- With a journeyman certificate from a federally approved plumbing apprenticeship, at least two years of work under a master licensee after the certificate. Without one, at least seven years of work under a master licensee.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every two years, with continuing education. After your first renewal you owe 5 hours each renewal. Late renewals add a late fee of 50 percent of the renewal fee.
Do you need a state license in Delaware?
Delaware licenses plumbing 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 plumbing work
Delaware splits the work into 2 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 Plumber | Water supply and drainage pipes, fixtures and apparatus in a building, plus gas piping |
| Temporary Plumber | Temporary plumber license listed by the board |
Steps to get licensed in Delaware
- Get a journeyman certificate through a federally approved plumbing apprenticeship, or build seven years of work under a master licensee.
- Create a DELPROS account, apply, and pay the $173 application fee.
- Have your supervisors send Verification of Employment forms to the board.
- If you have no journeyman certificate, pass the Apprenticeship By-Pass exam with at least 70 percent once the board approves you.
- Take the Master exam through ProV after board approval.
- Get a Delaware business license from the Division of Revenue, and renew your plumbing license every two years with the required continuing education.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. With a journeyman certificate from a federally approved plumbing apprenticeship, at least two years of work under a master licensee after the certificate. Without one, at least seven years of work under a master licensee.
The license to apply for. Master Plumber.
Delaware plumbing exams
Trade exam. Yes. The board must approve you, then you take the Master exam through ProV. Without a journeyman certificate you first pass the Apprenticeship By-Pass exam through ABC Delaware. Passing score is 70 percent.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Delaware
The board lists 2 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 |
|---|---|
| Plumber application fee | $173 |
| Temporary plumber or HVACR | $40 |
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, with continuing education. After your first renewal you owe 5 hours each renewal. Late renewals add a late fee of 50 percent of the renewal fee.
Reciprocity. Holders of a current Master Plumber license in Connecticut, Iowa or Maryland do not need to prove experience. Applicants licensed in several other states, including Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia and DC, must show seven years as a licensed master.
Good to know in Delaware
- Heating, air conditioning, refrigeration or ventilation work, including gas piping for those systems, needs a Master HVACR or Master HVACR Restricted license in addition to the Master Plumber license.
- Pennsylvania does not issue state plumbing licenses, so applicants holding only a Pennsylvania municipal license must apply by exam.
- 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 a plumber 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 plumbing companies run on Koira.