Illinois Electrician License: How to Become a Certified Electrician in IL

Do you need a license to be an electrician in Illinois?

Yes, a license is required to work as an electrician in Illinois. Despite a state requirement, there isn’t a statewide electrical license available. Instead, licenses and certifications are regulated and issued by municipalities based on the unique electrical code of the area.

Think you can get away with working on your own electrical projects at home? Think again. If you choose to take on some electrical work yourself—even on a property you own, you may need a license for that as well. You’ll need to find the regulations and municipal code set by the jurisdiction you’ll be operating in.

Many municipal-issued licenses are widely accepted across Illinois (Libertyville is a good example) , but this isn’t the case in every city. In the Chicago area, for example, a Chicago electrical license is required to perform any electrical work governed by the Chicago electrical code. Each town’s license regulations define the specific allowances of an electrical license.

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Types of electrician licenses in Illinois

Unlike other states, Illinois does not currently offer a statewide master electrician license. Instead, many cities offer a standard electrical contractor’s license, which provides similar allowances to what a master license would. When it comes to working as a licensed electrician in the state of Illinois, there are three types of licenses you can earn.

Journeyman license

Journeyman licenses are available to those who have completed 4 years of training and have passed their initial exam. Those with a journeyman license can supervise other apprentices, but they’re not allowed to supervise a fellow journeyman.

Electrical contractor license

This is the license that is the most common across Illinois’ municipalities. An electrical contractor license allows an individual to supervise other electricians of any level. Electricians with a contractor license also have the ability to obtain permits for larger projects. Despite being the most common license type, not every municipality offers this option. 

Electrical contractor license (Chicago only)

Chicago offers two different types of licenses depending on the type of work you’ll be doing. 

• Low-voltage License: all work involving Class 1, 2, and 3 remote-control circuits, signaling and power-limited circuits, and communications circuits. 
• General License: free from the limitations listed in the low-voltage license. 

The low-voltage and general licenses differ from the other municipalities that offer a standard contractor license.

Illinois electrician license requirements

The requirements for an electrician license in Illinois depend on the municipality that will issue your license. Despite some minor differences between cities, many licenses require that you have completed an apprenticeship or sufficient on-the-job training and have passed your municipality’s required electrician exam.

Apprenticeship or on-the-job training

You can get the required work experience one of two ways: an apprenticeship or on-the-job training. Both are essentially the same, but the apprenticeship will match you with an employer so you don’t have to hunt for your own job.

Apprenticeship requirements

To enroll in an apprenticeship program, one must meet the following requirements:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Obtain a high school diploma or GED
• Pass an aptitude and algebra test
• Demonstrate physical fitness required for the tasks of the job
• Have reliable transportation

Electrical contractor license requirements

In order to be eligible to receive an electrical license, you must have two things:

• Be 21 years of age or older
• Have at least 8,000 hours (roughly 4 years) of training to take the electrician exam

License exam requirements

This exam varies from city to city, but in general the requirements to test are:

• Be 21 years of age, or older
• Have proof of successful completion from an accredited apprenticeship program
• Verifiable work hours completed under a licensed supervising electrician

After meeting the requirements above, you will be ready to start the process to obtain your Illinois electrical contractor license.

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How do I get an electrician license in Illinois?

The process to obtain an electrician license in Illinois differs from other states as it can vary at the local level. The most common way to obtain your license is to complete a process of learning, testing, and training.

• Gain a minimum of 8,000 verifiable hours of work experience, verified through pay stubs or an original letter signed by a licensed supervising electrician. Individuals can earn this experience through on-the-job training or an apprenticeship. Work must be performed under an electrician with at least one licensed supervising electrician. 
• Take the electrical contractor’s exam.

On average, the electrical exam tends to run about 7 hours long and requires at least a mark of 70% to pass. While it varies from each municipality, many testing sites allow you to refer to the National Electrical Code handbook during the test as well. 

