How to Get an Electrician License in Illinois in 2026
If you've been searching for how to get an Illinois electrician license, here's the critical fact you need upfront: Illinois has no statewide electrician license. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) does not regulate or license electricians at the state level. Electrical licensing is handled entirely by individual cities, counties, and municipalities — and requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction.
This guide focuses on Chicago's Supervising Electrician license, the most significant and widely recognized electrician credential in Illinois. All requirements on this page have been verified directly from official City of Chicago and Illinois state government sources.
Why Illinois Has No Statewide License
Unlike most states, Illinois has not established a central licensing board for electricians. The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) governs building codes but does not issue electrician licenses. IDFPR licenses more than 100 professions in Illinois — but electricians are not among them.
Instead, each city and county sets its own requirements. If you work across multiple jurisdictions in Illinois, you may need to obtain multiple local licenses.
Bottom line: There is no single "Illinois electrician license" to obtain. Your license comes from your local jurisdiction.
Chicago's Electrician Licensing System
Chicago — home to roughly 2.7 million people and one of the busiest construction markets in the country — operates its own robust electrical licensing program through the Chicago Department of Buildings. Two license types apply to individual electricians and electrical businesses:
1. Supervising Electrician License (Individual)
This is the core credential for working electricians in Chicago. A licensed Supervising Electrician has demonstrated knowledge of the installation, alteration, repair, and maintenance of electrical equipment under the Chicago Electrical Code.
There are two categories of Supervising Electrician license, based on the examination passed:
- General — authorizes supervision of all types of electrical work
- Low Voltage — authorizes supervision of Class 1, 2, and 3 remote-control, signaling, power-limited, and communications circuits only
2. Electrical Contractor License (Business)
This is a business-level license required to legally install, alter, or maintain any wiring or equipment regulated by the Chicago Electrical Code — whether or not a permit is required. Electrical Contractor licenses are issued to businesses (including sole proprietorships), not individuals.
Two categories exist here as well:
- General Electrical Contractor — authorizes all types of electrical work
- Low Voltage Electrical Contractor — authorizes Class 1, 2, and 3 circuits and communications circuits only
The critical connection: To hold an Electrical Contractor license, a business must employ at least one licensed Supervising Electrician. The contractor license type (general or low voltage) corresponds directly to the type of Supervising Electrician exam that person has passed.
In practice: Most working electricians in Chicago pursue the Supervising Electrician (General) license first. Once licensed, they can then apply for an Electrical Contractor license to work independently.
Source: Chicago Department of Buildings — Supervising Electrician License | Electrical Contractor License
Who Can Apply for a Chicago Supervising Electrician License?
To be eligible to sit for the Supervising Electrician exam, you must meet all of the following:
- Age: At least 21 years old
- Experience: At least 2 years of cumulative experience installing, altering, repairing, and maintaining electrical wires, equipment, and apparatus under the direct supervision of a Supervising Electrician or equivalent person
Your work experience must be verified by an original, signed letter on company letterhead from a supervising electrician who holds an active City of Chicago Supervising Electrician license. The letter must:
- Verify dates of employment
- Describe your duties and responsibilities
- Include the employer's City of Chicago Electrical Contractor license number
If your work experience is from a jurisdiction that does not require licensing or permits, you must provide a letter of verification from that jurisdiction along with a detailed, chronological history of your work experience.
Source: Continental Testing Services — Chicago 303 Supervising Electrician
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Testing Provider: Continental Testing Services
Chicago does not use PSI or Pearson VUE. The exam is administered by Continental Testing Services, Inc. (CTS), which processes applications and schedules examinations on behalf of the Chicago Department of Buildings.
Applications are submitted online at continentaltesting.net. Payments are made by check or money order payable to the City of Chicago.
Open Book Exam
The Chicago Supervising Electrician examination is an open book exam. Candidates are permitted to bring one book into the examination:
Chicago Electrical Code 2018 Edition — NFPA 70: National Electrical Code with Chicago Amendments
This is the only reference allowed. Tabs may mark sections, but notes, highlighting, or other changes to the published text are prohibited. CTS provides a clean, unmarked copy of the code excerpts for each candidate on exam day.
Important: The Chicago Electrical Code 2018 Edition is based on the 2017 edition of the NEC, with amendments adopted by the Chicago City Council. This differs from the NEC edition many other states use. Exam questions will include content from the Chicago-specific amendments — CTS makes these amendments available as a free download on their website.
Exam Fee
| Exam Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Initial Exam or Retake | $150.00 per exam |
Remaining 2026 exam dates:
- July 15, 2026 (application deadline: June 17, 2026)
- November 18, 2026 (application deadline: October 21, 2026)
(The March 25, 2026 exam date has passed. Check continentaltesting.net for any additional dates added.)
Note: If you were absent from your scheduled exam date or allowed your exam window to expire, you must re-apply. There are no refunds of testing fees.
If you fail the exam: You must wait at least 6 months before reapplying. Do not re-apply until you have received your Official Result Letter from Continental Testing Services.
Source: Chicago Department of Buildings — Supervising Electrician License
Source: Continental Testing Services — Chicago 303 Supervising Electrician
Chicago Electrician License Fees
Supervising Electrician License Fees (2026)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Examination Fee (per exam) | $150.00 |
| Initial License Fee | $150.00 |
| Renewal Fee (per year) | $150.00 |
| Reinstatement (per year expired) | $100.00/year |
Electrical Contractor License Fees (2026)
| License Classification | Initial Fee | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Contractor — General | $150.00 | $150.00 |
| Electrical Contractor — Low Voltage | $150.00 | $150.00 |
Source: Chicago.gov — Supervising Electrician License | Chicago.gov — Electrical Contractor License
License Duration and Renewal
Both the Supervising Electrician license and the Electrical Contractor license are valid for one year from issuance or renewal.
