Electrician License from Illinois to Maryland: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Maryland accept an Illinois electrician license?
There is no Illinois state license to carry to Maryland: Illinois issues no statewide journeyman electrician license. Maryland does license this work, so ask the Maryland State Board of Electricians (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor) whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
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Verdict
No state license to transfer
The issue on this move is the starting point: Illinois issues no statewide journeyman or master electrician license, so there is no Illinois state license for Maryland to verify, endorse or reciprocate. Maryland does license electricians, through the Maryland State Board of Electricians (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor), and it licenses out-of-state electricians by endorsement — but that route starts from a state license. Ask the board, in writing, whether it credits a local Illinois license or your documented hours; otherwise plan for its new-applicant route and exam. Maryland waives its journeyperson exam only for a Virginia journeyperson whose license was obtained by examination (or a Virginia apprenticeship) and held at least one year; applicants from every other state must sit the Maryland journeyperson exam (Original License by Examination). Master reciprocity is separate and broader.
What's different between Illinois and Maryland
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Maryland. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Illinois to Maryland (this page): No state license to transfer.
Maryland to Illinois (the reverse move): No state license to transfer.
Illinois issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so neither direction is a state-license transfer.
- Does coming from Illinois matter?
Coming from Illinois matters here: only 13 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into Maryland.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (36) and reciprocity agreement (1).
- Reciprocity agreements
Maryland's reciprocity agreement list names 1 state (Virginia), not including Illinois.
- Fee and processing
Illinois issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so there is no Illinois state license application fee or processing time to compare with Maryland's.
- Exam rules on record
Maryland and Illinois carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Maryland (this move): Maryland waives its journeyperson exam only for a Virginia journeyperson whose license was obtained by examination (or a Virginia apprenticeship) and held at least one year; applicants from every other state must sit the Maryland journeyperson exam (Original License by Examination). Master reciprocity is separate and broader
- Illinois (the reverse move): Illinois has no statewide electrician license, so there is no state exam to waive or transfer; each municipality sets its own exam and licensing rules (for example, the City of Chicago administers its own Supervising Electrician examination through Continental Testing Services)
What changes, Illinois → Maryland
| Illinois (current) | Maryland (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | No statewide fee; fees are set by each municipality | $18.50 (Journeyperson original license fee is $18.50 (effective 7/1/2025); master original license is $25.00. No separate reciprocity fee is charged. Non-reciprocal applicants also pay a PSI exam fee set by the testing service; a Letter of Good Standing is $50 when required) |
| Processing time | Set by each municipality; there is no statewide process | The Maryland State Board of Electricians does not publish a processing time for reciprocity or endorsement applications |
| Licensing authority | No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) | Maryland State Board of Electricians (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Maryland sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Maryland's requirements on the Maryland State Board of Electricians (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the Maryland State Board of Electricians (Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, Maryland Department of Labor) whether it credits a local Illinois license or your documented experience: Illinois issues no statewide journeyman electrician license, so there is no state license to verify.
- Otherwise apply as a new applicant: meet Maryland's education/experience requirements and pass the exams it requires.
- Submit the application with fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Maryland State Board of Electricians — Licensing Applications / How to Apply ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Maryland State Board of Electricians — Fees ↗ (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 the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com