An Illinois plumbing license renewal is due every year by May 1, filed through the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The fee is $150 for a licensed plumber and $100 for an apprentice plumber. Miss the deadline and you owe a $100 late fee on top of the renewal charge; let the license sit expired long enough and you may have to retake the licensing exam to get it back.1Justia Law. Illinois Code 225 ILCS 320 – Illinois Plumbing License Law
When and How to Renew
Every plumber and apprentice plumber license expires April 30. The new license period runs one year from May 1. To renew on time, submit payment before May 1 along with proof of any required continuing education. The IDPH runs renewals through an online portal, so there’s no paper form to mail.1Justia Law. Illinois Code 225 ILCS 320 – Illinois Plumbing License Law
Two requirements trip people up. First, Illinois law requires every applicant to certify whether they are delinquent on child support, whether or not they have children. Skip the certification and the IDPH will not process your renewal. Providing false information on it can cost you the license.2Illinois Department of Public Health. Plumbing
Second, the IDPH can hold a renewal if you owe the Illinois Department of Revenue. Under Section 20 of the Plumbing License Law, unpaid returns, penalties, or assessments are grounds to refuse renewal until the tax matter is resolved.1Justia Law. Illinois Code 225 ILCS 320 – Illinois Plumbing License Law Clear any state tax balance before you file.
Renewal Fees
Fees are set by administrative rule under 68 Ill. Adm. Code 750:3Illinois General Assembly. 68 Illinois Administrative Code 750 – Section 750.1100
- Plumber’s license, initial or renewal: $150
- Apprentice plumber’s license, initial or renewal: $100
- Late fee and reinstatement fee: $100, added to any lapsed renewal fees owed
All fees are nonrefundable. Plumbing contractors and irrigation contractors register annually on separate tracks with their own fees; retired plumbers hold a credential that proves competence but does not authorize active work, apprentice supervision, or inspections.2Illinois Department of Public Health. Plumbing
Continuing Education
After your first renewal, you must complete four hours of IDPH-approved continuing education each year as a condition of renewing. Courses generally cover plumbing code updates, safety, and new technologies. The statute lets the IDPH require up to 15 hours per year, but the current rule holds it at four.1Justia Law. Illinois Code 225 ILCS 320 – Illinois Plumbing License Law
The IDPH certifies both instructors and programs, so confirm your provider is approved before you pay for a course. Plumbers found to have committed repeated code violations may be ordered to complete additional hours beyond the standard four.1Justia Law. Illinois Code 225 ILCS 320 – Illinois Plumbing License Law
If You Miss the May 1 Deadline
How much trouble a lapsed license causes depends on how long it has been expired. The statute draws a firm line at five years.
Expired less than five years: apply for reinstatement, pay all lapsed renewal fees plus the $100 reinstatement fee. No exam is required.4Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 225 ILCS 320/14 – License Renewal and Continuing Education
Expired more than five years: apply for restoration, pay a restoration fee, and pass the Illinois plumber’s licensing exam again. Fail the exam and the IDPH will not restore your license, though you can retake it under the standard provisions of the Act.4Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 225 ILCS 320/14 – License Renewal and Continuing Education
Apprentice plumbers face an extra deadline. A late apprentice renewal must reach the IDPH by November 1 of the same year, or it cannot be renewed for that cycle. The total apprenticeship period also cannot exceed six years; if you have not applied for or passed the plumber’s exam within that window, the IDPH will not renew the apprentice license.2Illinois Department of Public Health. Plumbing
What a Lapse Costs If You Keep Working
Practicing plumbing in Illinois without a valid license is a criminal offense. A first violation is a Class B misdemeanor with a $500 fine. A second or later violation is a Class A misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine, and each day of continued work counts as a separate offense.1Justia Law. Illinois Code 225 ILCS 320 – Illinois Plumbing License Law
Civil penalties come on top. The IDPH can assess up to $5,000 per offense against anyone who practices, offers to practice, or holds themselves out as a plumber without a license. The penalty is imposed after a hearing, and the resulting order functions as a court judgment that the IDPH can collect through standard procedures.1Justia Law. Illinois Code 225 ILCS 320 – Illinois Plumbing License Law Even a short gap between April 30 and a late renewal can technically expose you if you keep working through it.
There are practical costs too. General contractors and homeowners often verify licensure before hiring, and insurers may deny coverage for work done while a license was inactive, leaving you personally liable for any damage or injury tied to that work.
EPA Certification Is Separate
Renewing with the IDPH does not cover federal certifications. Plumbers who work on renovations in buildings built before 1978 must also hold current certification under the EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule, both as individual renovators and as firms.5US EPA. What Does the Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule Require? EPA firm recertification is $300, and a combined renovation and lead-based paint activities firm recertification is $550.6US EPA. EPA Certification Program – Fees for Renovation Firms and Abatement Firms A current Illinois license will not let you perform covered work in older buildings if your EPA certification has lapsed.