How to get a Plumber's License in Illinois

Illinois plumber licenses

Illinois issues 4 plumber credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the Illinois plumber licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 4)

Renewal

How often

Every year³⁶²⁵

Renew online

ildohplmprod.glsuite.us¹

2. Every license level except Retired Plumber's License

How to apply

Application form

Form (PDF, dph.illinois.gov)¹

3. Every license level except Plumber's License (Illinois licensed plumber)

Requirements

Exam

Not required²¹

4. Plumber's License (Illinois licensed plumber) and Apprentice Plumber's License

Requirements

Background check

No fingerprints required³

Also required

All applicants must complete the child-support certification.⁴

Fees

From another state

Military service members, veterans and spouses: A license that expires during active U.S. military service is reinstated without exam or lapsed renewal fees if the former licensee applies within 2 years after service ends and pays the annual fee.³

5. Plumber's License (Illinois licensed plumber) and Plumbing Contractor (registration)

Renewal

Renewal fee

$150²⁵

6. Apprentice Plumber's License and Plumbing Contractor (registration)

Renewal

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $100²⁵

Who needs a Plumber's License

Plans, designs and performs plumbing (water supply and distribution, fixtures, drainage and vent piping, building sewers), inspects as sponsor/agent, and may sponsor apprentices. Illinois has a single plumber license level (no separate master).³

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Owner-occupants or lessee-occupants of a single-family home (or an owner building one to live in) may do their own plumbing to code, subject to inspection, but may hire only licensed plumbers to help.³
• Unlicensed plumbing: civil penalty $1,000 first offense where no code violations ($3,000 where violations found), rising to $5,000 for a third offense.³
• Advertising plumbing services requires the plumbing license number in the ad; violations are a Class A misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine.¹

Requirements for a Plumber's License

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 4 and group 5 under Applies to every license level.

High school diploma or GED

Not required²

Education or training

2,800 credit hours²
At least two years of high school or equivalent; plus either 4 years as an Illinois licensed apprentice or an approved plumbing course equal to a four-year apprenticeship (2,800 hours of credit).²
Who may teach it: Courses must be evaluated and approved by IDPH and supervised directly by an Illinois licensed plumber (colleges, universities, trade schools).³
Alternative: 2 years as a licensed apprentice plus 2 years of approved plumbing courses (5,600 hours total); classroom hours credited at 2 credit hours per classroom hour, max 24 months.²

Experience

At least 5,600 hours of on-the-job training²
Four years as an Illinois licensed apprentice plumber under a licensed plumber, at least 1,400 hours a year (5,600 hours).²
Supervision: Apprentices work under a sponsor or the sponsor's agent, who must be an Illinois licensed plumber.³
Substitute: Out-of-state licensed apprenticeship: the equivalent of four years, credited hour-for-hour.²
Substitute: Licensed plumber from a state/municipality with no apprentice program: licensure and experience credited hour-for-hour toward 1,400 h/yr, if their exam covered design, practical skills and code.²

Exam

Illinois plumber's license examination (IDPH / State Board of Plumbing Examiners)²
Given by: Administered by IDPH; graded by the State Board of Plumbing Examiners (no outside vendor named).³
Passing score: Average of 75 or above, with at least 61 on each part.²
When you can take it: File the exam application at least 30 days before the exam date; exams are held at least every three months.²
Knowledge assessment on the Illinois Plumbing Code²
Construction drawings or plans²
Practical application assessment (hands-on projects; bring own tools)²
Retakes: File a retake form with the $175 fee for the next regular exam; apprentices who fail three times must appear with their sponsor before the Department and Board.⁷

Residency or citizenship

U.S. citizen or declared intent to become one.²

Social Security number

Social Security number requested on the exam application.⁸

Also required

Recent 1"x1" head-and-shoulders photo with the application.⁸

How much a Plumber's License costs

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Complete 4 years as an Illinois licensed apprentice (or an approved equivalent course route).¹
2. Send the exam application with photo, proof of eligibility and the non-refundable fee to IDPH at least 30 days before the exam date.² Form (PDF, dph.illinois.gov)¹
3. Pass the written, plans and practical exam (75 average, 61 per part).²
4. Pay the $150 license fee to receive the photo license card.³

Renewal and continuing education

When it expires

Expires April 30 each year (initial licenses issued after Feb 15 run to the April 30 after next); renew before May 1.²

Continuing education

At least 4 hours each renewal period³

Required topics

Plumbers found to have repeatedly violated the Plumbing Code must take at least 2 extra CE hours run by IDPH.²

Approved courses

Courses from IDPH-approved sponsors; instruction supervised directly by an Illinois licensed plumber.²

Exemptions

No CE for the year the license was first issued.²

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $100² (renewal after May 1 / expired under 5 years)

