StateLicensed

Plumber License Requirements in Illinois

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$175
Exam
Illinois Plumber's License Examination
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Plumbing Program

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No criminal-history/background-check requirement for the Plumber's License itself is stated in 225 ILCS 320 or on the IDPH application form. Illinois does set a minimum age of 16 for the earlier Apprentice Plumber tier, but the Plumber's License application does not itself state a separate minimum age beyond completing the 4-year apprenticeship, so minAge is left null for this (Plumber's License) tier. [2]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. Under 225 ILCS 320/10, an applicant for the Plumber's License exam must (a) have completed at least a 2-year course of study in high school (or equivalent), and (b) have been employed as an Illinois-licensed Apprentice Plumber under supervision for at least 4 years preceding the application, working at the trade for the full 4-year apprenticeship period -- or have completed an approved course of instruction in plumbing supervised directly by an Illinois-licensed plumber at a college, university, or trade school. Apprentice Plumbers must be at least 16 years old to register and cannot accumulate more than 6 years as a licensed apprentice. No fixed classroom-hour figure is published for the Plumber's License itself (unlike a pure hours-based state); the operative requirement is the 4-year licensed-apprentice period, so hours is left null. [1]

  3. 3

    Illinois Plumber's License Examination

    Pass the Illinois Plumber's License Examination. 225 ILCS 320/10 requires the Application for Examination to be filed at least 30 days before the Department-set exam date. The IDPH application form lists the fee as $175 for applicants licensed as an Illinois Apprentice Plumber and $225 for applicants registered/licensed in Chicago or out of state (tracked in fees.other as well since this is the same application/exam fee, not a separate charge). Application fees are non-refundable; a $100 returned-check fee applies. Fee recorded as null here to avoid double-counting the same charge twice in this record's upfront-cost total: the $175 is a combined application/examination fee and is already counted under the application fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Plumbing Program with the $175 application fee. [2]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Plumbing Program issues your Plumber's License for Illinois.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [2] $175
License fee [2] None specified
Renewal fee [2] None specified
Illinois Plumber's License Examination [2] None specified
Application/exam fee for Chicago-licensed or out-of-state applicants [2] $225
Returned check fee [2] $100

The $175/$225 Application-for-Examination fee (non-refundable) is the only dollar figure IDPH publishes on its own plumber-licensing forms; it functions as a combined application/exam fee. A separate license-issuance fee and the annual renewal fee are set by Department rule rather than stated in the statute (225 ILCS 320/14) or the application form itself, and this research could not locate a current published fee schedule on an accessible official IDPH page, so both are left null.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year.

All Plumber's Licenses (and Apprentice Plumber's Licenses) issued under 225 ILCS 320 expire April 30 following issuance and renew annually (for the year beginning each succeeding May 1) upon payment of the required renewal fee and proof of continuing education. Continuing education is required annually by Department rule, but the statute only sets a statutory ceiling -- 'shall not exceed 15 hours per year' -- rather than stating the Department's current actual required hour count, so ceHours is left null rather than guessing the in-force number.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.

Illinois' Application for Examination includes a dedicated out-of-state section: applicants already licensed/registered as a plumber (or apprentice plumber) elsewhere, licensed by exam, can submit that license/registration plus a letter from the out-of-state licensing entity verifying the exact licensure period, and count that experience toward Illinois' 4-year apprenticeship requirement -- but they must still sit and pass Illinois' own Plumber's License examination (this is a recognized pathway into the IL exam, not a waiver of it). IDPH also publishes a separate Reciprocity Application specifically for City of Chicago licensees. No interstate compact covers plumbing.

2 state-approved training providers in Illinois — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $175
Total$175

Frequently asked questions

What are the requirements to sit for Illinois' Plumber's License exam?

At least a 2-year high school course of study (or equivalent), plus 4 years employed as an Illinois-licensed Apprentice Plumber under supervision -- or an approved plumbing course of instruction supervised directly by an Illinois-licensed plumber at a college, university, or trade school.

Who administers the Illinois Plumber's License exam, and what does it cost?

The Illinois Department of Public Health administers the exam itself (no third-party testing vendor is named). The Application for Examination fee is $175 for Illinois-licensed apprentice plumbers, or $225 for applicants licensed/registered in Chicago or out of state; fees are non-refundable.

When do Illinois plumber licenses expire and renew?

All Plumber's Licenses expire April 30 following issuance and renew annually for the year starting each following May 1, upon payment of the renewal fee and proof of required continuing education.

Does Illinois require continuing education for licensed plumbers?

Yes, annually, by Department rule. The statute (225 ILCS 320/14) caps any such requirement at 15 hours per year but doesn't itself state the current in-force hour count.

Can a plumber licensed in another state get licensed in Illinois?

Illinois' Application for Examination has a dedicated out-of-state section where an applicant already licensed elsewhere (by exam) can use that license and apprenticeship history toward Illinois' requirements, but must still pass Illinois' own Plumber's License exam. A separate reciprocity application exists specifically for City of Chicago licensees.

Sources

  1. [1] ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/022503200K10.htm — accessed 2026-07-12
  2. [2] dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/forms/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/plumbing/plumber-license-examination-application-06242021.pdf — accessed 2026-07-12
  3. [3] ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/022503200K14.htm — accessed 2026-07-12