Any plumber or plumbing contracts needs to get a license before they are able to do any work in Illinois. In order to obtain a license, plumbers will need to pass their Plumbing License Exam, which will cover topics such as drainage systems, administrative procedures, vents & venting, fixtures, etc. The Illinois Department of Public… View Article The post How to Get a Plumbing License in Illinois appeared first on Scout Services.

Any plumber or plumbing contracts needs to get a license before they are able to do any work in Illinois. In order to obtain a license, plumbers will need to pass their Plumbing License Exam, which will cover topics such as drainage systems, administrative procedures, vents & venting, fixtures, etc. The Illinois Department of Public Health regulates plumbing licenses and the City of Chicago also issues plumbing licenses for its jurisdiction.

In order to qualify to take the plumbing exam in Illinois, a candidate has to have completed at least two years of high school, graduated from a trade school program in plumbing and needs to have been employed as an apprentice plumber for at least four years. To apply for the test, you can find the application online at the Plumbing Program website. The application is then mailed in.

The plumbing exam in Chicago will take three hours and the applicant needs to receive a score of 70 to pass it. There are study guides, practice tests and flashcards available to help applicants prepare for the exam.
Applicants are not allowed to bring their own calculator and cannot bring in any reference materials into the testing site. However, calculators will be provided for the applicants on site. The exam will include questions about:

  • Code Requirements for Plumbers and Contractors
  • Cutting and Assembling Plumbing System Components
  • Drawings, Charts and Plans
  • Plumbing Practice, Theory and Safety
  • Plumbing Systems
  • Rehabilitated Requirements
  • Troubleshoot, Maintenance and Repair

There are fees in order to take the test. Once the exam has been completed and applicants have been informed that they have passed, they will receive their license. Plumbing licenses need to be renewed every year and there is a continuing education requirement that comes with the license.

Plumbing contracts need to register with the state of Illinois and they also need to pay a fee and get a minimum of general liability, bodily injury, property damage and workers compensation insurance.