Illinois Electrical License Requirements
Illinois is one of a handful of states with no statewide electrician license — like New York, licensing is municipal, and Chicago’s two-tier system is the one most searches are really asking about.
- Why there’s no statewide license
- Quick facts — Chicago
- Steps to get licensed in Chicago
- Outside Chicago
- Penalty for unlicensed work in Chicago
- FAQ
Why there’s no statewide license
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) does not license electricians at any level — its list of regulated professions doesn’t include “electrician” at all, unlike roofing contractors, which IDFPR does license statewide. Electrical licensing in Illinois is left entirely to local governments, city by city and county by county. Chicago runs the largest and most-searched licensing system in the state, through its Department of Buildings (DOB), so this page focuses on Chicago’s requirements, with a separate note on the rest of the state.
Quick facts — Chicago
| Regulator | City of Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB) |
|---|---|
| Individual license | Supervising Electrician License — Chicago doesn’t use the terms “journeyman” or “master electrician” |
| Business license | Electrical Contractor License (General, or Low Voltage for Class 1–3 remote-control, signaling, and communications circuits only), required for any business performing electrical work, built on employing at least one licensed Supervising Electrician |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Experience | At least 2 years installing, altering, repairing, or maintaining electrical wiring/equipment, verified by supervisor letters |
| Exam administrator | Continental Testing Services, on behalf of DOB |
| Fees (calendar year 2026) | Supervising Electrician: $150 exam, $150 initial license, $150 annual renewal. Electrical Contractor (General or Low Voltage): $150 initial, $150 annual renewal |
| License term | 1 year from issuance |
Steps to get licensed in Chicago
- Accumulate at least 2 years of supervised electrical experience, documented by letters from your supervisors.
- Apply through Continental Testing Services and pass the written Supervising Electrician exam ($150), based on the Chicago Electrical Code (built on NFPA 70/NEC) — this is the only reference material permitted during the exam.
- Pay the $150 initial Supervising Electrician license fee once you pass.
- If you want to run or own an electrical contracting business, apply separately for the Electrical Contractor License ($150), which requires your business to employ at least one licensed Supervising Electrician.
- Renew both licenses annually for $150 each through the DOB web portal; a license expired more than 3 years cannot be renewed and requires starting over.
Outside Chicago
Every other Illinois city, town, and county sets its own rules independently — there’s no state registry or consolidated standard to report. Anecdotal reports from industry forums suggest some Chicago suburbs informally accept a Supervising Electrician license in place of their own exam, and experience requirements elsewhere are sometimes cited in the 4,000–8,000-hour range, but none of this is documented as a uniform legal rule, so it’s too variable to generalize. If you’re working outside Chicago, confirm directly with that specific municipality’s building department.
Penalty for unlicensed work in Chicago
Under the Municipal Code of Chicago, violating the general license requirement (Section 4-4-010) carries a fine of $500 to $1,000 per infraction. Separately, performing work without a required permit (Sections 13-12-040/13-12-080) carries steeper penalties: a first offense can include 3 days to 6 months in jail plus a fine; a second offense runs $1,000–$6,000; a third and subsequent offense runs $6,000–$10,000.
Is there an Illinois state electrician license?
No. IDFPR, the state’s professional licensing agency, does not regulate electricians at all. Licensing is entirely municipal — Chicago’s Supervising Electrician and Electrical Contractor licenses are the largest system in the state, but they only authorize work within Chicago.
What’s the difference between a Supervising Electrician and an Electrical Contractor license in Chicago?
Supervising Electrician is an individual’s license, earned by passing an exam. Electrical Contractor is a business license, which requires the business to employ at least one licensed Supervising Electrician — you generally need both pieces in place to operate as an electrical contracting business in Chicago.
Does a Chicago electrician license work anywhere else in Illinois?
Not officially. There’s no statewide reciprocity, since there’s no statewide license to begin with. Some suburbs may accept it informally, but this isn’t a documented, uniform policy — confirm with each specific municipality.
How much does it cost to get licensed as an electrical contractor in Chicago?
Budget at least $450 for 2026: $150 for the Supervising Electrician exam, $150 for your individual license, and $150 for the business’s Electrical Contractor license, before insurance or any prep course.