Electrician License from Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio: Illinois issues no statewide electrician license. Licensing is handled by city and county building departments, so your Ohio 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, Ohio → Illinois
| Ohio (current) | Illinois (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | No statewide journeyman/master license exists, so there is no state journeyman fee. The OCILB commercial Electrical Contractor reciprocity application (a different, contractor-level credential) is a $25.00 non-refundable fee per trade; annual license fee applies on issuance. Municipal journeyman/master fees vary by city and are not published statewide | No statewide fee; fees are set by each municipality |
| Processing time | Not applicable at the state level for journeyman/master (municipal); OCILB does not publish a processing time for the contractor reciprocity application | Set by each municipality; there is no statewide process |
| Licensing authority | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) — Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance (issues the commercial Electrical Contractor license only; no state journeyman/master 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 Ohio electrician license?
No — Illinois has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio-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)
- OCILB — Electrical Reciprocity Verification of Licensure (West Virginia, master + contractor electrician) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- OCILB — Contractors and contracting companies (reciprocity applications by state) ↗ (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]