Illinois Plumbing License Renewal: Deadlines, Fees and CE

The Licensed Plumber (Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) - Plumbing Program) renews every year, has a renewal fee of about $150 and requires 4 hours of continuing education. The Plumbing Contractor Registration (Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) - Plumbing Program) renews every year, has a renewal fee of about $150 and requires a bond of $20,000 (verify with the board). Fees change, so check the official site for the exact amount.

Full rule details

Verified dataLast checked Oct 17, 2026, next review due July 2027

Informational: verify with the issuing board.

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Licensed Plumber

State license · Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) - Plumbing Program

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Renew on the official site 217-524-0791

Renewal cycle: Every year
Continuing education: 4 hours
Show CE rules
4 hours per year of Department-approved continuing education (instruction supervised by an Illinois licensed plumber) as a condition of each annual renewal after the first license; approved course list published by IDPH (data.illinois.gov).
Deadline rule: Licenses expire April 30 each year (renewal covers one year from May 1; payment required before May 1).

Show fees, grace period, bond and insurance

Grace period: Not published, check with the board

Fees, approximate

Renewal fee: About $150
Late fee: About $100 late/reinstatement fee in addition to lapsed renewal fees (68 Ill. Adm. Code 750.1100).
Reinstatement: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
Expired less than 5 years: pay all lapsed renewal fees plus about $100 reinstatement fee (per year). Expired more than 5 years: written application for restoration, about $175 restoration fee (includes first exam) and pass the Illinois plumber exam.

Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Why approximate?

Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.

Bond: Not required
Insurance: Not required
Reciprocity: No reciprocity found in the plumbing rules. Plumbers registered or licensed in another state pay a $225 fee to take the Illinois plumber exam.

Notes

The plumber license qualifies the Plumber of Record for a contractor registration. Child support compliance is certified at renewal. Apprentice plumber license is $100 a year and retired plumber license $25 a year. Chicago issues its own plumber licenses; Chicago plumbers who run a contracting business still register the company with IDPH.

HighLast checked Oct 17, 2026

Sources (3)

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Plumbing Contractor Registration

State license · Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) - Plumbing Program

Remind me before this expires

Renew on the official site 217-524-0791

Renewal cycle: Every year
Continuing education: Not required
Deadline rule: Registration expires September 30 each year.

Show fees, grace period, bond and insurance

Grace period: Not published, check with the board

Fees, approximate

Renewal fee: About $150
Late fee: About $100 reinstatement/late fee (77 Ill. Adm. Code 894.80); about $200 dishonored-payment fee. Fees non-refundable.
Reinstatement: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
A lapsed registration is reinstated with the about $100 reinstatement fee plus the renewal fee. The registration is suspended if the certificate of insurance on file expires before a renewed one is filed. Registrations do not transfer on a change of ownership; the new owner must apply.

Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Why approximate?

Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.

Bond: Required: $20,000. Verify the amount with the board.
Insurance: Certificate of insurance naming IDPH Plumbing Program as certificate holder: $100,000 general liability, $300,000 bodily injury, $50,000 property damage (per occurrence), $500,000 workers' compensation (contractors with no employees may file Affidavit of No Employees / WC opt-out). No binders or continuous certificates; must be valid 60+ days after registration issued. $20,000 surety/indemnification bond (or letter of credit) on IDPH form naming Department as beneficiary, expires Sept 30 of the current year and cannot be continuous.
Reciprocity: Not published, check with the board

Notes

The Plumber of Record must be the sole owner, a partner, a corporate officer or an LLC manager or member, must hold a plumber license valid at least 60 days after the registration is issued, and cannot be Plumber of Record for more than one company. Notify IDPH within 15 days of changes in business structure, name, location or the Plumber of Record. The insurance certificate must name IDPH Plumbing Program as holder; binders and continuous certificates are not accepted. The $20,000 bond must be on the IDPH form and expire September 30 of the current year. IDPH Plumbing Program: 217-524-0791.

HighLast checked Oct 17, 2026

Sources (4)

The hours, required topics, approved providers and reporting rules for each license are on the Illinois Plumbing continuing education page.

How to renew

1Check your Licensed Plumber deadline: Licenses expire April 30 each year (renewal covers one year from May 1; payment required before May 1).
2Complete 4 continuing education hours before renewing. 4 hours per year of Department-approved continuing education (instruction supervised by an Illinois licensed plumber) as a condition of each annual renewal after the first license; approved course list published by IDPH (data.illinois.gov).
3Renew online at https://ildohplmprod.glsuite.us/glsuiteweb/clients/ildohplm/private/PlumRen/Login.aspx
4Pay the renewal fee on the official site. Expect about $150, but fees change.
5If you miss the deadline: About $100 late/reinstatement fee in addition to lapsed renewal fees (68 Ill. Adm. Code 750.1100).
6Check your Plumbing Contractor Registration deadline: Registration expires September 30 each year.
7Confirm your bond and insurance meet the board requirements and are not expiring.
8Renew online at https://ildohplmprod.glsuite.us/glsuiteweb/clients/ildohplm/private/ContractorRen/Login.aspx
9If you miss the deadline: About $100 reinstatement/late fee (77 Ill. Adm. Code 894.80); about $200 dishonored-payment fee. Fees non-refundable.

Illinois Plumbing renewal questions

Answers come from the records above. Informational: verify with the issuing board.

When does an Illinois plumbing license expire?

Licensed Plumber: renews every year. Licenses expire April 30 each year (renewal covers one year from May 1; payment required before May 1). Plumbing Contractor Registration: renews every year. Registration expires September 30 each year. Check with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) - Plumbing Program before you rely on it.

How many CE hours does an Illinois plumbing license need?

Licensed Plumber: 4 hours per renewal. Plumbing Contractor Registration: no CE required. Check with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) - Plumbing Program before you rely on it.

How much does it cost to renew an Illinois plumbing license?

Licensed Plumber: About $150. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

What happens if an Illinois plumbing license expires?

About $100 late/reinstatement fee in addition to lapsed renewal fees (68 Ill. Adm. Code 750.1100). Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Does Illinois accept plumbing licenses from other states?

No reciprocity found in the plumbing rules. Plumbers registered or licensed in another state pay a $225 fee to take the Illinois plumber exam. Check with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) - Plumbing Program before you rely on it.

Sources

Spot something out of date?

Informational only. Check it with the issuing board. Licensing rules, deadlines and CE requirements change, fee amounts are approximate, and this page can be out of date. It is not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with any state board. Read the disclaimer.

This information is here to help you plan, not to replace the board. Fee amounts are approximate and may be out of date. Deadlines and continuing education rules change too, sometimes without much notice. Always confirm with your licensing board and its official site before you rely on a date or an amount. This is not legal advice.

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