Plumber License from New York to Illinois: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Plumbing Program ↗
No — Illinois has no reciprocity or endorsement path for New York plumbing license holders. You must apply to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Plumbing Program as a new applicant and meet Illinois's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
Illinois has no plumbing reciprocity or endorsement covering New York, so this is a full journeyman application either way. Illinois requires every out-of-state plumber to pass the Illinois plumber's licensing examination; the application's out-of-state section accepts prior apprenticeship/licensure toward the four-year experience prerequisite but does not waive the exam. The only license-WITHOUT-examination pathway is for a holder of a current City of Chicago plumber's license (an intra-Illinois municipal reciprocity), not for licensees of other states. The productive plan: gather proof of the apprenticeship or on-the-job hours you logged in New York, register for Illinois's journeyman exam, and treat your experience as exam preparation and as credit toward Illinois's experience requirement. Budget a new-applicant timeline and order your certified license history early — it is the long-lead item.
One thing to check first: because New York licenses plumbers only at the contractor level or through cities and counties, you may not hold the kind of state license earned by examination that some boards ask for. Document your hours and any local license or certification you do hold; the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Plumbing Program will weigh them toward its experience requirement even though they do not trigger a waiver.
What changes, New York → Illinois
| New York (current) | Illinois (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Set locally and varies by municipality; e.g., the New York City Master Plumber written-exam application (LIC41) fee is $525, with a separate practical-exam application (LIC42) — other cities/counties differ | $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) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; timelines are set by each municipal licensing authority | No board-stated processing time; the examination application is due at least 30 days before the examination date |
| Licensing authority | No New York State plumber licensing board — plumbing is licensed municipally (representative program: New York City Department of Buildings) | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Plumbing Program |
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 Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Plumbing Program 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 ($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)).
- Allow No board-stated processing time; the examination application is due at least 30 days before the examination date.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Illinois accept a New York plumbing license?
No — Illinois has no reciprocity or endorsement path for New York plumbing license holders. You must apply to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) — Plumbing Program as a new applicant and meet Illinois's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exam applies moving from New York to Illinois?
Illinois requires every out-of-state plumber to pass the Illinois plumber's licensing examination; the application's out-of-state section accepts prior apprenticeship/licensure toward the four-year experience prerequisite but does not waive the exam. The only license-WITHOUT-examination pathway is for a holder of a current City of Chicago plumber's license (an intra-Illinois municipal reciprocity), not for licensees of other states.
What does the New York-to-Illinois move cost and how long does it take?
$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); processing No board-stated processing time; the examination application is due at least 30 days before the examination date, plus the exam and experience-documentation costs of qualifying as a new applicant.
Can I keep my New York plumbing license after I'm licensed in Illinois?
Yes — plumbing licenses in different jurisdictions run independently. Keep the New York 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.
- 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)
- NYC Department of Buildings — Obtain a Master Plumber License (7-yr experience, written+practical exams, $525 LIC41 fee) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NYC Department of Buildings — Obtain a Journeyman Plumber Registration ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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