Electrician License from Illinois to Kansas: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: No statewide electrician licensing authority — electricians are licensed by cities/counties under K.S.A. 12-1525 et seq. ↗
No — Kansas has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Illinois electrical license holders. You must apply to the No statewide electrician licensing authority — electricians are licensed by cities/counties under K.S.A. 12-1525 et seq. as a new applicant and meet Kansas's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
There is nothing to transfer into Kansas, and it has nothing to do with Illinois: Kansas issues no statewide electrician license. Licensing is handled by city and county building departments, so your Illinois license is neither accepted nor rejected at the state level — it is simply not the right unit. Identify the Kansas jurisdiction where you will work and apply to that local authority; the requirements and fees are set there, not by a state board.
What changes, Illinois → Kansas
| Illinois (current) | Kansas (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | No statewide fee; fees are set by each municipality | No statewide fee — fees are set by each licensing city or county. Verify with the local jurisdiction. |
| Processing time | Set by each municipality; there is no statewide process | Not applicable at the state level; set by local jurisdictions. |
| Licensing authority | No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) | No statewide electrician licensing authority — electricians are licensed by cities/counties under K.S.A. 12-1525 et seq. |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Kansas sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Kansas's initial-licensure requirements on the No statewide electrician licensing authority — electricians are licensed by cities/counties under K.S.A. 12-1525 et seq. website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Kansas's education/experience requirements and pass its required exams — prior out-of-state licensure may still count toward experience.
- Submit the standard (new applicant) application with fees (No statewide fee — fees are set by each licensing city or county. Verify with the local jurisdiction.).
- Allow Not applicable at the state level; set by local jurisdictions..
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Frequently asked questions
Does Kansas accept a Illinois electrician license?
No — Kansas has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Illinois electrical license holders. You must apply to the No statewide electrician licensing authority — electricians are licensed by cities/counties under K.S.A. 12-1525 et seq. as a new applicant and meet Kansas's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exam will I take moving from Illinois to Kansas?
Not applicable — Kansas issues no statewide electrician license; each licensing city or county sets its own exam and any reciprocal recognition between political subdivisions.
What does the Illinois-to-Kansas move cost and how long does it take?
No statewide fee — fees are set by each licensing city or county. Verify with the local jurisdiction.; processing Not applicable at the state level; set by local jurisdictions..
Who do I apply to if Kansas has no state license?
The city or county building or electrical department covering your jobsite. Kansas sets electrician licensing locally, so there is no statewide application — confirm the requirements with the specific Kansas jurisdiction where you will work.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Kansas Legislature — 2026 HB2588 bill text (statewide electrician licensing; amends/repeals municipal-licensing statutes K.S.A. 12-1525 et seq.) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Kansas Legislature — HB2588 status (Died in the 2026 session) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- City of Chicago — Trade Licensing (Department of Buildings) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- City of Chicago — Supervising Electrician License (municipal exam/licensing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- City of Chicago — Electrical Contractor License ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]