Electrician license
Illinois electrician license
Illinois has no statewide electrician or electrical contractor license. Cities license electrical work: in Chicago the Department of Buildings issues Supervising Electrician and Electrical Contractor licenses, and other cities such as Springfield issue their own electrical licenses. Local licensing in Chicago, Chicago and Springfield is covered below.
Local electrician licenses in Illinois
Chicago: Supervising Electrician
Required to perform or supervise the electrical work of a Chicago electrical contractor. You must be at least 21, have at least 2 years of experience under a supervising electrician, and pass a written exam (general or low voltage) given by Continental Testing Services. Fees for 2026: $150 exam, $150 initial license, $150 a year to renew. Issued by City of Chicago Department of Buildings. Official page.
Source: Supervising Electrician License (City of Chicago Department of Buildings).
Chicago: Electrical Contractor (general or low voltage)
Required to install, alter or maintain any wiring or equipment regulated by the Chicago Electrical Code. Issued to businesses that employ at least one licensed Supervising Electrician; valid one year. Fees for 2026: $150 initial and $150 renewal. Issued by City of Chicago Department of Buildings. Official page.
Source: Electrical Contractor License (City of Chicago Department of Buildings).
Springfield: Electrical License and Electrical Contractor Registration
Springfield's electrical license requires five years of practical experience, two of them overseeing and directing electrical work, and a passing score on the ICC Master Electrician exam (G16, based on the 2017 NEC). The Electrical Commission decides each application. Issued by City of Springfield Building and Zoning Department (Electrical Commission). Official page.
Practice for the exam
Free practice. The journeyman electrician practice test with 2026 and 2023 NEC versions has 30 questions on code and calculations, scored by subject, with no account. It is general NEC practice, not built from the Illinois exam outline.
How to apply
Apply to the city where you will work. In Chicago, Continental Testing Services takes Supervising Electrician and Electrical Contractor applications for the Department of Buildings; in Springfield, apply to the Building and Zoning Department. Apply on the official site.
Source: Supervising Electrician License (City of Chicago Department of Buildings).
Renewal and continuing education
| Renewal | Set by each city. A Chicago Supervising Electrician license is valid for one year from issuance or renewal. |
|---|---|
| Continuing education | Not confirmed: check with the board |
Source: Supervising Electrician License (City of Chicago Department of Buildings).
Reciprocity with other states
Not confirmed: check with the board
Look up an Illinois electrician license
To check that an electrician or contractor is licensed, use the official City of Chicago trade contractor license lookup.
Good to know
The Chicago Supervising Electrician exam has 150 questions with a four-hour limit; the low voltage exam has 100 questions in three hours. A score of 70 or higher passes.
The Chicago exam is open book: the only book allowed is the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code (the 2017 NEC with Chicago amendments). Tabs are allowed, notes and highlighting are not.
The Chicago exam is given on set dates only: November 18, 2026, March 10, 2027, July 21, 2027 and November 17, 2027, at $150 each.
A Chicago candidate who fails the Supervising Electrician exam must wait at least 6 months before reapplying.
Sources: Chicago Supervising Electricians Licensure Examination Study Guide (Continental Testing Services); Chicago 303 Supervising Electrician (Continental Testing Services); Supervising Electrician License (City of Chicago Department of Buildings).
Common questions
Who issues electrician licenses in Illinois?
Illinois has no statewide electrician or electrical contractor license. Cities license electrical work: in Chicago the Department of Buildings issues Supervising Electrician and Electrical Contractor licenses, and other cities such as Springfield issue their own electrical licenses.
How often does a Illinois electrician license renew?
Set by each city. A Chicago Supervising Electrician license is valid for one year from issuance or renewal.
How do I look up an electrician license in Illinois?
Use the official City of Chicago trade contractor license lookup at https://webapps1.chicago.gov/licensedcontractors/home
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from Illinois's own licensing board, statute or rule, or the testing company the board names. Where a fact could not be confirmed from one of them, the page says to check with the board. Rules and fees change: confirm with the board before you apply.
- Supervising Electrician License (City of Chicago Department of Buildings), opened November 11, 2026
- Electrical Contractor License (City of Chicago Department of Buildings), opened November 11, 2026
- Chicago 303 Supervising Electrician (Continental Testing Services), opened November 11, 2026
- Contractor License Lookup (City of Chicago Department of Buildings), opened November 11, 2026
- City of Springfield Building and Zoning: Electrical License / ICC Electrical Test cover sheet (dated 8/29/2025), opened November 11, 2026
- Chicago Supervising Electricians Licensure Examination Study Guide (Continental Testing Services), opened November 11, 2026
Electrician license requirements in every state · How to become an electrician · Journeyman electrician license · Master electrician license
Last verified November 11, 2026.