Preparing for the Chicago Supervising Electrician exam? Illinois has no statewide electrician license — licensing is handled city by city — and the City of Chicago runs the largest, most established electrician licensing system in the state. This guide explains eligibility, how to apply, exam format and content, which code book is allowed in the exam room, and the exact tab/highlighting/notes rules — which are notably stricter here than in most other states.
Quick Answer: What Do You Need?
| Licensing authority | City of Chicago Department of Buildings |
| Exam administrator | Continental Testing Services, Inc. (CTS) |
| Eligibility | Age 21+, 2 years' verified supervised experience installing/altering/repairing/maintaining electrical wires, equipment, and apparatus |
| Exam format | Supervising Electrician: 150 questions, 4 hours. Supervising Low Voltage Electrician: 100 questions, 3 hours. 70 required to pass. |
| Code edition | 2018 Chicago Electrical Code (a locally-amended code, not a standalone NFPA 70 NEC edition) |
| Books allowed | A clean, printed copy of the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code only |
| Tabs / highlighting / notes | Tabs allowed (to mark sections only). Highlighting, underlining, and notes are prohibited — even before exam day. |
| Exam fee | $150.00 (2026), separate from the $150 initial license fee |
Who Regulates Electricians in Chicago?
The City of Chicago Department of Buildings issues Supervising Electrician and Electrical Contractor licenses under the Municipal Code of Chicago. It contracts with Continental Testing Services, Inc. (CTS) to process applications and administer the written exams. This guide covers only the City of Chicago — Illinois has no statewide electrician license, and other Illinois municipalities set entirely separate rules (see our Illinois licensing overview).
Supervising Electrician vs. Electrical Contractor
Chicago issues two distinct, related licenses:
- Supervising Electrician license — an individual credential. A licensed supervising electrician must either perform or directly supervise all electrical work done by an electrical contractor. There are two exam types: general and low voltage (additional specializations existed before 2018 but were consolidated).
- Electrical Contractor license — a business credential. An electrical contractor must be owned by, or employ, at least one licensed supervising electrician (see the Electrical Contractor section below).
A supervising electrician may not be the primary supervising electrician for more than one licensed electrical contractor at a time.
Eligibility Requirements
To sit for the Supervising Electrician written examination, you must:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have at least 2 years' experience installing, altering, repairing, and maintaining electrical wires, equipment, and apparatus (or equivalent experience), under the direct supervision of a supervising electrician or equivalent person
Work experience must be verified by letters from your supervisors as part of the application.
How to Apply
- Review the eligibility requirements above and gather supervisor verification letters.
- Submit your application through the Continental Testing Services website, which processes Chicago electrician license applications and administers the exams on behalf of the Department of Buildings.
- Study using CTS's official study guide (see Study Materials below) and register for an exam date.
- If you fail, you must wait at least 6 months before reapplying. There are no make-up exams and no refunds for a missed appointment.
- Passing candidates receive a PASS notice and an application for licensure; existing licenses are renewed through the Department of Buildings web portal.
What Is on the Exam?
Per Continental Testing Services' official candidate study guide, both exams share the same 25-question Electrical Principles and Practices section, then diverge on Chicago Electrical Code coverage:
| Section | Supervising Electrician (150 Q) | Low Voltage (100 Q) |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Principles & Practices (fundamentals, blueprint reading, conductors/conduit/grounding, transformers, power factor, service/voltage drops, OSHA) | 25 | 25 |
| Chicago Electrical Code — Titles 2, 4 & Ch. 13 | 8–10 | 5–7 |
| General Provisions (090–110s) | 10–12 | 6–8 |
| Wiring and Protection (200s) | 18–22 | 10–12 |
| Wiring Methods and Materials (300s) | 22–25 | 14–16 |
| Equipment for General Use (400s) | 12–14 | 6–8 |
| Special Occupancies (500s) | 12–14 | 6–8 |
| Special Equipment (600s) | 12 | 6–8 |
| Special Conditions (700s) | 12–14 | 6–8 |
| Communication Systems (800s) | 10–12 | 10–12 |
A score of 70 or higher passes both exams. CTS's guide notes that answers to over 75% of exam questions are documented directly in the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code itself; the rest draw on the American Electrician's Handbook and OSHA's 29 CFR Part 1926. Bring two sharpened No. 2 pencils and a non-programmable, non-printing, solar- or battery-powered calculator — no other calculators, markers, or writing tools are permitted, and no power outlets are available at the test site.
What Code Edition Does Chicago Use?
This is the detail most likely to trip up someone used to studying a national NEC edition: Chicago does not test a standalone NFPA 70 National Electrical Code edition. It tests the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code — a version of the NEC locally amended and republished by the City of Chicago (published through NFPA in 2018). As of our last check, CTS's official study guide still names the 2018 edition as the current reference, with no announced transition to a newer edition.
What Books Are Allowed?
The exam is open book, but narrowly so:
- A clean, printed copy of the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code — this is the only codebook candidates bring themselves.
