Illinois plumber license requirements
7 facts reviewed by our editor against the official page. Passages marked “not yet reviewed” are copied word-for-word from official state pages (fetched 2026-10-17) and are pending human review — read them in context on the linked source.
| Item | Detail (with quote from the official source) |
|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Contractor license Illinois Department of Public Health licenses plumbers, plumbing contractors and apprentices. “Under the Illinois Plumbing License Law (225 ILCS 320), the Department licenses plumbers, plumbing contractors, plumbers’ apprentices, irrigation contractors and retired plumbers.” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Plumbing |
| License levels | Individual worker license Apprentice plumbers must be at least 16 and sponsored by an Illinois licensed plumber or approved program. “Individuals must be at least 16 years old, complete the “” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Plumbing |
| Experience / hours | Individual worker license Plumber exam: at least 4 years as a licensed apprentice plumber plus 2 years of high school or equivalent. “Applicants must have been employed as a licensed apprentice plumber for a minimum of 4 years, and have successfully completed at least 2 years of high school or equivalent” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Plumbing |
| Renewal | Individual worker license Plumber licenses must be renewed by April 30. “Plumber licenses must be renewed by April 30th following the date of issuance via the online renewal page.” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Plumbing |
| Local (city/county) licensing | City-level rule (Chicago, IL) Chicago requires a City plumbing contractor license even for State-licensed plumbing contractors. “A plumbing contractor licensed by the State of Illinois must also obtain a City of Chicago plumbing contractor license” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · chi_plumbing_contractor.pdf City-level rule (Chicago, IL) Chicago plumbing contractor licenses are issued by the Board of Plumbing Examiners. “Plumbing contractor licenses are issued by the Board of Plumbing Examiners through the Department of Buildings.” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · chi_plumbing_contractor.pdf |
| Other notes | Contractor registration Plumbing contractors must register with the state and pay an annual fee. “All plumbing contractors must register with the state and pay an annual fee.” Official source · verified 2026-10-17 · Plumbing |
Check a license in Illinois
Illinois does not publish a bulk license file we use; check with the licensing authority’s own search (see sources).
Questions to ask the board
- Which license level matches my experience, and do hours from another jurisdiction count?
- Is the exam open-book, and which code edition is used?
- Do I also need a city or county license where I will work?
- Is there a reciprocity or endorsement agreement with my current jurisdiction?
Sources checked: dph.illinois.gov · www.chicago.gov