State · IL
Illinois trade licensing
Illinois is an Office of Apprenticeship (OA) state; registered apprenticeships flow through U.S. DOL Region 5 rather than a State Apprenticeship Agency. IDPH licenses plumbers statewide under the Illinois Plumbing License Law (225 ILCS 320). Electrician and HVAC licensing are municipal: Chicago, Cook County, and other cities/counties set their own credentials, exams, and fees. Verify local requirements with the municipality where work is performed.
Primary regulator
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
idfpr.illinois.gov888-473-4858
Licensing boards by trade
plumber
Illinois Department of Public Health — Plumbing Program
dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/plumbing.htmlhvac
Municipal (no statewide HVAC license)
dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/plumbing.htmlPick a trade in Illinois
Aircraft Mechanic (A&P)
Services and inspects airframes and powerplants on aircraft: general aviation, airline, military.
Auto Body Technician
Repairs collision damage: panel replacement, frame straightening, refinishing.
Automotive Service Technician
Diagnoses, maintains, and repairs cars and light trucks: gasoline, diesel, and electric.
Boilermaker
Builds, installs, and repairs boilers, pressure vessels, and large tanks.
Carpenter
Frames, finishes, and builds structures from wood, steel, and composite materials.
[ ADJACENT ]
Diesel Mechanic
Services and repairs diesel engines in trucks, buses, and heavy equipment.
Electrician
Installs and maintains electrical systems in homes, commercial buildings, and industrial sites.
[ STATE LICENSE ]
Elevator Constructor
Installs, modernizes, and services elevators, escalators, and moving walkways.
[ STATE LICENSE ]
Glazier
Cuts, installs, and replaces glass in windows, storefronts, curtain walls, and skylights.
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
Services construction, mining, agricultural, and material-handling machinery.
HVAC Technician
Installs, maintains, and repairs heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems.
[ STATE LICENSE ]
Industrial Maintenance Technician
Keeps manufacturing equipment running: mechanical, electrical, and control system upkeep.
Ironworker
Erects structural steel, reinforces concrete with rebar, and installs metal decking and ornamental iron.
[ ADJACENT ]
Machinist
Makes precision metal parts using manual and CNC machine tools.
Mason
Lays brick, block, and stone for walls, foundations, chimneys, and veneers.
[ ADJACENT ]
Millwright
Installs, aligns, dismantles, and repairs heavy industrial machinery.
Operating Engineer
Operates heavy construction equipment: cranes, excavators, dozers, graders, loaders.
[ STATE LICENSE ]
Plumber
Installs and repairs water, waste, gas, and drainage systems in buildings.
[ STATE LICENSE ]
Sheet Metal Worker
Fabricates and installs ductwork, roofing, cladding, and architectural sheet metal.
Welder
Joins and cuts metal using arc, MIG, TIG, stick, and oxy-fuel processes.