SPEC SHEET · IL · ELECTRICIAN
Illinois electrician license requirements
The answer
Illinois has NO statewide electrician license — the state's professions code (225 ILCS) licenses plumbers but not electricians. Licensing is municipal: Chicago licenses Supervising Electricians and registers electrical contractors, and many suburbs and cities run their own registration or licensing. Union (IBEW) and non-union apprenticeships are the standard training path.Your paths to the license
Apprenticeship (the standard route)
Complete an IBEW/JATC or independent (ABC, IEC) electrical apprenticeship — typically 4–5 years of paid on-the-job training plus classroom hours. This is the credential Illinois employers hire on.
City licensing to pull permits
To contract or pull permits, check your city: Chicago requires a Supervising Electrician license (exam-based) for electrical contractors; many suburbs require contractor registration. Requirements and fees vary city to city.
Moving in from a licensing state
There is no Illinois state license to transfer TO — your out-of-state license mainly helps you demonstrate experience to employers and to municipal licensing boards.
License levels in Illinois
| Level | What it takes | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / trainee | No state registration; train through an IBEW or ABC/IEC apprenticeship or on the job. | — |
| Journeyman (industry-recognized) | 'Journeyman' status comes from your apprenticeship program or union classification, not a state license. | — |
| Municipal license/registration (e.g. Chicago Supervising Electrician) | Required by many cities to pull permits; requirements vary by municipality. | — |
Published fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Municipal license/registration fees | Vary by city — check the city where you'll work |
The exam
| Provider | Municipal (e.g. Chicago's Supervising Electrician exam) |
| Fees | Set by each municipality |
Moving here with a license? Renewal? The rest of the picture
Reciprocity: Not applicable — no state license exists. Some municipalities recognize each other's supervising-electrician exams. Check your exact state pair →
Renewal & continuing education: Municipal rules vary.
Watch out: Always check the municipality before bidding work — Chicago and many suburbs enforce local licensing. · An Illinois background does not transfer automatically to states WITH licensing — most will evaluate your documented hours.
Official sources for this page
Illinois electrician licensing FAQ
How many hours do you need to become a licensed electrician in Illinois?
Illinois has no statewide electrician license, so there is no state hour requirement — training runs through apprenticeships (typically 4–5 years) and any licensing happens at the city/county level.
What does the Illinois electrician license cost?
Set by each municipality. Fee amounts are published on the current official application — see the sources below.
Does Illinois have electrician license reciprocity?
Not applicable — no state license exists. Some municipalities recognize each other's supervising-electrician exams.
How often does the license renew?
Municipal rules vary.
Get your personal route
Four questions — your experience and training matched against Illinois's actual routes.