Electrician License from Mississippi to Illinois: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) ↗
No — Illinois has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Mississippi electrical license holders. You must apply to the No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) as a new applicant and meet Illinois's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
There is nothing to transfer into Illinois, and it has nothing to do with Mississippi: Illinois issues no statewide electrician license. Licensing is handled by city and county building departments, so your Mississippi license is neither accepted nor rejected at the state level — it is simply not the right unit. Identify the Illinois 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, Mississippi → Illinois
| Mississippi (current) | Illinois (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | No statewide individual journeyman/master electrician license exists, so no state fee applies; municipal fees vary by jurisdiction. The separate MSBOC electrical CONTRACTOR (company) license carries its own fee | No statewide fee; fees are set by each municipality |
| Processing time | Not applicable — no statewide individual electrician license; timing depends on the municipality | Set by each municipality; there is no statewide process |
| Licensing authority | Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC) — electrical CONTRACTOR licensing; no statewide individual journeyman/master electrician license | No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Illinois sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Illinois's initial-licensure requirements on the No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Illinois'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 municipality).
- Allow Set by each municipality; there is no statewide process.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Illinois accept a Mississippi electrician license?
No — Illinois has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Mississippi electrical license holders. You must apply to the No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) as a new applicant and meet Illinois's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exam will I take moving from Mississippi to Illinois?
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 does the Mississippi-to-Illinois move cost and how long does it take?
No statewide fee; fees are set by each municipality; processing Set by each municipality; there is no statewide process.
Who do I apply to if Illinois has no state license?
The city or county building or electrical department covering your jobsite. Illinois sets electrician licensing locally, so there is no statewide application — confirm the requirements with the specific Illinois jurisdiction where you will work.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 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)
- MSBOC — Classifications (Electrical is a contractor/company classification) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- MSBOC — Frequently Asked Questions ($50,000 commercial threshold; contact city/county below it) ↗ (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]