- A homeowner who lives in a single family home can work on the system that serves it without a license, but must follow the code.
- Plan for a trade exam.
- Every year. Licenses expire December 31. The department lists approved continuing education courses.
Do you need a state license in Illinois?
Illinois licenses septic system work at the state level through the Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program. Below is what the board asks for, in the order you will run into it.
A homeowner who lives in a single family home can work on the system that serves it without a license, but must follow the code.
Illinois license types for septic system work
Illinois splits the work into 2 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Installation Contractor | Building, installing, repairing and maintaining private sewage disposal systems |
| Pumping Contractor | Pumping and hauling waste from septic systems |
Steps to get licensed in Illinois
- Apply to the Department of Public Health for the installation contractor exam.
- Pass the written exam.
- Pay the yearly license fee.
- Renew by December 31 each year.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Private Sewage System Installation Contractor license.
Illinois septic installer exams
Trade exam. A written exam prepared by the Department. Licensed plumbers still take it but do not pay the yearly fee.
Business and law exam. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
What it costs in Illinois
We could not confirm the current fee schedule on an official page. Check with the board before you budget: Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program.
Insurance and bond
Insurance. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Bond. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. Every year. Licenses expire December 31. The department lists approved continuing education courses.
Reciprocity. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for septic installation near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Illinois Department of Public Health, Private Sewage Disposal Program and the official pages below, checked October 9, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.