Illinois HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical License Requirements
Last updated 2026. Requirements may change — always verify with your state licensing board.
- Renewal
- Varies by municipality
- CE hours
- Varies by municipality
- Initial cost
- Varies by municipality
- License types
- None at state level — local licenses required
- Experience
- Varies by municipality
- Exam
- Varies by municipality
- Bond
- Varies by municipality
- Insurance
- Workers' comp required with employees under state law
- Reciprocity
- N/A — local licensing applies
- Board
- No statewide licensing authority
- Notes
- Local jurisdictions issue licenses
- Renewal
- Annual
- CE hours
- 4 hours per renewal
- Initial cost
- ~$300
- License types
- Apprentice → Journeyman → Master → Plumbing Contractor
- Experience
- 5 years for journeyman
- Exam
- State plumbing exam
- Bond
- Not required at state level
- Insurance
- Workers' comp required with employees; general liability recommended
- Reciprocity
- No formal reciprocity — verify with board
- Board
- Illinois Department of Public Health — Plumbing Program
- Renewal
- Varies by municipality
- CE hours
- Varies by municipality
- Initial cost
- Varies by municipality
- License types
- None at state level — local licenses required
- Experience
- Varies by municipality
- Exam
- Varies by municipality
- Bond
- Varies by municipality
- Insurance
- Workers' comp required with employees under state law
- Reciprocity
- N/A — local licensing applies
- Board
- No statewide licensing authority
- Notes
- Local jurisdictions issue licenses
Illinois is a split-licensing state. Plumbing is regulated at the state level by the Illinois Department of Public Health, which licenses apprentices, journeymen, masters, and plumbing contractors. HVAC and electrical contractors are licensed locally only — Chicago, Cook County suburbs, and other municipalities each set their own requirements.
Chicago has extensive local licensing for HVAC (Mechanical Contractor) and electrical (Electrical Contractor and Electrical Supervisor) — multiple cards may be required for a single Chicago project. If you work across the Chicagoland area you may need separate credentials in Chicago, Cook County suburbs, Aurora, Naperville, and other municipalities.
TradesIQ tracks Illinois license renewals, CE hours, bonds, and insurance certificates in one dashboard — with automated reminders before anything lapses.
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Renewal cycles, CE hours, fees, and licensing board links.
Illinois
Full Illinois guide →- Renewal
- Varies by municipality
- CE
- Varies by municipality
- Cost
- Varies by municipality
- Board
- No statewide licensing authority
- Renewal
- Annual
- CE
- 4 hours per renewal
- Cost
- ~$300
- Board
- Illinois Department of Public Health — Plumbing Program
- Renewal
- Varies by municipality
- CE
- Varies by municipality
- Cost
- Varies by municipality
- Board
- No statewide licensing authority
Requirements may change. Always verify with your state licensing board.