- With a journeyman certificate from a federally approved apprenticeship, two years under a master licensee after the certificate. Without one, seven years under a master licensee.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every two years. After the first renewal, 5 hours of continuing education per renewal. Late renewals carry a 50 percent late fee.
Do you need a state license in Delaware?
Delaware licenses HVAC work at the state level through the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
Delaware license types for HVAC work
Delaware splits the work into 3 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Master HVACR | Heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, ventilation and process heating or cooling, including gas piping |
| Master HVACR Restricted | One specialty only: forced air heating, hydronic heating, commercial hood systems, refrigeration, air conditioning, or gas piping |
| Temporary HVACR | Temporary plumber or HVACR license listed by the board |
Steps to get licensed in Delaware
- Get a journeyman certificate through a federally approved HVACR apprenticeship, or build seven years of work under a master licensee.
- Get your CFC refrigerant certification card if you will apply for Master HVACR or a refrigeration or air conditioning restricted license.
- Apply in DELPROS with Verification of Employment forms and pay the $173 fee.
- If you have no journeyman certificate, pass the ABC Delaware by-pass exam with at least 70 percent, then take the Master exam when the board approves you.
- Get a Delaware business license from the Division of Revenue.
- Renew every two years with the required continuing education, 5 hours after the first renewal.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. With a journeyman certificate from a federally approved apprenticeship, two years under a master licensee after the certificate. Without one, seven years under a master licensee.
The license to apply for. Master HVACR.
Delaware HVAC exams
Trade exam. Yes. Applicants take the board Master exam. Applicants without a journeyman certificate first take the Apprenticeship By-Pass Exam from ABC Delaware and must pass it with at least 70 percent.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Separate from any state license, the EPA requires Section 608 certification for anyone who works on equipment with refrigerant. It is federal and applies in every state.
What it costs in Delaware
The board lists 4 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Master HVACR application | $173 |
| Master Restricted HVACR application | $173 |
| Temporary HVACR | $40 |
| Commercial hood system exam | $50 |
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every two years. After the first renewal, 5 hours of continuing education per renewal. Late renewals carry a 50 percent late fee.
Reciprocity. Holders of a current master license in Connecticut, Iowa or Maryland do not need to prove experience. Applicants from several other states, including Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia and the District of Columbia, must show seven years as a licensed master.
Good to know in Delaware
- A copy of your CFC certification card is required for Master HVACR and for the refrigeration and air conditioning restricted licenses.
- Homeowners doing HVACR work other than gas piping on their own home, not for sale or rent, are exempt.
- Contractors also need a Delaware business license from the Division of Revenue.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for HVAC repair near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how HVAC companies run on Koira.