If it expires

Expired under 5 years: reinstate by paying all lapsed renewal fees plus the reinstatement fee. Over 5 years: restoration fee and pass the exam again.²

Moving to Illinois with a license from another state

These are the routes IDPH publishes for the Plumber's License. The other plumber licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Apprentice Plumber's License

Learns and performs plumbing under a sponsor (Illinois licensed plumber) or the sponsor's licensed agent; first- and second-year apprentices need direct personal supervision.³

Requirements

Minimum age

16 years old²

Social Security number

Social Security number requested on the application.⁴

Also required

Must be sponsored by an Illinois licensed plumber or an approved (U.S. DOL) apprenticeship program; the sponsor signs the application.¹

Also required

Maximum 6 years as a licensed apprentice; those who do not apply for (or fail) the plumber exam by then cannot renew.¹

Also required

The license ends if the sponsor relationship ends; the cancellation form must reach IDPH within 15 days.¹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Get a sponsor: an Illinois licensed plumber (employer) or an approved apprenticeship program (JAC form).¹
2. Mail the apprentice application (sponsor section signed) with a 1"x1" color photo and the $100 fee to IDPH Plumbing Program, Springfield.⁴ Form (PDF, dph.illinois.gov)¹
3. Renew every year by April 30 and sit the plumber exam within the 6-year apprentice limit.¹

Renewal

When it expires

Expires April 30 after issue (and when the sponsor relationship ends).⁴

Renewal fee

$100²

If it expires

Late renewals add reinstatement fees; for apprentices the application must arrive by November 1 of the same year.³

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 4 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.

Retired Plumber's License

Status license only: a retired plumber may not perform plumbing, sponsor or supervise apprentices, or inspect plumbing; it allows cheaper reinstatement later.¹

Requirements

Minimum age

62 years old¹

Experience

Must hold an active Illinois plumber license in good standing and surrender it.¹

Fees

How to apply

1. Submit the Retired Plumber's License Application to IDPH and surrender the active plumber license.¹ Form (PDF, dph.illinois.gov)¹

Renewal

Renewal fee

$25²

If it expires

Return to active after less than 5 years retired by paying the reinstatement fee; after more than 5 years, pay the restoration fee and pass the plumber exam.²

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

Plumbing Contractor registration

Any person performing plumbing for another person must register annually; employees of plumbing businesses and in-house maintenance plumbers are not "plumbing contractors".³

Requirements

Experience

The business must name a Plumber of Record who holds a valid plumber license (sole owner, partner, corporate officer or LLC manager/member), valid at least 60 days after registration.⁵
License you must hold first: Illinois (or Chicago) plumber license held by the Plumber of Record⁵

Surety bond

$20,000³

Insurance

Per occurrence: $100,000 general liability, $300,000 bodily injury, $50,000 property damage, $500,000 workers' compensation (owners with no employees can file the Affidavit of No Employees). IDPH must be the certificate holder.⁵

Business requirements

New corporations/LLCs attach Secretary of State formation papers; out-of-state corporations attach Authority to Transact Business in Illinois.⁵

Business requirements

A plumber may be Plumber of Record for only one company at a time; changes must be reported within 15 days; registrations are not transferable on change of ownership.⁵

Business requirements

Contractors must display a licensed plumber's license at their place of business and keep a register of employed plumbers and apprentices.¹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Name a licensed Plumber of Record who is an owner, partner, officer or LLC manager/member.⁵
2. Get the certificate of insurance (IDPH as holder) or Affidavit of No Employees, and a $20,000 bond on the IDPH form.⁵ Form (PDF, dph.illinois.gov)¹
3. Mail the registration form with attachments and the $150 fee; renew each year by September 30.⁵ Form (PDF, dph.illinois.gov)¹

Renewal

When it expires

All registrations expire on the last day of September each year.³

If it expires

Registration is suspended if the insurance certificate on file lapses without a renewed certificate.⁵

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2, group 3, group 5 and group 6 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Apprentice Plumber's LicenseIDPH licenses plumbers statewide; Chicago runs its own plumber licensing (state and Chicago plumber licenses are valid statewide), and a plumbing contractor working in Chicago also needs a Chicago plumbing contractor license. Other local governments may not license plumbers.³

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a plumber in Illinois, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Illinois is on the Illinois license lookup page.

Look up a license

ildohplmprod.glsuite.us¹

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• 225 ILCS 320 (Illinois Plumbing License Law)
• 68 Ill. Adm. Code 750 (Illinois Plumbing Licensing Code)
• 225 ILCS 320/10, 11, 14, 17
• 68 Ill. Adm. Code 750.1100
• 68 Ill. Adm. Code 750.410
• 68 Ill. Adm. Code 750.400(e)
• 225 ILCS 320/13.1
• 77 Ill. Adm. Code 894 (Plumbing Contractor Registration Code)

Common questions

Plumber licenses in other states

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