Plumber License from Illinois to Hawaii: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing — Board of Electricians and Plumbers ↗
No — Hawaii has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Illinois plumbing license holders. You must apply to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing — Board of Electricians and Plumbers as a new applicant and meet Hawaii's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
Hawaii has no plumbing reciprocity or endorsement covering Illinois, so this is a full journeyman application either way. Hawaii waives its journey worker plumber examination for no one; the Board of Electricians and Plumbers states in its FAQ 'Does Hawaii have reciprocal agreements with other states? No. All applicants must meet the same licensing and examination requirements,' so every out-of-state plumber must document the required experience and pass the Hawaii examination. The productive plan: gather proof of the apprenticeship or on-the-job hours you logged in Illinois, register for Hawaii's journeyman exam, and treat your experience as exam preparation and as credit toward Hawaii's experience requirement. Budget a new-applicant timeline and order your certified license history early — it is the long-lead item.
What changes, Illinois → Hawaii
| Illinois (current) | Hawaii (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $225 (Application fee for a plumber registered or licensed in Chicago or outside Illinois is $225 (an in-state Illinois licensed-apprentice applicant pays $175); a separate $150 plumber's license fee applies on issuance (68 Ill. Adm. Code 750.1100). The City-of-Chicago reciprocity (license without exam) carries a $150 license fee. Returned-check fee $100) | $130–$436 ($40 application + $90 examination = $130 to apply; the triennial license fee is prorated $102-$306 depending on the year of the triennium in which the license is issued (billed on approval; a license issued in calendar 2026 falls in the 3rd year = $102). Same fees for all applicants — no reduced reciprocity fee. Figures from the DCCA Electricians & Plumbers FAQ) |
| Processing time | No board-stated processing time; the examination application is due at least 30 days before the examination date | No board-stated processing time in weeks; examinations are scheduled periodically and licensure follows passing the exam |
| Licensing authority | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Plumbing Program | Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing — Board of Electricians and Plumbers |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Hawaii sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Hawaii's initial-licensure requirements on the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing — Board of Electricians and Plumbers website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Hawaii'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 ($130–$436 ($40 application + $90 examination = $130 to apply; the triennial license fee is prorated $102-$306 depending on the year of the triennium in which the license is issued (billed on approval; a license issued in calendar 2026 falls in the 3rd year = $102). Same fees for all applicants — no reduced reciprocity fee. Figures from the DCCA Electricians & Plumbers FAQ)).
- Allow No board-stated processing time in weeks; examinations are scheduled periodically and licensure follows passing the exam.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Hawaii accept a Illinois plumbing license?
No — Hawaii has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Illinois plumbing license holders. You must apply to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Professional and Vocational Licensing — Board of Electricians and Plumbers as a new applicant and meet Hawaii's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exam applies moving from Illinois to Hawaii?
Hawaii waives its journey worker plumber examination for no one; the Board of Electricians and Plumbers states in its FAQ 'Does Hawaii have reciprocal agreements with other states? No. All applicants must meet the same licensing and examination requirements,' so every out-of-state plumber must document the required experience and pass the Hawaii examination.
What does the Illinois-to-Hawaii move cost and how long does it take?
$130–$436 ($40 application + $90 examination = $130 to apply; the triennial license fee is prorated $102-$306 depending on the year of the triennium in which the license is issued (billed on approval; a license issued in calendar 2026 falls in the 3rd year = $102). Same fees for all applicants — no reduced reciprocity fee. Figures from the DCCA Electricians & Plumbers FAQ); processing No board-stated processing time in weeks; examinations are scheduled periodically and licensure follows passing the exam, plus the exam and experience-documentation costs of qualifying as a new applicant.
Can I keep my Illinois plumbing license after I'm licensed in Hawaii?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the Illinois credential active on its own renewal and continuing-education schedule and you hold both, which is common for plumbers working near a state line.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Hawaii DCCA — Electricians & Plumbers FAQ (reciprocity 'No'; PJ 5yr/10,000hr; application $40, exam $90, license fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Hawaii DCCA — Board of Electricians and Plumbers (board page, renewal fees, license search) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Illinois DPH — Application for Examination for Plumber's License (fees $175 in-state / $225 out-of-state; out-of-state section; 4-year 225 ILCS 320/10(d) requirement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Illinois DPH — Application for Plumber's License Reciprocity with the City of Chicago License Without Examination ($150 fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- 68 Ill. Adm. Code 750.1100 — Plumbers' and Apprentice Plumbers' Examination and Licensure Fees (Legal Information Institute) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Illinois DPH — Plumbing program (license types, license verification link) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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