Plumber License from Illinois to North Carolina: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors ↗
A plumbing license transfers from Illinois to North Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, verify your Illinois license, and meet North Carolina's endorsement requirements. North Carolina has no license reciprocity; every applicant must meet the NC experience requirement and pass the NC business/law exam section. Under a Technical Examination Waiver Agreement it waives ONLY the technical exam section for South Carolina plumbing contractors who passed the SC technical exam (SC Residential Plumbing maps to NC Plumbing Class II; SC Commercial Mechanical Plumbing (PB) maps to NC Plumbing Class I). Separately, under G.S. 87-21(g) the Board may, at its discretion, license an out-of-state contractor of the same or equivalent class without written examination if its standards are found substantially equivalent..
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Illinois is not among the states North Carolina names for an automatic exam waiver, so this move runs on the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors's individual endorsement or equivalency review rather than a guarantee. North Carolina has no license reciprocity; every applicant must meet the NC experience requirement and pass the NC business/law exam section. Under a Technical Examination Waiver Agreement it waives ONLY the technical exam section for South Carolina plumbing contractors who passed the SC technical exam (SC Residential Plumbing maps to NC Plumbing Class II; SC Commercial Mechanical Plumbing (PB) maps to NC Plumbing Class I). Separately, under G.S. 87-21(g) the Board may, at its discretion, license an out-of-state contractor of the same or equivalent class without written examination if its standards are found substantially equivalent.. Bring your Illinois license, proof that it is active and in good standing, and your apprenticeship and exam records — and get any discretionary exam or experience credit in writing before you rely on it.
What changes, Illinois → North Carolina
| Illinois (current) | North Carolina (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) | $30–$150 ($100 per examination section; $30 application fee and $150 annual license fee (Board fee schedule per its relocation/military provisions); South Carolina Technical Examination Waiver applicants still pay for and pass the NC business exam; CastleBranch background report is at the applicant's expense) |
| Processing time | No board-stated processing time; the examination application is due at least 30 days before the examination date | 4–6 weeks (Board-stated application-processing time; add time to schedule and pass the exam(s) with PSI) |
| Licensing authority | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Plumbing Program | North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — North Carolina sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm North Carolina's current requirements on the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Document 4,000 hours of hands-on plumbing experience for a Plumbing Contractor (Class I or Class II); up to 50% may be met with related post-secondary coursework.
- Pass the NC business/law exam section ($100 per exam section); the technical section is waived only for qualifying South Carolina plumbing contractors.
- Obtain a nationwide CastleBranch criminal background report at your own expense.
- Verify Social Security number via Form SSA-89 — the Board cannot issue a license without SSN verification.
- Pay the fees ($30–$150 ($100 per examination section; $30 application fee and $150 annual license fee (Board fee schedule per its relocation/military provisions); South Carolina Technical Examination Waiver applicants still pay for and pass the NC business exam; CastleBranch background report is at the applicant's expense)) and allow 4–6 weeks (Board-stated application-processing time; add time to schedule and pass the exam(s) with PSI).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does North Carolina accept a Illinois plumbing license?
A plumbing license transfers from Illinois to North Carolina by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors, verify your Illinois license, and meet North Carolina's endorsement requirements. North Carolina has no license reciprocity; every applicant must meet the NC experience requirement and pass the NC business/law exam section. Under a Technical Examination Waiver Agreement it waives ONLY the technical exam section for South Carolina plumbing contractors who passed the SC technical exam (SC Residential Plumbing maps to NC Plumbing Class II; SC Commercial Mechanical Plumbing (PB) maps to NC Plumbing Class I). Separately, under G.S. 87-21(g) the Board may, at its discretion, license an out-of-state contractor of the same or equivalent class without written examination if its standards are found substantially equivalent..
Which exam applies moving from Illinois to North Carolina?
North Carolina has no license reciprocity; every applicant must meet the NC experience requirement and pass the NC business/law exam section. Under a Technical Examination Waiver Agreement it waives ONLY the technical exam section for South Carolina plumbing contractors who passed the SC technical exam (SC Residential Plumbing maps to NC Plumbing Class II; SC Commercial Mechanical Plumbing (PB) maps to NC Plumbing Class I). Separately, under G.S. 87-21(g) the Board may, at its discretion, license an out-of-state contractor of the same or equivalent class without written examination if its standards are found substantially equivalent..
What does the Illinois-to-North Carolina move cost and how long does it take?
$30–$150 ($100 per examination section; $30 application fee and $150 annual license fee (Board fee schedule per its relocation/military provisions); South Carolina Technical Examination Waiver applicants still pay for and pass the NC business exam; CastleBranch background report is at the applicant's expense); processing 4–6 weeks (Board-stated application-processing time; add time to schedule and pass the exam(s) with PSI).
Can I keep my Illinois plumbing license after I'm licensed in North Carolina?
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.
- NC Plumbing/Heating/Fire Sprinkler Board — Exam Application Packet 2026-01 (classes, 4,000-hr experience, $100/exam, SC technical waiver, G.S. 87-21(g), 4-6 wk processing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors (board home) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NC Board — Applicant Information (license classifications; SC Technical Examination Waiver) ↗ (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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