How to Get Your Illinois Plumbing License

If getting licensed as a plumber in Illinois is what you want, then you are at the right place to know how to do it. Here, you will find all details, such as requirements, costs, exams, and the process so that you can start your plumbing journey in Illinois easily.

To learn how to get an Illinois plumbing license, continue reading this blog, as it contains a complete process. 

Who Provides Plumbing Licenses in Illinois?

There are two departments in Illinois authorized to provide a plumbing license in this state:

1. Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)

• Official website: Click here
• Telephone: 217-524-0791
• Address: 525 W. Jefferson St., 3rd Floor Springfield, IL 62761

2. Department of Buildings, City of Chicago

• Official website: Click here
• Phone: 312-744-3449
• Address: 121 N. LaSalle St. Room 900 Chicago, IL 60602

IDPH and City of Chicago reciprocity details

Note that getting licensed as a plumber by any one of these boards doesn’t mean that you are allowed to provide plumbing services in the whole of Illinois.

• An IDPH-issued plumbing license is valid in Chicago, given that you work under a Chicago plumbing contractor.

• If you are a Chicago licensed plumber, you need to submit a completed reciprocity application along with the required documents and a $150 license fee to the IDPH for providing plumbing services outside of Chicago.

What are the Types of Plumbing Licenses in Illinois?

These are the types of plumbing licenses in Illinois:

• Apprentice plumber license

  Being in a plumbing apprenticeship means that you are learning the trade under the guidance and supervision of a licensed plumber.

• Plumber license (Also called journeyman plumber in Chicago)

  Upon getting the required experience and passing the exam, you can move up to get licensed as a plumber. This allows you to provide plumbing services without having to supervise you.

• Plumbing contractor license

  This license is for those who want to start their own plumbing business. So if you are looking to take plumbing contracts from clients, you need to have a contractor’s license.

• Retired plumber license (Provided only by IDPH)

  Retired plumber license is for licensed plumbers over the age of 62. This license helps you to take a break from providing plumbing services without getting your license expired.

It also saves you money from having to pay a $150 license renewal fee. A retired plumber license will cost you only $25 a year.

What are the Requirements to Get an Illinois Plumbing License?

1. For the Illinois state plumbing license

Here are the requirements you need to fulfill for getting a plumbing license issued by IDPH:

A) Apprentice plumber

• Be at least 16 years of age.
• Submit a completed apprentice plumber license form.
• Verify on the application that you are sponsored by a licensed Illinois plumber.
• Pay the required license fee of $100.

B) Plumber

To get your plumber’s license in Illinois, you need to pass its exam. Check out its eligibility criteria. If you are:

• Illinois licensed apprentice plumber
  • 4 years of experience as an Illinois licensed apprentice plumber under the supervision of a licensed plumber.
  • Minimum of 1400 hours of work experience per year, which totals to 5600 hours in the 4 years.

• Illinois licensed apprentice plumber with training/education
  • 2 years of experience as an Illinois licensed apprentice plumber under the supervision of a licensed plumber.
  • 2 years spent in approved plumbing courses.
  • Minimum total hours (practical + plumbing course) should be 5600.

• Licensed apprentice in another state or territory of the United States
  • Equivalent of 4 years of plumbing apprentice experience under the supervision of a licensed plumber in any other US state.

C) Plumbing contractor

Here are the registration requirements you need to meet upon submitting a completed application to become a plumbing contractor:

• Business registered as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation.
• A person having a plumbing license – you, your partner, or your employee.
• Certificate of Insurance – Per occurrence: $100,000 general liability, $300,000 bodily injury, $50,000 property damage, and $500,000 workers’ compensation.
• Pay the registration fee.
• A surety/indemnification bond of $20,000 or a letter of credit in the same amount.

D) Retired plumber

• Have an Illinois plumber license.
• Submit a completed retired plumber application.
• Must be at least 62 years of age.
• Must voluntarily submit the plumbing license in exchange for a retired plumber license.

2. For the Chicago plumbing license

Here are the requirements that you need to fulfill for getting a plumbing license issued by the City of Chicago:

A) Apprentice plumber

• Be at least 16 years old.
• Get a letter from a licensed plumbing contractor or from an officer of an approved plumbing apprenticeship program stating that you will receive training under the supervision of a licensed plumber.
• Apply online for an apprentice license.
• Pay the license fee of $15.

