holding a current good-standing license from any state, DC, or US territory whose standards are substantially similar to Delaware's (24 Del. C. 1409 electrical, 1810 plumbing, 1823 HVACR). If the other state's standards are not substantially similar, the applicant needs 5+ years of practice or must sit the Delaware exam. Application fee: Board application fee applies; no single published reciprocity figure verified.

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Verdict

Licensure by endorsement

Delaware works case-by-case rather than from a published partner list, so the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Plumbing/HVACR and Refrigeration Examiners; Board of Electrical Examiners's judgment on your specific license and experience decides the outcome. Get any exam waiver or experience credit confirmed in writing before you rely on it — discretionary approvals are exactly the kind of thing that shifts between reviewers.

Delaware reciprocity for the trades is by SUBSTANTIAL EQUIVALENCE, not a fixed CT/IA/MD roster (the statute grants reciprocity to any state whose standards are substantially similar). Delaware has NO state general-contractor/general-building license - a general contractor only needs a Delaware business license from the Division of Revenue, so there is no competency reciprocity for general contracting. No contractor compact exists.

Delaware requirements at a glance

Out-of-state contractor license transfer requirements for Delaware, verified 2026-07-21
Exam	For the licensed trades the Board SHALL grant a license without a Delaware exam to an applicant holding a current good-standing license from any state, DC, or US territory whose standards are substantially similar to Delaware's (24 Del. C. 1409 electrical, 1810 plumbing, 1823 HVACR). If the other state's standards are not substantially similar, the applicant needs 5+ years of practice or must sit the Delaware exam
Additional requirements	Hold a current license in good standing in a state with substantially-similar standards (substantial-equivalence reciprocity, not a fixed state list) Submit the board application, fee, and the verified proof of licensure/experience required by 24 Del. C. 1408/1808/1821 Carry required insurance/bond as applicable
Fees	Board application fee applies; no single published reciprocity figure verified
Processing time	Not stated in statute

Step by step

Confirm Delaware's current requirements on the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Plumbing/HVACR and Refrigeration Examiners; Board of Electrical Examiners website — rules change.
Submit the endorsement application to the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Plumbing/HVACR and Refrigeration Examiners; Board of Electrical Examiners.
Arrange license verification from your current state.
Hold a current license in good standing in a state with substantially-similar standards (substantial-equivalence reciprocity, not a fixed state list).
Submit the board application, fee, and the verified proof of licensure/experience required by 24 Del. C. 1408/1808/1821.
Carry required insurance/bond as applicable.
Pay the fees (Board application fee applies; no single published reciprocity figure verified) and allow Not stated in statute.