Transfer Your Contractor License to Illinois: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)

Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Illinois Department of Public Health — Plumbing Program (general contractors are licensed municipally) ↗

Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license, so there is no Illinois state license to transfer into or out of. 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. No interstate reciprocity. The state plumbing license (Illinois Department of Public Health) offers only an intrastate path for City of Chicago licensees; there is no exam waiver for out-of-state plumbers. Roofing (IDFPR) and municipally-licensed general and electrical trades have no reciprocity.

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Verdict

No statewide license

The structural fact first: Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license, so a general contractor moving here has no state license to transfer and none to apply for. The work is to identify the local authority that governs your jobsite and meet its rules. Trade licenses are a separate question: check your trade and class in the checker before you assume anything carries over.

No state general contractor license — general contractors and electricians are licensed at the municipal level (e.g., Chicago). The only state-licensed trades are plumbing (IDPH) and roofing (IDFPR), neither of which offers interstate reciprocity; IDPH's only 'reciprocity' form is intrastate, for City of Chicago plumbers converting to the state license. Marked no_reciprocity because no trade offers interstate reciprocity.

Illinois requirements at a glance

Out-of-state contractor license transfer requirements for Illinois, verified 2026-07-21
Exam	No interstate reciprocity. The state plumbing license (Illinois Department of Public Health) offers only an intrastate path for City of Chicago licensees; there is no exam waiver for out-of-state plumbers. Roofing (IDFPR) and municipally-licensed general and electrical trades have no reciprocity.
General contracting	No state general contractor license: general contracting in Illinois is licensed locally (city or county), where it is licensed at all. 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
General contractor processing	None at state level — set by the local authority
Trade licenses (not general contracting)	Pass the Illinois state plumbing licensing examination (no out-of-state exam waiver) Complete a licensed apprenticeship of 48–72 months before licensure Roofing contractors must separately hold an IDFPR roofing contractor license
Trade-license fees	No reciprocity/endorsement fee exists because there is no reciprocity path; standard plumber licensing fees apply and were not captured

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

Illinois Department of Public Health — Plumbing Program (general contractors are licensed municipally) ↗

Coming from a specific state?

Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into Illinois:

All 50 origin states

Nearby states

Contractor license transfer into the states bordering Illinois:

Illinois for other professions

Frequently asked questions

Does my contractor license transfer to Illinois?

Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license, so there is no state license to transfer; any general-contractor licensing is local. No interstate reciprocity. The state plumbing license (Illinois Department of Public Health) offers only an intrastate path for City of Chicago licensees; there is no exam waiver for out-of-state plumbers. Roofing (IDFPR) and municipally-licensed general and electrical trades have no reciprocity.

Does reciprocity waive all of Illinois's requirements?

There is no state general contractor license in Illinois for reciprocity to apply to; any trade license that does reciprocate waives the trade exam only, not the business/law exam, bond, or insurance.

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.

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)

Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]