Electrician License from Illinois to Tennessee: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) — state CE/LLE only; journeyman/master are local ↗
No — Tennessee has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Illinois electrical license holders. You must apply to the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) — state CE/LLE only; journeyman/master are local as a new applicant and meet Tennessee's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
There is nothing to transfer into Tennessee, and it has nothing to do with Illinois: Tennessee issues no statewide electrician license. Licensing is handled by city and county building departments, so your Illinois license is neither accepted nor rejected at the state level — it is simply not the right unit. Identify the Tennessee 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, Illinois → Tennessee
| Illinois (current) | Tennessee (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | No statewide fee; fees are set by each municipality | No statewide journeyman/master license fee exists; local authorities set their own fees. The state LLE and CE contractor fees are separate credentials not equivalent to a journeyman license. |
| Processing time | Set by each municipality; there is no statewide process | No statewide journeyman license, so no state processing time; local code authorities vary. |
| Licensing authority | No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) — state CE/LLE only; journeyman/master are local |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Tennessee sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Tennessee's initial-licensure requirements on the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) — state CE/LLE only; journeyman/master are local website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Tennessee'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 journeyman/master license fee exists; local authorities set their own fees. The state LLE and CE contractor fees are separate credentials not equivalent to a journeyman license.).
- Allow No statewide journeyman license, so no state processing time; local code authorities vary..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Tennessee accept a Illinois electrician license?
No — Tennessee has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Illinois electrical license holders. You must apply to the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) — state CE/LLE only; journeyman/master are local as a new applicant and meet Tennessee's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exam will I take moving from Illinois to Tennessee?
Not applicable — Tennessee issues no statewide journeyman or master electrician license, so there is no state journeyman exam to waive. The state Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) requires passing its exam and is expressly excluded from the Board's trade-exam-waiver reciprocity. Journeyman/master licenses are examined and issued by individual cities and counties.
What does the Illinois-to-Tennessee move cost and how long does it take?
No statewide journeyman/master license fee exists; local authorities set their own fees. The state LLE and CE contractor fees are separate credentials not equivalent to a journeyman license.; processing No statewide journeyman license, so no state processing time; local code authorities vary..
Who do I apply to if Tennessee has no state license?
The city or county building or electrical department covering your jobsite. Tennessee sets electrician licensing locally, so there is no statewide application — confirm the requirements with the specific Tennessee jurisdiction where you will work.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors — Trade Exam Waiver (Reciprocity) with Tennessee ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors — main page ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors — Limited Licensed Electrician application ↗ (accessed 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)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]