- CTS separately provides, both for download beforehand and as a printed copy at the test itself, a reference document titled "Selected Provisions of Titles 2, 4 and 13" covering code changes since 2018 publication. You do not need to bring this yourself — CTS supplies it.
The American Electrician's Handbook (16th Ed., Croft & Sommers, 2013) and OSHA's 29 CFR Part 1926 are listed as recommended study sources that some exam questions draw from — but they are not listed as materials you're permitted to bring into the exam room itself. Only the Chicago Electrical Code goes in with you.
Tabs, Highlighting, and Notes — Chicago's Stricter Rule
If you've prepped for another state's electrician exam, read this section carefully — Chicago's marking rules are stricter than the "highlight and tab before exam day" pattern common elsewhere:
- Tabs are allowed, and may be used to mark sections of the Code.
- Highlighting, underlining, and notes are prohibited — not just during the exam, but at any time. CTS's guide requires a "clean" copy of the Code, full stop.
- No other changes to the published text are permitted.
This is a meaningful difference from most other states in our guides, where pre-exam highlighting and underlining are explicitly allowed. In Chicago, tabs marking section locations are the only permitted modification — treat your codebook as reference-only, not a study workbook.
Electrical Contractor License
An Electrical Contractor license is required to install, alter, or maintain wiring or equipment regulated by the Chicago Electrical Code, whether or not a permit is required — with two exceptions: work for a public utility under Illinois Commerce Commission jurisdiction, and work by a state-licensed private alarm contractor acting within that license's scope (who must still register the state license with the city for permits).
There are two contractor license types — General and Low Voltage — determined by which exam the contractor's supervising electrician passed. A business qualifies by employing at least one licensed supervising electrician; the license is automatically inactivated if that association lapses. For larger or higher-occupancy jobs (buildings over 55 feet, or Group A assembly occupancies with 300+ occupant load, before a certificate of occupancy is issued), Chicago calls this Class 1 electrical work and requires every person performing it to be either a licensed supervising electrician or a current/completed participant in a U.S. DOL-recognized apprenticeship program requiring at least 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and classroom instruction. Other work (Class 2) just requires supervision by the licensed supervising electrician associated with the contractor license.
Fees and License Validity
| Fee (Calendar Year 2026) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Examination fee (per exam) | $150.00 |
| Initial Supervising Electrician license fee | $150.00 |
| Supervising Electrician renewal (per year) | $150.00 |
| Electrical Contractor license (General or Low Voltage, initial or renewal) | $150.00 |
| Reinstatement (per year or fraction expired) | $100.00 |
| Administrative processing / replacement document / license verification | $50.00 each |
A Supervising Electrician license is valid for one year from issuance or renewal, and cannot be renewed if it has been expired for 3 or more years (you'd need to apply as new). An Electrical Contractor license is also valid one year and is automatically inactivated if the business loses its associated licensed supervising electrician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Chicago electrician exam open book?
Yes, but narrowly — only a clean, unmarked (except for tabs) copy of the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code is allowed.
Can I highlight or write notes in my code book before the exam?
No. Unlike most states, Chicago prohibits highlighting, underlining, and notes entirely — even if added before exam day. Only tabs marking section locations are permitted.
Does a Chicago license work anywhere else in Illinois?
Not automatically. Illinois has no statewide reciprocity system because it has no statewide license. Other municipalities set their own rules independently — see our Illinois licensing overview.
What edition of the NEC should I buy for this exam?
None — a standalone NFPA 70 NEC edition is not the correct reference for this exam. You need the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code specifically, which is a locally-amended code published separately from the national NEC.
Does Your Book Spot USA guarantee I'll pass?
No. No book or study guide can guarantee an exam result, and we don't claim otherwise.
Study Materials
We want to be straightforward here: Your Book Spot USA does not currently carry the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code or the American Electrician's Handbook that this exam is built on, so we won't tell you a standard national NEC codebook is the right purchase for this specific test — it isn't. Get the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code and CTS's free "Selected Provisions" supplement directly from Continental Testing Services, the official exam administrator.
If you also work outside Chicago in a jurisdiction that tests the national NEC, or want a general-purpose electrical reference for the job site, you can browse our current codebooks below — just don't rely on them as your Chicago exam reference.
Official Sources
- City of Chicago — Supervising Electrician License (checked September 1, 2026)
- City of Chicago — Electrical Contractor License (checked September 1, 2026)
- Continental Testing Services — Chicago Supervising Electricians Licensure Examination Study Guide, © 2018 Employment Research & Development Institute (obtained via continentaltesting.net)
- Municipal Code of Chicago, Chapter 4-292: Supervising Electricians (checked September 1, 2026)
- Municipal Code of Chicago, Chapter 4-290: Electrical Contractors (checked September 1, 2026)
Your Book Spot USA is not affiliated with the City of Chicago, Continental Testing Services, or NFPA. Candidate bulletins and licensing rules change — this page reflects our verification as of the date above. Spot something outdated? Let us know and we'll correct it.
