- The DE-ME exam is 80 questions, 3 hours, open book, with a 75% passing score.
- Total cost before books and insurance runs $303: $100 Prov exam fee plus $203 Board application fee.
- General Electrical Knowledge is the largest of the 10 domains - anchor your review there first.
- Board approval through DELPROS must happen before you can schedule with Prov.
Quick Facts at a Glance
This page is a condensed, print-friendly reference for the Delaware Master Electrician License Exam (DE-ME). It's built for candidates who already understand the basics and just need the numbers, rules, and domain weights in one place before test day. If you haven't yet worked through the full mechanics of eligibility and scoring, the DE-ME Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt is the better starting point - come back here once you're in review mode.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| License | Master Electrician (distinct from Master Electrician Special and Limited Electrician) |
| Questions | 80, computer-administered |
| Time limit | 3 hours |
| Format | Open book |
| Passing score | 75% |
| Approval gateway | DELPROS (before scheduling) |
Registration & Fees Snapshot
Budgeting matters here because the licensing cost is split between two separate parties, not one flat exam fee. The Prov examination fee is $100. The Board application fee is $203. Combined, that's $303 before you factor in reference books, liability insurance, and any prep resources. For a full line-item cost picture, see DE-ME Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Key Takeaway
Pay the Board application fee and secure DELPROS approval first - Prov scheduling only opens after that approval is on file.
Eligibility Routes Recap
Delaware recognizes multiple paths to sit for the Master exam, and each one requires matching verification paperwork. Getting this wrong is one of the most common reasons candidates get delayed at the DELPROS approval stage, not at the exam itself.
- Six-year route: Six years of full-time experience working under a licensed Master electrician.
- Apprenticeship route: An approved apprenticeship totaling 8,000 supervised work hours plus 576 instructional hours, or other Board-approved training.
- Blended route: Four years under a licensed Master combined with two years of technical training.
Whichever route applies to you, supervisor verification and education verification documents must match it exactly. Also note: any Delaware experience earned after June 30, 2012 only counts if it was performed under an appropriate apprentice or journeyperson license. For the full documentation checklist, review DE-ME Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Exam Format Cheat Sheet
The DE-ME exam is open book, computer-administered, and timed at 3 hours for 80 questions - that's a little over 2 minutes per question on average, which is generous if you know where to find things in your references but punishing if you're flipping pages blindly. This is exactly why tab organization matters as much as content knowledge. If you're still gauging how tough this exam actually is relative to your background, read How Hard Is the DE-ME Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026.
Passing requires 75% correct. There's no partial credit for domain-level performance - it's an overall score against the full 80-question set. For the exact scoring mechanics and how the Board defines a passing result, see DE-ME Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Open book does not mean easy. It means the exam expects you to navigate the NEC and reference handbooks quickly under time pressure, not that questions are simpler.
Domain Breakdown
The 80 questions are distributed across ten domains, each with an official allocation. General Electrical Knowledge is the largest single domain, which makes it the highest-leverage area for review time. Below is a condensed look at each domain and what candidates typically need to nail down. For deep coverage of every domain with sample topics, see DE-ME Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 10 Content Areas.
Domain 1: General Electrical Knowledge
The largest domain on the exam. Covers foundational code concepts, definitions, and general application principles that show up across every other domain.
- Prioritize this domain first since it carries the most weight
Domain 2: Plan Reading
Tests the ability to interpret electrical drawings, symbols, and specifications as they'd appear on a real job site.
- Practice reading load schedules and panel schedules quickly
Domain 3: Equipment for General Use
Covers switches, receptacles, panelboards, and other general-use equipment requirements.
- Know listing, labeling, and installation clearance requirements
Domain 4: Wiring & Protection
Overcurrent protection, grounding and bonding, and circuit protection fundamentals.
- Be fluent in locating overcurrent and grounding tables fast
Domain 5: Wiring Methods & Materials
Conductor types, raceway systems, box and enclosure sizing, and installation methods.
- Memorize where box-fill and conduit-fill tables live in your code book
Domain 6: Motors & Controls
Motor circuit conductors, overload protection, and control circuit requirements.
- Practice motor calculation problems under time pressure
Domain 7: Special Conditions
Emergency systems, standby power, and related special-condition installations.
