License path
Illinois Contractor License Exam Prep
Illinois contractors are licensed by the Illinois Dept. of Public Health — Plumbing Program. Use the classification list below. Some states fold business questions into the trade exam. We do not sell a standalone Law & Business paper for Illinois.
Confirm question count, time, open-book rules, and passing score on the live board bulletin before you sit. We do not publish a single Q-count for every classification on this page, and we do not guarantee a passing result.
Getting your Illinois contractor license? Contractor Pathway offers an original, exam-focused study guide and four full-length practice exams for every Illinois classification that requires a state board exam — currently 1 course across Plumbing. Choose your classification below and study with 30-, 60-, or 90-day access at $99, $129, and $169.
Who licenses contractors in Illinois
These are the Illinois classifications we build exam prep for, each licensed by its responsible board:
| Trade area | Licensing authority | Exam basis |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing | Illinois Department of Public Health | Adopted plumbing & fuel-gas codes |
Always confirm the current code edition, experience requirements, fees, and passing score with the board and testing vendor before you schedule. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-prep provider and is not affiliated with any Illinois board or testing vendor.
How to get licensed in Illinois
Illinois has no single contractor licence. Plumbing is licensed statewide by the Department of Public Health (IDPH), roofing by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), and general contracting and electrical work are licensed city by city. Identify which body governs your trade before anything else.
- Plumbing is state-licensed under the Plumbing License Law. Under 225 ILCS 320, IDPH licenses plumbers, plumbing contractors, plumbers’ apprentices, irrigation contractors and retired plumbers. There is no local substitute for this licence.
- Register as an apprentice, with a sponsor. An apprentice must be at least 16 years old, file the Apprentice Plumber’s License Application, and provide proof of sponsorship by an Illinois licensed plumber or an approved apprenticeship programme. Unsponsored time in the trade does not build toward the licence.
- Serve 48 to 72 months before the exam. Illinois requires work under a licensed plumber as a licensed apprentice for a 48 to 72 month period before sitting the state licensing examination — a minimum of four years employed as a licensed apprentice plumber.
- Bring the education requirement too. Applicants must have completed at least two years of high school or the equivalent, in addition to completing an approved course of instruction through a college, university or trade school.
- Roofing is licensed statewide by IDFPR, through a qualifying party. Illinois roofing contractors are licensed by IDFPR and must designate a qualifying party who sits the Roofing Contractor Qualifying Party Examination. If that person leaves, the Department must be notified — the licence rests on them.
- For general contracting and electrical, check the municipality. Illinois does not issue a statewide general contractor or electrical licence. Requirements are set locally — Chicago, for example, licenses general contractors through its Department of Buildings, with its own classes and bonding. Confirm the rules of the specific city or county where the work sits.
Sources: Illinois Department of Public Health — Plumbing and its apprentice plumber application; IDFPR Roofing Contractor; City of Chicago general contractor licensing. Contractor Pathway is an independent exam-preparation provider and is not affiliated with these agencies.
Choose your Illinois classification
Each course includes a comprehensive study guide — often 10,000 words or more — worked calculations, code-section breakdowns, common exam traps, a glossary, and a 30/60/90-day study plan — plus four full-length practice exams matched to the topic weightings of the Illinois test.
Illinois contractor licensing — FAQ
Does Illinois license general contractors?
Not at the state level – general contractors are licensed or registered by individual municipalities, so requirements vary city to city. Illinois does license certain trades statewide.
Which Illinois trades are licensed by the state?
Plumbing, through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and roofing, through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Electrical and HVAC are generally handled by municipalities.
What are the Illinois passing scores?
Illinois plumbing exams require at least 61% on each section and 75% overall; the Illinois roofing contractor exam requires 70%. Confirm the current format and content in the board candidate bulletin.
Which Illinois licenses do you build courses for?
The state-licensed trades that require an exam, such as plumbing and roofing, plus foundational content useful for municipal exams. For a local general-contractor or electrical license, check your municipality.
How long should I study for the Illinois exam?
Most candidates do well on a 30-, 60-, or 90-day plan depending on experience, which is why we offer access at all three terms ($99 / $129 / $169). Each guide includes a day-by-day study plan.