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How to become a plumber in Delaware

The license steps in Delaware, from apprentice to master or contractor, taken from the official licensing pages – plus pay, apprenticeships and where to apply.

The short answer

Delaware issues only a state Master Plumber license: finish an approved apprenticeship and work at least two more years under a master (or show seven years under a master and pass an apprenticeship by-pass exam), then pass the board's master exam; licenses renew every two years with 5 CE hours.

The steps in Delaware

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    The official pages we checked do not set out a separate apprentice registration in Delaware. Most plumbers still start in an apprenticeship – see below. Ask the licensing office for the current rule.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    The official pages we checked do not describe a statewide journeyman license in Delaware. Ask the licensing office for the current rule.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    Apprenticeship graduates need at least two years of work under a licensed master plumber after their certificate before applying for the master plumber license, and the board must approve them to sit for the master exam.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    Delaware plumbing licenses expire October 31 of even-numbered years, and after the first renewal each renewal requires 5 hours of continuing education.

Who licenses plumbers in Delaware

Delaware Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation). License types we found: Master Plumber.

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on delpros.delaware.gov.

Licensed in another state?

Master plumbers licensed in Connecticut, Iowa or Maryland can apply by reciprocity without submitting proof of experience; licensees from other states must show at least seven years of practice as a master.

Finding an apprenticeship

Most plumbers learn the trade through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus classroom instruction, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeships are paid jobs with progressive wage increases, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential; programs are approved by the Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. Search programs at apprenticeship.gov, or ask local plumbing contractors and union locals.

Pay and job outlook

$63,800

Median yearly pay for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025 (BLS).

7%

Projected job growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 42,000 openings a year (BLS).

4-5 years

Typical apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year (BLS).

National figures from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook; pay varies by state and city.

Already a plumber in Delaware?

18 plumbing businesses are listed on Plumbers Pages so far. Add your business free, or see plumbers in Delaware.

Sources

Requirements come from Delaware’s official licensing pages and statutes, checked October 2026. Rules change – confirm with the licensing office before you apply.

  1. dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/newlicense/
  2. dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/renew/
  3. dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbing/
  4. delcode.delaware.gov/title24/c018/
  5. delcode.delaware.gov/title24/c018/sc02/index.html
  6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  7. U.S. Department of Labor – Apprenticeship.gov for career seekers

General information, not legal advice. All states · How we write our guides

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