Chicago Electrician License Requirements 2026 — Exam, Steps & Fees

Illinois does not have a statewide electrician licensing system — the state leaves licensing entirely to local municipalities. In Chicago, the City of Chicago Department of Buildings administers its own electrician licensing program with its own exam, its own code (the Chicago Electrical Code, which is the NEC with city-specific amendments), and its own renewal requirements.

If you're working in Chicago, you need a Chicago license. A license from any other Illinois city — or any other state — does not authorize you to work in Chicago.

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Overview: Chicago Electrician License Types

The City of Chicago issues two primary electrician credentials through the Department of Buildings:

Journeyman Electrician (JE): Authorizes you to perform electrical installation, repair, and maintenance work in Chicago under the direction of or as part of a licensed electrical contractor operation. This is the working-level license most electricians hold.

Electrical Contractor (EC): Authorizes you to operate an electrical contracting business, pull permits, and supervise journeymen. Requires passing a master-level exam in addition to meeting business licensing and insurance requirements.

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Experience Requirements

Journeyman Electrician:

• Minimum 4 years (8,000 hours) of verified electrical work experience
• Experience through a JATC-approved apprenticeship (IBEW Local 134 / NECA Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee) is the most common path
• Experience may also be verified through documented work history submitted to the Department of Buildings

Electrical Contractor:

• Must hold a valid Chicago Journeyman Electrician license
• Additional business license, liability insurance, and workers' compensation insurance required
• Must pass the contractor (master-level) examination

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The Chicago Electrician Exam

Chicago electrician exams are administered by Continental Testing Services on behalf of the City of Chicago Department of Buildings.

Journeyman Exam:

What to bring: Your NFPA 70 codebook with the Chicago Electrical Code Amendments (published separately by the City). Tabs and highlights are allowed. Written notes or separate documents are not permitted.

Chicago Electrical Code vs. the NEC

This is a critical distinction for the exam. Chicago uses the NEC as its base code but adopts it with Chicago-specific amendments that override or add to the NEC in several areas. Common Chicago differences include:

• All wiring in Chicago must be in conduit. Chicago does not permit NM cable (Romex) in most building types — this is a major departure from the NEC. Type NM cable under NEC 334 is generally not permitted in Chicago occupancies.
• Metallic conduit requirements are stricter than NEC minimums in many commercial and residential applications.
• Pull box and junction box requirements have additional local specifications.

For exam prep, study the NEC as your foundation but make sure you also have the Chicago Amendments — questions on the Chicago exam will test both the base NEC and the local amendments.

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Application Process

1. Verify experience — gather documentation of your 8,000 hours (apprenticeship completion certificate or employer verification letters)
2. Apply with the Chicago DOB — submit your application and experience documentation to the City of Chicago Department of Buildings
3. Schedule your exam — Continental Testing Services manages scheduling; visit their website or call to book
4. Pass the exam — 70% required on the 150-question journeyman exam
5. Pay fees and receive license — license is issued by the City of Chicago DOB upon passing

License renewal: Chicago journeyman and contractor licenses require periodic renewal with continuing education. Check current renewal requirements with the DOB as CE requirements have been updated in recent years.

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Wages and Job Market

Chicago is one of the highest-paying electrician markets in the Midwest, driven by IBEW Local 134 wage rates and the volume of commercial construction activity downtown and in surrounding suburbs.

Average electrician salary in Illinois (Chicago metro): $72,870–$85,000+ IBEW Local 134 journeyman scale: Contact Local 134 for current collective bargaining rates, which typically exceed the state average significantly for union members.

Major project types: high-rise commercial, data centers in the Chicago suburbs, industrial facilities, and ongoing public infrastructure work.

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Preparing for the Chicago Exam

The Chicago exam is open-book, so exam prep is about learning to navigate the NEC quickly under time pressure — not memorization. With 150 questions in 4 hours, you have roughly 1.6 minutes per question. Speed in the codebook matters.

Most-tested topics on the Chicago journeyman exam:

• Conduit fill (Article 358/344/342 and Chapter 9 Tables)
• Conductor sizing (Table 310.16)
• GFCI requirements (Article 210.8)
• Service entrance requirements (Article 230)
• Overcurrent protection (Article 240)
• Grounding and bonding (Article 250)
• Box fill calculations (Article 314)
• Motor circuits (Article 430)

Start practicing with NEC-referenced questions →

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Resources

• City of Chicago Department of Buildings: chicago.gov/dob
• Continental Testing Services: Schedule your exam through their website
• IBEW Local 134: Information on apprenticeship programs and union membership
• Chicago Electrical Code Amendments: Available from the City of Chicago DOB

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Other Illinois Cities

Remember that each Illinois municipality operates its own licensing system. If you work in multiple Illinois cities, you may need separate licenses for each:

• Rockford — has its own exam and license
• Aurora — has its own requirements
• Springfield — has its own requirements
• Suburban Cook County, DuPage, Lake — requirements vary by municipality

Always verify local requirements before starting work in a new jurisdiction.

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Related Reading

• Illinois Electrician License Requirements
• NEC Article 430 — Motors
• NEC Article 210 — Branch Circuits and GFCI
• Electrician License Reciprocity by State