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Illinois Electrician Practice Test

1,600+ NEC 2023 questions covering the topics on the Illinois Continental Testing Services exam. Detailed explanations with exact code article references.

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What to Expect on the Illinois Electrician Exam

Illinois has no statewide electrician license. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) does not license electricians. Licensing is handled at the local level, and Chicago is by far the largest and most significant jurisdiction in the state. Chicago's individual credential is the Supervising Electrician license, issued by the Chicago Department of Buildings with the exam administered by Continental Testing Services. The exam is open book with the Chicago Electrical Code, which is based on the 2017 NEC with city amendments. Candidates must be at least 21 years old with at least 2 years of qualifying electrical experience. Question counts and fees change periodically, so confirm the current exam format and fee with Continental Testing Services before scheduling. The exam draws heavily from Article 220 (load calculations), Article 250 (grounding and bonding), Article 300 (wiring methods), and Article 430 (motors). Chicago's exam is known for testing Chicago-specific code amendments alongside the national code, so candidates need to be familiar with both. Outside Chicago, requirements vary by city: Rockford, Aurora, Naperville, and Springfield each have separate licensing programs. The NEC 2023 practice questions below cover all topics on the Chicago Continental Testing Services exam.

Illinois Supervising Electrician (Chicago) Exam At a Glance

Questions

150

Time Limit

240 min

Passing Score

70%

Format

Open Book

Vendor

Continental Testing Services

Exam Fee

$150

What the Illinois Exam Covers

The Continental Testing Services exam draws from the NEC 2017 across 13 topic areas. GetLicenseReady covers all of them with full explanations and code references.

NEC General Knowledge
Electrical Calculations
Wiring Methods & Installation
Grounding & Bonding
Overcurrent Protection
Services & Feeders
Branch Circuits & Receptacles
Motors & Controllers
Conductors & Cables
Boxes & Fittings
Transformers
Special Equipment
Hazardous Locations

Tips for the Illinois Continental Testing Services Exam

  • The Illinois exam is open book, so tab your NEC for Articles 110, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 300, 310, and 430.
  • You won't have time to look up every answer. Know the major numbers cold, and use the book for edge cases.
  • Budget your time: spend no more than 90 seconds per question on the first pass, then return to flagged items.
NEC Edition: Illinois currently tests on NEC 2017. GetLicenseReady questions are written to the NEC 2023. Most core rules carry over, but some requirements changed between editions, so study with the 2017 codebook you will use on exam day. See what changed between NEC 2020 and 2023 →

Illinois Electrician Exam FAQ

How many questions are on the Illinois Supervising Electrician (Chicago) exam?

150 questions, 240 minutes, 70% passing score. Administered by Continental Testing Services.

Is the Illinois electrician exam open book?

Yes, you may bring a tabbed NEC 2017 into the testing center. Practice finding answers quickly; you won't have time to read full articles during the exam.

What NEC edition does Illinois test on?

Illinois tests on NEC 2017. GetLicenseReady questions are written to the NEC 2023. Most core rules carry over, but study with the 2017 codebook you will use on exam day.

How do I register for the Illinois exam?

Register through the City of Chicago Department of Buildings (no statewide board). The exam fee is $150.

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1,600+ practice questions with NEC 2023 citations and detailed explanations. Start free, no card required.

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