Master Plumber
Master Plumber · State license · Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners (Division of Professional Regulation)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Continuing education
- 5 hours
Show CE rules
Biennial cycle. First renewal depends on issue date: licensed on/after 11/1 of even year but before 11/1 of odd year = 3 hrs; on/after 11/1 of odd year but before 7/1 of even year = 0 hrs; on/after 7/1 through 11/1 of even year = 5 hrs. All subsequent renewals = 5 hrs unless holding dual licenses (see Board Regulation Section 5.0, clarified for the 2026 renewal). Courses must be Board-approved (provider course approval via DELPROS Service Request, $45). Licensee enters CE in the DELPROS CE Tracker; upload certificates only if selected for random audit (Reg Section 9.0). - Deadline rule
- Expires October 31 of even-numbered years (next: October 31, 2026). Renewal notice emailed a few months before; renew online in DELPROS.
Show fees, grace period, bond and insuranceHide fees, grace period, bond and insurance
- Grace period
- None. Board states the late period is not a grace period: it is illegal to practice until the license is actually renewed.
Fees, approximate
- Renewal fee
- Check the official site for the fee.
- Late fee
Show the details (amounts are approximate)
Late fee = 50% of the renewal fee, in addition to the renewal fee, when renewal is submitted after expiration. Late renewal accepted in DELPROS up to one year after expiration.- Reinstatement
Show the details (amounts are approximate)
If not renewed within one year after expiration, the license terminates and the holder must reapply in DELPROS as a new applicant. Inactive status may be requested (Service Request, about $45) before the late period ends (October 31 of odd years) and lasts up to 5 years; reactivate via Service Request in DELPROS; after 5 years license terminates.
Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.
Why approximate?
Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.
- Bond
- Not required
- Insurance
- Not required
- Reciprocity
- Reciprocity for current Master license in another jurisdiction. CT, IA, MD: substantially similar, no experience proof. AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, MI, NH, NJ, NC, OH, RI, SC, VA, WV: not substantially similar, require proof of 7 years practice after Master licensure. Other states evaluated by Board (submit that jurisdiction's law/regs). Pennsylvania municipal-only licenses do not qualify.
Notes
Renewal fee not published (shown in DELPROS at renewal; application fee $173). Scope: water supply and waste piping, and may install/connect gas piping. Statute: 24 Del. C. s.1812 (biennial renewal, CE as established by Board). Local governments may add plumbing codes/permits (s.1832). Statute: the Division sets each fee to reflect the Board's costs and recomputes fees at the start of each two-year licensure period, which is why the renewal amount is only displayed in DELPROS at renewal (24 Del. C. s.1811 plumbing; s.1824 HVACR).
Sources (10)
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/fees/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/renew/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/continuing-education-and-audit-information/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/hvacrlicensure/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/newlicense/
- https://dpr.delaware.gov/boards/plumbers/faqs/
- https://delcode.delaware.gov/title24/c018/sc02/index.html
- https://delcode.delaware.gov/title24/c018/sc03/index.html
- https://delcode.delaware.gov/title24/c018/sc04/index.html