Common topics on local Illinois electrician exams include:

• Local electrical codes and standards
• Electrical wiring safety guidelines
• OSHA compliance for electrical work
• Fire alarm and detection system requirements

The available testing dates depend on the city where you will be taking the test. Most municipalities tend to offer at least one test date a month, but other cities only test twice a year, so it’s important to pay attention to your municipality’s testing schedule.

Does my Illinois electrician license work in any other states?

Though electrical licenses can be valid across municipal lines, the same is not true over state borders. Licenses issued in Illinois will not be accepted in other states, and Illinois will not accept licenses from other states. To do any electrical work in Illinois, you’ll need a license from one of its municipalities.

How much does it cost to get an electrician license in Illinois?

The specific cost of an electrician license varies from city to city. Here are the license fees from a few municipalities:

• Chicago: $150
• Libertyville: $60 to take the test and $40 to receive your license
• Naperville: $50 
• Buffalo Grove: $75
• Elgin: $260

Almost all licenses have a renewal fee as well, so you can expect to pay a yearly cost for maintaining your license.

Do I need to renew my electrician license? 

Though the specific requirements depend on the municipality, nearly all electrician licenses require renewal on a yearly basis. There is typically a fee associated with renewing your license.

Here are the fees associated with license renewal in the following municipalities:

• Chicago: $150 to renew
• Libertyville: $100 to renew
• Naperville: No longer renewing licenses starting on Jan 1, 2023. (Impacted electricians will need to test for a new license at a participating municipality)
• Buffalo Grove: $50 to renew 
• Elgin: $25 to renew

Regardless of your municipality’s specific expiration policy, it’s best to learn your license expiration date so you can renew ahead of time to avoid your license expiring.

What happens if my electrician license expires? 

You’ll be unable to complete any electrical work with an expired license. In Illinois, many electrician licenses need to be renewed annually, but the specific expiration date is governed locally. To look up the status of your license, you can search on the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation website. 

It’s recommended that you stay up to date with your city’s renewal terms and complete them within the required time frame to avoid an expired license.

Requirements for business owners

If you’re looking to start an electrician business, there are a few other steps to consider after you’ve earned your license. ​​

You’ll first need to establish the business structure you’d like to operate. You can choose from an LLC, sole proprietorship, or partnership. Once you decide on your business structure, you’ll need to choose a name and register your business with your local government. 

You’ll need to meet the following requirements to start your business:

• Get the necessary insurance: Business owners are required to obtain at least general liability and worker’s compensation in order to provide services to residential and commercial properties.
• Obtain the necessary permits: The specific permits you need will depend on the local jurisdiction of the location where the project will take place. Check with your local municipal codes office to determine what you’ll need.

On average, it costs around $10,000 to get all the tools, equipment, and insurance needed to start a plumbing business. If needed, you can apply for a small business loan to help cover the initial costs. You can also check with your local government to see if any small business grants are available. 

READ MORE: How to run a successful electrical business

Does an electrician license increase your earning potential? 

Yes. Not only is an electrician’s license required for nearly all electrical work in Illinois, but it increases your earning potential compared to more junior levels, such as an apprentice. While the salary for apprentices ranges, on average, licensed electricians earn 67% more than entry-level electrical apprentices.

With the increasing trade demand, now is a great time to earn your electrical license. The average salary for an electrician in the United States is $53,136. But in Illinois, the average salary for an electrician is $57,098. Like any other industry, salary potential increases with more years of experience. Electricians’ salary increases tend to jump after gaining three years of experience under their belt.

Want to know what the earning potential looks like for electricians across the nation? Check out our Essential Electrician Salary Guide to find answers to your salary-based questions. This guide includes national wages, state averages, and salary breakdowns based on experience. Take a look to understand your earning potential as an electrician and how to establish rates for your own business.

Originally published in August 2022. Last updated on September 20, 2024.