- Tab the emergency and legally required standby systems sections
Domain 8: Special Equipment
Equipment like signs, cranes, welders, and other specialized installations.
- Focus on the specific article requirements rather than general theory
Domain 9: Special Occupancies
Hazardous locations, health care facilities, and other occupancy-specific rules.
- Classification systems for hazardous locations deserve extra review time
Domain 10: Communication Systems
Low-voltage and communication circuit requirements distinct from power wiring.
- Usually the smallest domain - review last but don't skip it
Approved References & Materials
According to Prov's June 24, 2025 bulletin, the reference set includes the 2020 NEC, the American Electricians' Handbook 17th edition, and Ugly's Electrical References 2020. However, Delaware adopted the 2023 NEC effective January 1, 2026, and the Board specifies the most recently adopted NEC for examinations. This means the assigned code edition can shift - always verify Prov's currently assigned exam-book edition before you buy anything.
Scheduling, Test Day & Retakes
Once DELPROS approval is granted, you can schedule your session through Prov. Both test-center appointments and Examroom remote appointments are available, so choose based on your comfort with remote proctoring versus an in-person setting. Details on booking windows and deadlines are covered in DE-ME Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
If you don't pass on the first attempt, retakes are available after a minimum seven-day interval. Use that week purposefully - go back to your missed-question patterns rather than re-reading everything cover to cover. If you want context on how other candidates typically perform, DE-ME Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows covers what's publicly known.
Renewal & CE Rules
Delaware Master Electrician licenses expire on June 30 in even-numbered years. A full renewal cycle requires 10 approved continuing education hours. Starting with your second renewal, at least 5 of those hours must specifically address the NEC. If your first license falls mid-cycle, first-renewal proration applies, so your initial CE requirement may be lower than a full cycle.
Throughout your license period, you must also maintain the $300,000 general liability insurance - it isn't a one-time issuance requirement, it's an ongoing condition of holding the license.
Key Takeaway
Track your renewal date the moment you're licensed. Missing the June 30 even-year deadline creates avoidable paperwork and potential lapses in your ability to work.
Last-Week Review Plan
In the final stretch before your scheduled date, structure your remaining hours around domain weight rather than trying to re-study everything equally. This is the one place a simple weekly framework helps - but only as it applies to DE-ME's actual domain list.
General Electrical Knowledge & Plan Reading
- Drill the largest domain first since it carries the most questions
- Practice reading unfamiliar plan sets against a timer
Wiring & Protection, Wiring Methods & Materials
- Rehearse locating overcurrent and box-fill tables in your tabbed code book
- Redo any calculation problems you missed in practice
Motors & Controls, Special Conditions, Special Equipment
- Focus on article-specific requirements over general theory
- Confirm your tabs are permanent, not removable
Special Occupancies & Communication Systems, Light Review
- Skim hazardous location classifications
- Confirm your Prov appointment details, ID, and materials list
For a broader look at how this fits into overall exam readiness, the DE-ME Study Guide walks through a longer-range plan, and you can practice full-length simulations on the main practice test platform before locking in your test date.
If you're still deciding whether pursuing this license is worth the time and cost involved, Is the DE-ME Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lays out the tradeoffs. And if you landed on this page without a clear picture of what the credential actually represents, start with What Is DE-ME? or DE-ME Certification for the fundamentals before returning to this cheat sheet for exam-day specifics. You can also run timed practice sets on the practice test homepage to see how your pacing holds up against the 3-hour, 80-question format.
FAQ
Yes. It's computer-administered, open book, 80 questions, with a 3-hour time limit and a 75% passing score.
The Prov exam fee is $100 and the Board application fee is $203, totaling $303 before books, insurance, and other prep costs.
Prov's June 24, 2025 bulletin lists the 2020 NEC, but Delaware adopted the 2023 NEC effective January 1, 2026, and the Board uses the most recently adopted edition. Always verify Prov's currently assigned exam-book edition before purchasing.
Yes, retakes are available after a minimum seven-day waiting period from your previous attempt.
Yes. Board approval through DELPROS is required before you can schedule an appointment with Prov, whether at a test center or via Examroom remote proctoring.