Contractor License from Alabama to Illinois: Does It Transfer? (2026)
There is no Illinois state license to transfer into: Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license. Any licensing for this work is handled below the state level (a city, county or contractor-level authority), so check with the authority where you will work.
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Verdict
No state license to transfer
There is nothing at state level to transfer your Alabama license into: Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license. Identify the local authority that governs your jobsite and work from its rules; your Alabama license and experience may help there, but no state agreement applies to general contracting.
What changes, Alabama → Illinois
| Alabama (current) | Illinois (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $220–$315 (Fees are per-board, not additive: General Contractors prime application $300; Electrical reciprocal license $315 (eff. 2/14/2026); HVAC reciprocity $220 (plus $20,000 bond); Home Builders and plumbing fees separate.) | General contractor fee: none at state level — general contractor licensing is local, so the city or county sets any fee |
| Processing time | 4+ weeks (GC reciprocity applications must be on file 30 days before a quarterly board meeting, so timing depends on the meeting calendar; other boards do not publish a processing range.) | None at state level — set by the local authority |
| Licensing authority | Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors (plus separate Home Builders Licensure Board, Board of Electrical Contractors, HACR Board, and Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board) | General contracting: licensed locally (city or county); trade licenses: Illinois Department of Public Health — Plumbing Program (general contractors are licensed municipally) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Illinois sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license, so there is no state license to transfer: confirm with the authority linked on this page who licenses the work where you will practice.
- Contact that city, county or contractor-level authority for its own requirements, exams and fees.
- Keep records of your current license, exams and documented experience — a local authority may credit them, but nothing transfers at state level.
- Obtain any general contractor or electrical license from the local municipality (no state license).
- General contractor fee: none at state level — general contractor licensing is local, so the city or county sets any fee.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Illinois accept an Alabama contractor license?
There is no Illinois state license to transfer into: Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license. Any licensing for this work is handled below the state level (a city, county or contractor-level authority), so check with the authority where you will work.
What applies in Illinois without a state general contractor license?
The rules of the local authority that governs your jobsite — Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license or exam. Trade licenses Illinois does issue are a separate question for the checker.
What fees apply in Illinois, and how long does processing take?
Illinois issues no state general contractor license, so there is no state license fee: general contracting is licensed locally, and the city or county sets any fee and timeline.
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
Not for general contracting: Illinois issues no state general contractor license, so there is no state GC exam for NASCLA to replace.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Illinois Department of Public Health — Plumbing (licensing, forms; reciprocity form is Chicago-only) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Illinois IDFPR — Roofing Contractors (no reciprocity provision) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors — Reciprocity (AR, LA, MS, NC, TN; trade exam waived, business-law not waived; 30 days on file) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board — Does the Board reciprocate? (TN, SC, MS, LA, NC; 3 years; skills exam waived, business-law not) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Board of Electrical Contractors — Forms and Testing (reciprocal states MS, LA, TN, NC, VA, SC, TX + NASCLA; $315 fee eff. 2/14/2026) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama HACR Board — How to Get Licensed (reciprocal states; $220 fee; $20,000 bond; letter of good standing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board — Reciprocation (Mississippi master plumber eff. 1/1/2026; Louisiana LP gas) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]