Electrician License from Rhode Island to Illinois: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) ↗
No — Illinois has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Rhode Island electrical license holders. You must apply to the No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) as a new applicant and meet Illinois's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
There is nothing to transfer into Illinois, and it has nothing to do with Rhode Island: Illinois issues no statewide electrician license. Licensing is handled by city and county building departments, so your Rhode Island license is neither accepted nor rejected at the state level — it is simply not the right unit. Identify the Illinois 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, Rhode Island → Illinois
| Rhode Island (current) | Illinois (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Training hours | 8,000 | — |
| Application fee | $72 (Rhode Island offers no reciprocity; $72 is the officially published 24-month journeyperson (Certificate B) license fee (ri.gov) plus a $6 service charge. A separate examination fee applies through the board's exam process and is not published as a flat state fee) | No statewide fee; fees are set by each municipality |
| Processing time | RI DLT does not publish a processing time for electrician applications | Set by each municipality; there is no statewide process |
| Licensing authority | Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) — Division of Professional Regulation, Board of Examiners of Electricians | No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Illinois sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Illinois's initial-licensure requirements on the No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Illinois'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 fee; fees are set by each municipality).
- Allow Set by each municipality; there is no statewide process.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Illinois accept a Rhode Island electrician license?
No — Illinois has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Rhode Island electrical license holders. You must apply to the No statewide board — electrician licensing is municipal (e.g., City of Chicago Department of Buildings) as a new applicant and meet Illinois's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exam will I take moving from Rhode Island to Illinois?
Illinois has no statewide electrician license, so there is no state exam to waive or transfer; each municipality sets its own exam and licensing rules (for example, the City of Chicago administers its own Supervising Electrician examination through Continental Testing Services).
What does the Rhode Island-to-Illinois move cost and how long does it take?
No statewide fee; fees are set by each municipality; processing Set by each municipality; there is no statewide process.
Who do I apply to if Illinois has no state license?
The city or county building or electrical department covering your jobsite. Illinois sets electrician licensing locally, so there is no statewide application — confirm the requirements with the specific Illinois jurisdiction where you will work.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 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)
- RI Board of Examiners of Electricians regulation (260-RICR-30-15-7): out-of-state applicants must sit the RI exam; Certificate B requires 8,000 hours ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- RI DLT — Board of Examiners for Electricians ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- RI.gov — Electrician license fees (Certificate B journeyperson $72; Certificate A master $240; +$6 service) ↗ (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]