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How to get an electrician license in Illinois

Hours, exam, fees, renewal and continuing education for Illinois, pulled from official IL sources and checked .

Quick answer
  • Licensing body: No state board: municipalities register or license electrical contractors (largest: Chicago Department of Buildings)
  • State journeyman license: No (Illinois has no state electrician license. Cities set their own rules; Chicago licenses supervising electricians and electrical contractors (see the local table below).)
  • Electrical contractor / supervising electrician (local): Set by each municipality. Chicago: age 21+ and 2 years of electrical work under a supervising electrician (or equivalent), verified by supervisor letters, to sit for the Supervising Electrician exam. See the local table.
  • Exam: see below, via Set locally (Chicago: Continental Testing Services; Aurora accepts ICC certifications)
  • Code edition: Set locally. Chicago uses the Chicago Electrical Code; Joliet lists the 2014 NEC.

Requirements by license

Electrical contractor / supervising electrician (local)

ExperienceSet by each municipality. Chicago: age 21+ and 2 years of electrical work under a supervising electrician (or equivalent), verified by supervisor letters, to sit for the Supervising Electrician exam. See the local table.Source: chicago.gov · as of
ExamSet locally (Chicago: Continental Testing Services; Aurora accepts ICC certifications). Chicago: written Supervising Electrician exam (general or low voltage); wait 6 months to reapply after a fail.Source: chicago.gov · as of · Aurora: aurora.il.us
FeesSet locally / not listedSource: chicago.gov · as of · Set by each municipality; see the local table.
RenewalSet locally. Chicago supervising electrician licenses and Rockford registrations renew every year. See the local table.Source: chicago.gov · as of · Rockford: rockfordil.gov
CE to renewSet locally. The official pages we checked (Chicago, Aurora, Joliet, Rockford) don't list a CE requirement; ask the office.Source: chicago.gov · as of

License types in Illinois

  • No state electrician license
  • Chicago: Supervising Electrician (general or low voltage) and Electrical Contractor licenses
  • Other municipalities: electrical contractor registration (state law caps the fee at $25 a year) or a local license
  • Check the local building department
Source: ilga.gov · as of · Chicago: chicago.gov

Local electrician licenses (by city)

Illinois has no state electrician license. Chicago licenses supervising electricians; most other cities register electrical contractors and some test them. We checked Chicago, Aurora, Joliet and Rockford below (Naperville and others are not covered yet); anywhere else, ask the city or village building department.

Chicago

Office: City of Chicago Department of Buildings
Licenses journeymen?No journeyman license. Electricians work under a licensed Supervising Electrician, who must perform or supervise all of an electrical contractor's work
ExperienceAge 21+. 2 years installing, altering, repairing and maintaining electrical wiring and equipment under a supervising electrician (or equivalent), verified by supervisor letters
ExamContinental Testing Services (for the Department of Buildings). open book. Open-book written exam, general or low voltage; the only reference allowed is the Chicago Electrical Code, 2018 edition. After a fail, wait 6 months to reapply
FeesExam (per exam, 2026): $150
Initial license: $150
Renewal (per year): $150
Reinstatement (per year or part expired): $100
RenewalEvery year. Valid 1 year from issuance or renewal; renew in the Department of Buildings portal. Expired 3+ years: apply for a new license
CE0 hours · No CE requirement is listed in Municipal Code ch. 4-292 or on the Department page.
NotesA licensed electrical contractor must be owned by or employ at least one licensed supervising electrician (Municipal Code of Chicago ch. 4-292).
ContactDepartment of Buildings (source)
Source: chicago.gov · as of · Exam: continentaltesting.net · Municipal Code ch. 4-292: codelibrary.amlegal.com

Aurora

Office: City of Aurora, Building & Permits (Contractor Registration)
Licenses journeymen?No journeyman license found. Electrical contractors register with the city
ExperienceNot confirmed
ExamMunicipal test, or a current ICC certification instead: Standard Master Electrician (commercial) or Standard Residential Electrician (residential)
FeesNot confirmed
RenewalNot confirmed
CENot confirmed
NotesRegistration needs the application, required testing and a certificate of insurance naming the City of Aurora as additional insured.
Still openFees; Renewal cycle; CE
ContactCity of Aurora (311) · 311 or 630-256-4636 · devservicesadmin@aurora.il.us (source)
Source: aurora.il.us · as of

Joliet

Office: City of Joliet, Building & Inspectional Services
Licenses journeymen?No journeyman license found. Electrical contractors register before a permit is issued
ExperienceNot confirmed
ExamNot confirmed
FeesContractor registration: $0
RenewalNot confirmed
CENot confirmed
NotesJoliet accepts an electrical contractor license from Chicago, Deerfield, Downers Grove, Elgin, Orland Park, Ottawa, Schaumburg, Libertyville, Woodstock, Peoria or Springfield, or a CLEC Enterprises certificate, plus a certificate of insurance and a letter of intent for each project.
Still openRenewal; CE
ContactBuilding & Inspectional Services · 815-724-4000 · permitapplication@joliet.gov (source)
Source: joliet.gov · as of

Rockford

Office: City of Rockford, Construction & Development Services
Licenses journeymen?No journeyman license found. Electrical contractors register with the city
ExperienceNot confirmed
ExamNot confirmed
FeesElectrical contractor registration (waived with a current registration from another Illinois city, village or county): $25
RenewalEvery year. Registration expires at the end of the calendar year
CENot confirmed
Still openCE
ContactConstruction & Development Services · (779) 348-7158 · CD_licenseholder@rockfordil.gov (source)
Source: rockfordil.gov · as of

Not listed? Call your city or village building department and ask whether it registers or licenses electrical contractors.

Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)

No statewide reciprocity, because Illinois issues no electrician license. Under state law, an electrical contractor registered in one Illinois municipality cannot be required to register or pay a registration fee in another (65 ILCS 5/11-33-1). Licenses are a separate matter: Joliet, for example, accepts electrical contractor licenses from a listed set of cities, and Aurora accepts ICC certifications instead of its own test.Source: ilga.gov · as of · Joliet: joliet.gov · Aurora: aurora.il.us

What we couldn't confirm yet

We only publish what we can tie to an official source. These items aren't published anywhere we could verify, so ask the office listed:

  • Naperville, Springfield, Peoria and other cities we didn't check: whether they license electricians or only register contractors.
    Ask: Your city or village building department (contact source, as of )

FAQ

Does Illinois have a state electrician license?

No. Illinois has no state electrician license; state law only lets each municipality register electrical contractors for up to $25 a year, and cities such as Chicago set their own licenses.

How do you become a supervising electrician in Chicago?

Chicago requires you to be at least 21 with 2 years of electrical work under a supervising electrician or equivalent, verified by supervisor letters, and to pass a written exam given by Continental Testing Services for the Department of Buildings.

Does Chicago license journeyman electricians?

No. Chicago licenses supervising electricians and electrical contractors; other electricians work under the supervision of a licensed supervising electrician.

Does Illinois have electrician license reciprocity?

There is no statewide license reciprocity. Under state law, an electrical contractor registered in one Illinois municipality cannot be required to register or pay a registration fee in another.

Already licensed? See Illinois electrician license renewal & CE requirements.

Other states

Compare every state side by side: license requirements by state · renewal & CE by state.