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How to become a plumber in Illinois

The license steps in Illinois, from apprentice to master or contractor, taken from the official licensing pages – plus pay, apprenticeships and where to apply.

The short answer

Get an Illinois apprentice plumber license (age 16+, sponsored by a licensed plumber or approved program), work at least 4 years as a licensed apprentice with 2 years of high school and approved coursework, then pass the state exam to become a licensed plumber; Chicago additionally requires its own city plumber and plumbing contractor licenses.

Note: in Illinois, licensing is split between the state and local governments. Check the local rules where you will work too.

The steps in Illinois

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    Illinois apprentice plumbers must be licensed by the Department of Public Health, be at least 16, and be sponsored by an Illinois licensed plumber or an approved apprenticeship program; the apprenticeship can last at most 6 years before the exam must be taken.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    To take the Illinois plumber's license exam you need at least 4 years as a licensed apprentice, at least 2 years of high school or equivalent, and an approved course of instruction; the exam is applied for through the Illinois Department of Public Health.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    Illinois has no separate master plumber license; the licensed plumber is the top individual license, and plumbing contractors (licensed plumbers working for others) must also register with the state every year.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    Illinois plumber licenses are renewed by April 30 each year, and licensed plumbers must complete continuing education annually (the hour count is not stated on the IDPH page).

Who licenses plumbers in Illinois

Illinois Department of Public Health (Illinois Plumbing License Law, 225 ILCS 320). License types we found: Licensed Plumber, Apprentice Plumber, Plumbing Contractor (registration).

Official application page

Already licensed? Anyone can check a license on ildohplmprod.glsuite.us.

Licensed in another state?

IDPH offers a reciprocity application for plumbers licensed by the City of Chicago; no other state reciprocity was stated.

Finding an apprenticeship

Most plumbers learn the trade through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus classroom instruction, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeships are paid jobs with progressive wage increases, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential; programs are approved by the Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. Search programs at apprenticeship.gov, or ask local plumbing contractors and union locals.

Pay and job outlook

$63,800

Median yearly pay for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025 (BLS).

7%

Projected job growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 42,000 openings a year (BLS).

4-5 years

Typical apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year (BLS).

National figures from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook; pay varies by state and city.

Already a plumber in Illinois?

63 plumbing businesses are listed on Plumbers Pages so far. Add your business free, or see plumbers in Illinois.

Sources

Requirements come from Illinois’s official licensing pages and statutes, checked October 2026. Rules change – confirm with the licensing office before you apply.

  1. dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/plumbin
  2. chicago.gov/city/en/depts/bldgs/supp_info/TLdetails/PLcontractor.html
  3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  4. U.S. Department of Labor – Apprenticeship.gov for career seekers

General information, not legal advice. All states · How we write our guides

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