Illinois · plumber licensing · verified July 2026
Illinois plumber license requirements
The short answer
As of July 2026, Illinois licenses plumbers statewide through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) under the Illinois Plumbing License Law (225 ILCS 320). The path is a licensed apprentice plumber (minimum age 16, sponsored by an Illinois licensed plumber or approved US DOL apprenticeship program) for at least 4 years, then the IDPH plumber's exam; plumbing contractors must additionally register with IDPH annually with insurance and a $20,000 bond. The City of Chicago also issues its own plumber licenses recognized under the Act, with a reciprocity application to convert to a state license.
Do you need a license to work as a plumber in Illinois?
Illinois licenses plumbers statewide, so one credential is valid across the whole state.
The City of Chicago separately issues its own plumber's licenses recognized under the Act; IDPH provides a 'Plumber's License: Application for Reciprocity for the City of Chicago Licensees' form, and Chicago-licensed plumbers may anchor a state plumbing contractor registration. IDPH licenses roughly 8,900 plumbers and 2,000 apprentices. The statute text (225 ILCS 320) was read via an Internet Archive capture of ilga.gov because ILGA blocked direct fetches; all other facts come from the live IDPH page.
What licenses does Illinois issue?
The Illinois Department of Public Health, Plumbing Program (advised by the Illinois State Board of Plumbing Examiners) issues the credentials below for this trade. Boards often list further classes for specialties and business licenses; these are the ones this page covers.
Hours are what each class asks for on its own terms. Where a senior class shows fewer than a journeyman, the board is counting time served after the earlier license rather than from the start; the prerequisite column says which.
| License | On-the-job hours | Classroom hours | Exam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice Plumber (license) | not published | not published | No |
| Plumber (license) | not published | not published | Yes |
| Plumbing Contractor (registration) | not published | not published | No |
| Retired Plumber (license) | not published | not published | No |
Source: Illinois Department of Public Health, Plumbing Program (advised by the Illinois State Board of Plumbing Examiners) (ilga.gov). Verified July 2026.
What exam does Illinois require?
Illinois Plumber's License Examination. Administered by Illinois Department of Public Health (graded by the Illinois State Board of Plumbing Examiners); held at least once every 3 months; application due at least 30 days before the exam date.
How often do you renew, and what continuing education is required?
Renewal period: 1 year, all plumber's and apprentice plumber's licenses expire April 30 following issuance and renew annually from May 1; plumbing contractor registration renews annually (applications due by the last day of September)
Continuing education: Licensed plumbers must complete IDPH-required continuing education annually before renewal; 225 ILCS 320/14 caps the requirement at 15 hours per year, with curricula, hours, and approved courses set by Department rule (exact current hour count not stated in the official sources read).
How does the apprenticeship route work?
Obtain the apprentice plumber's license at 16+ under a sponsoring Illinois licensed plumber or an approved US DOL/IDPH apprenticeship program; after at least 4 years as a licensed apprentice (maximum 6 years allowed), apply for the plumber's examination. An approved college/university/trade-school course of instruction is an alternative qualifying route.
Which states does Illinois have license reciprocity with?
No published agreement for this trade names Illinois. That is not the same as a closed door: states without a published list usually take out-of-state applicants through an endorsement or equivalency review instead, decided case by case on the requirements set out above.
How does Illinois compare to neighboring states?
Requirements stop at the state line, which matters if you live near one or expect to move. Here is what the neighboring states ask of the same trade.
| State | Journeyman hours | Licensing model |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | not published | Statewide |
| Indiana | not published | Statewide |
| Iowa | not published | Statewide |
| Kentucky | not published | Statewide |
| Missouri | not published | City or county |
| Wisconsin | not published | Statewide |
Source: state licensing boards. Verified July 2026.
Sources and verification
Every fact on this page traces to one of these
- Plumbing - Illinois Department of Public Health
- 225 ILCS 320 - Illinois Plumbing License Law (full act text)
Last verified July 2026. Found an error? Report it and it will be corrected and logged on the corrections page.
Other states with published requirements for this trade: Kansas, Louisiana, Maine.
Price the whole path with the license cost estimator, or weigh earning against paying for school with the apprenticeship comparison. Back to plumbers overview.
Licensing requirements change between our verification sweeps. This page is informational only, so confirm current requirements with Illinois Department of Public Health, Plumbing Program (advised by the Illinois State Board of Plumbing Examiners) before making decisions. Not legal advice.