B) Plumber/Journeyman

To get your journeyman plumbing exam, you need to pass its written and practical exams. Check out its eligibility criteria:

• Be at least 21 years old.
• Get 4 years of plumbing experience as an apprentice.
  OR
  Successfully complete an approved course of instruction in plumbing, sanitary engineering, or plumbing engineering from a trade school, college, or university.

C) Plumbing contractor

A plumbing contractor license is issued to a registered business with a Chicago-licensed plumber. Thus, you need to register your plumbing business as any of these:

Business structure	Who needs to be a Chicago licensed plumber?
Sole Proprietorship	You
Firm, Association, or Partnership	At least one member
Corporation	At least one corporate officer

Upon doing this, you need to:

• Apply online for a plumbing contractor license which must be filed by the plumber licensed by the City of Chicago.
• File a $20000 performance bond payable to the City of Chicago with the City Clerk.
• Pay the initial license fee of $100.

What are the Costs Involved For a Plumbing License in Illinois?

Here are the plumbing costs that you will need to bear when applying through IDPH:

License type	Exam fee	License fee	Renewal fee
Apprentice	–	$100	$100
Plumber If you are a licensed as an apprentice plumber in Illinois If you are licensed as a plumber in the city of Chicago or any other US state	$175 $225	$150	$150
Retired plumber	–	$25	$25
Contractor	–	$150	$150

Here are the plumbing costs that you will need to bear when applying for a Chicago plumbing license:

License type	Exam fee	License fee	Renewal fee
Apprentice	–	$15	$15
Journeyman	$149	$30	$30
Contractor	–	$100	$60

License renewal and continuing education details

• IDPH
  All plumber licenses expire on 30 April each year, except initial licenses issued after 15 February, which shall expire one year after the next 30 April.
  To renew your license, you must complete 4 hours of continuing education.

• City of Chicago
  Plumbing licenses issued by the City of Chicago expires one year after the date of issuance or renewal. You must complete 4 hours of continuing education every year to renew your license.

Illinois Plumbing Exams Details

• IDPH plumbing exam

  The plumbing exam conducted by IDPH consists of 3 sections:
  1. Knowledge assessment
  2. Construction drawings and plans
  3. Practical application assessment

The maximum grade point for each part will be 100. You need to get an average score of 75 and a minimum score of 61 in all 3 sections to pass the exam.

• Chicago plumbing exam

  The Chicago plumbing exam conducted by Continental Testing is divided into 2 parts:
  1. Written
  2. Practical

You must pass the written exam first to be able to give the practical exam. The duration for the written exam is 3 hours, and you need to get at least 70% to clear it. Here is its syllabus:

Topics	Percentage of questions
Plumbing theory, practices, and job safety	20%
Code requirements for plumbers and contractors	2%
Plumbing systems	44%
Rehabilitation requirements	5%
Drawings, charts, & plans	8%
Cutting and assembling plumbing system components	12%
Troubleshooting, maintenance and repairs	10%

Steps to Get Your Illinois Plumbing License

Follow these steps to get your plumbing license in Illinois.

• Step 1: Be at least 16 years of age and complete 2 years of high school (requirements may vary for different apprentice programs).
• Step 2: Decide which plumbing license you want – State plumbing license issued by IDPH
  OR
  Plumbing license issued by the City of Chicago.
• Step 3: Find a sponsor/employer or enroll in an authority-approved apprenticeship program.
• Step 4: Apply for an apprentice plumber’s license – IDPH or City of Chicago.
• Step 5: Get 4 years of plumbing experience as per the above-stated requirements (refer to the requirements section).
• Step 6: Apply for a plumbing license examination – IDPH or City of Chicago – and pass the examination.
• Step 7: Congratulations. Now you are a licensed plumber.
• Step 8: Register your plumbing business as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation.
• Step 9: Get the prerequisites such as bond and/or insurance.
• Step 10: Apply for a plumbing contractor license – IDPH or City of Chicago.
• Step 11: Congratulations. Now you are a licensed plumbing contractor.

Remember: You don’t need to have a plumber’s license to become a plumbing contractor from any of the two boards. You just need a business partner, member, or officer who is a licensed plumber.

Conclusion

So, now, you are ready to start your plumbing journey in Illinois as you have got a roadmap that you can follow. Thus, if you are new to the plumbing trade, start by joining an apprenticeship program and move up from there to be a licensed plumber.

Pro tip: Aim to become a plumbing contractor and start your plumbing business to earn more.