Contractor License from Ohio to Delaware: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Plumbing/HVACR and Refrigeration Examiners; Board of Electrical Examiners ↗
A contractor license transfers from Ohio to Delaware by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Plumbing/HVACR and Refrigeration Examiners; Board of Electrical Examiners, verify your Ohio license, and meet Delaware's endorsement requirements. 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.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Delaware does not have a trade agreement covering Ohio for the selected trade, so this move runs on Delaware's case-by-case endorsement process. If you do commercial general-building work, check whether Delaware accepts the NASCLA exam — passing it once can replace the trade exam here and in about fourteen other states. Electricians should check Delaware's NERA status.
What changes, Ohio → Delaware
| Ohio (current) | Delaware (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $25 ($25 reciprocity application fee per trade applied for) | Board application fee applies; no single published reciprocity figure verified |
| Processing time | Board does not publish a stated processing time | Not stated in statute |
| Licensing authority | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) — Division of Industrial Compliance, Ohio Dept. of Commerce | Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Plumbing/HVACR and Refrigeration Examiners; Board of Electrical Examiners |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Delaware sets the rules for this move.
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 (linked below) — 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.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Delaware accept a Ohio contractor license?
A contractor license transfers from Ohio to Delaware by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Plumbing/HVACR and Refrigeration Examiners; Board of Electrical Examiners, verify your Ohio license, and meet Delaware's endorsement requirements. 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.
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
Delaware's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the Ohio-to-Delaware move cost and how long does it take?
Board application fee applies; no single published reciprocity figure verified; processing Not stated in statute.
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether Delaware is one on the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation - Board of Plumbing/HVACR and Refrigeration Examiners; Board of Electrical Examiners site.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- 24 Del. C. Ch. 18 Sec. 1810 (Plumbing Reciprocity) and Sec. 1823 (HVACR Reciprocity) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 24 Del. C. Ch. 14 Sec. 1409 (Electrical Reciprocity) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- OCILB — Contractors & Contracting Companies (Reciprocity with Other States; $25/trade fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- OCILB — About OCILB (state licensing of commercial Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Hydronics, Refrigeration contractors) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Ohio eLicense — license verification portal ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]