Renewals are processed online through the Chicago Department of Buildings web portal. For renewal questions, contact the Chicago Department of Buildings at 312-743-3547.
Important: A Supervising Electrician license cannot be renewed if it has been expired for 3 or more years. If you're in this situation, you'll need to apply for a new license and retake the exam.
Similarly, an Electrical Contractor license is automatically inactivated if there is no valid Supervising Electrician license associated with it.
Source: Chicago.gov — Trade License Renewal Instructions
Continuing Education
The Chicago Department of Buildings does not require continuing education for Supervising Electrician or Electrical Contractor license renewals. Renewal is completed online with payment of the annual renewal fee.
The Chicago Electrical Code: What You Need to Know
The Chicago Electrical Code 2018 Edition — the code used on the exam — is based on the 2017 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70) with Chicago-specific amendments adopted by the City Council.
For state-funded and commercial buildings in Illinois jurisdictions that have not adopted their own building code, the Illinois Capital Development Board references the "current edition or most recent preceding edition" of the NEC. However, for the Chicago Supervising Electrician exam specifically, you study the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code.
This is a critical detail: studying a generic NEC 2023 or NEC 2020 prep book will not adequately prepare you for the Chicago exam. You need the Chicago-specific code with its amendments.
CTS publishes a study guide and code excerpt document (free download) that covers the sections of the code most heavily tested on the exam. Candidates should download and review these before sitting for the exam.
Source: Continental Testing Services — Chicago 303 | Illinois CDB — Building Codes
Reciprocity
Because Illinois has no statewide electrician license, there are no statewide reciprocity agreements. Each municipality handles its own licensing independently.
For Chicago specifically: if you hold an active electrical license from another state or jurisdiction, you may be able to document that experience toward the 2-year experience requirement — but you will still need to pass the Chicago Supervising Electrician exam. There is no exam waiver based on out-of-state licensure.
Contact the Chicago Department of Buildings at 312-743-3547 for questions about your specific situation.
Working Outside Chicago
If you're planning to work in Illinois outside of Chicago, requirements vary by municipality. Common Illinois cities with local electrical licensing programs include Aurora, Joliet, Naperville, and Rockford — but each has its own requirements. Contact the local building department for the specific jurisdiction where you plan to work.
Some smaller municipalities and rural areas in Illinois may not require any local electrician license at all, though building permits and inspections still apply.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Your Chicago Supervising Electrician License
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Verify your eligibility — Confirm you are at least 21 years old and have at least 2 years of qualifying work experience.
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Gather your experience documentation — Obtain a signed letter on company letterhead from a licensed Chicago Supervising Electrician verifying your dates of employment, duties, and their contractor license number.
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Apply online — Submit your application through the Continental Testing Services website at continentaltesting.net. Include your experience documentation and exam fee payment (check or money order payable to City of Chicago).
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Schedule your exam — CTS schedules exams on announced dates (typically March, July, and November). Check the CTS website for current dates and deadlines.
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Obtain your code book — Purchase the Chicago Electrical Code 2018 Edition and download the free CTS study guide and code excerpt document from the CTS website.
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Pass the exam — The exam is open book. Bring only the Chicago Electrical Code 2018 Edition (tabs allowed; no notes or highlighting).
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Apply for your license — After passing, apply for your initial Supervising Electrician license through the Department of Buildings portal. Pay the $150.00 initial license fee.
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Obtain an Electrical Contractor license (if running a business) — Once you have your Supervising Electrician license, your business can apply for an Electrical Contractor license through CTS.
Practice Smarter for the Chicago Supervising Electrician Exam
The Chicago exam is open book — but that doesn't make it easy. Candidates who underestimate the exam frequently fail. The combination of the Chicago Electrical Code, the municipal amendments, and the administrative chapters (Chapters 2, 4, and 13 of the Municipal Code) creates a demanding scope.
The most effective study approach:
- Know the layout of the Chicago Electrical Code thoroughly so you can navigate quickly
- Study the Chicago-specific amendments — questions will cover content unique to Chicago that doesn't appear in the standard NEC
- Download and review the CTS code excerpt document, which highlights key sections likely to be tested
- Practice under timed conditions, even though the exam is open book
GetLicenseReady's exam prep platform covers NEC-based electrical theory and code application. For the Chicago exam specifically, make sure you supplement with the Chicago amendments document available from CTS.
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Key Resources
- Chicago Department of Buildings — Supervising Electrician License: chicago.gov
- Chicago Department of Buildings — Electrical Contractor License: chicago.gov
- Continental Testing Services (exam applications and scheduling): continentaltesting.net
- Chicago Department of Buildings Renewal Portal: ipiweb.cityofchicago.org
- Illinois Capital Development Board — Building Codes: cdb.illinois.gov
- Municipal Code of Chicago, Chapter 4-292 (Supervising Electricians): amlegal.com
- Municipal Code of Chicago, Chapter 4-290 (Electrical Contractors): amlegal.com
For Illinois-specific practice questions and exam format details, see our Illinois electrician exam prep page.
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