If you’re a plumbing contractor in Illinois, you probably already know the rules. But it’s worth making sure every apprentice on your crew does too. Illinois has a hard deadline baked into its plumbing license law, and missing it can put both your apprentice and your business in a tough spot.
Expiring Apprentice Licenses: The 72-Month Rule
Under the Illinois Plumbing License Law, apprentices have six years, or 72 months, to pass their journeyman plumber exam. That window starts from the date they register as an apprentice with the state. It sounds like plenty of time, but between busy seasons, job site demands, and the genuine difficulty of the exam itself, a lot of apprentices find themselves getting close to that deadline without having passed.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) oversees plumbing licensure in the state and outlines these requirements in the Illinois Plumbing License Law (225ilcs320). Section 3, Part H makes clear that apprentices must be licensed to work, and Section 3, Part I spells out what happens when that window closes without a passing score.
Here’s what the Illinois Plumbing License Law says:
(h) No individual shall work as an apprentice plumber unless he or she is properly licensed under this Act. The Department shall issue an apprentice plumber's license to each approved applicant.
(i) No licensed apprentice plumber shall serve more than a 6 year licensed apprenticeship period. If, upon completion of a 6 year licensed apprenticeship period, such licensed apprentice plumber does not apply for the examination for a plumber's license and successfully pass the examination for a plumber's license, his or her apprentice plumber's license shall not be renewed
What Happens When Time Runs Out?
Here is where it gets serious. If an apprentice hits 72 months without passing the exam, their license cannot be renewed. The state will not extend or reinstate an expired apprentice license just through a standard renewal application.
The silver lining is they can still test. Timing out does not permanently close the door on becoming a licensed journeyman. But here is the catch for contractors: they cannot legally work in the meantime. Illinois law prohibits plumbing contractors from employing unlicensed individuals to perform plumbing work. If your apprentice has timed out and you keep them on the tools, that is not just risky. It is a violation of state law that can put your own contracting license at risk.
Licensed plumbing contractors are responsible for ensuring that anyone performing plumbing work under their supervision holds the required credentials. Violations can mean fines or disciplinary action against the contractor, not just the apprentice.
The Plumbing Exam Is No Walk in the Park
Under Title 68, Part 750.310 of the Illinois Plumbing Code, the journeyman plumber exam has three parts.
First is a knowledge assessment made up of true/false, multiple choice, and fill in the blank questions all based on the Illinois Plumbing Code.
Second is a construction drawings section where applicants have to interpret plans and either complete them or answer questions showing they understand plumbing fixtures, piping techniques, and code compliance.
Third is a practical application assessment in which you build projects (one copper project and one PVC/Cast Iron project) selected from Appendix A of the Illinois Plumbing Code. You get a drawing and instructions and have to assemble it on the spot.
That last part trips a lot of people up (does your apprentice know how to use their snapper?). You can be great with your hands on a job site and still struggle when you are being tested and timed in an unfamiliar setting. The written sections are no easier since the Illinois Plumbing Code is dense, and knowing how to do something in the field does not always mean you can answer code questions cold. Many apprentices who don’t pass have the necessary skills; they just haven’t had the focused study time to prepare for the exam.
That is a solvable problem.
Help Is Available
If you have an apprentice approaching the deadline, or one who has already timed out and needs help before taking the exam, there are resources available specifically for Illinois plumbers.
PlumbingEdu.com offers apprentice training and exam-preparation workshops designed to help apprentices prepare for the Illinois Plumbing exam. Whether someone needs a full review or just wants to sharpen up weak areas before test day, it is worth sending them to class before the clock becomes a real problem.
Six years feels like a long time until it is not. Make sure your apprentices know the deadline, take the exam seriously, and get the help they need to pass it the first time. Your license and theirs depend on it.
