This page is for installers and contractors preparing to work under Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) certification for distributed generation or EV charging stations. It explains what the ICC asks for, including the $50 application fee and the April 1 recertification date, and gives you free practice sets on regulations, electrical safety, ethics and project documentation.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Exam fee (Distributed Generation Installer) | $50 application fee (nonrefundable)[1] | ilga.gov · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Exam fee (EV Charging Station Installer) | $50 application fee[2] | Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). It certifies distributed generation (DG) and EV charging station installers under Se · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Validity (Distributed Generation Installer) | Valid while in good standing; annual recertification required[3] | ilga.gov · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Renewal (Distributed Generation Installer) | Annual recertification report due April 1[3] | ilga.gov · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Delivery (Distributed Generation Installer) | Written application filed with the ICC Chief Clerk (no exam)[4] | ilga.gov · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Eligibility (Distributed Generation Installer) | Qualified person: 5 installations, or a DOL apprenticeship / NABCEP / UL / ETA certification / ICCB AAS degree[5] | ilga.gov · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Eligibility (EV Charging Station Installer) | Qualified person: 5 EV charger installations, or a DOL journeyman apprenticeship / UL EV charging certification[2] | Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). It certifies distributed generation (DG) and EV charging station installers under Se · Oct 22, 2026 |
| Late registration deadline (Distributed Generation Installer) | 30 days after April 1 before suspension or revocation[3] | ilga.gov · Oct 22, 2026 |
According to Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). It certifies distributed generation (DG) and EV charging station installers under Se, “"Qualified person" means a person who performs installations on behalf of the certificate holder and who has either satisfactorily completed at least five installations of a specific distributed generation technology or has completed at least one of the following programs requiring lab or field work”[5]
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) certifies distributed generation (DG) installers and EV charging station installers. Despite the exam-style name, the facts we have verified describe a written application, not a test. A DG application is filed with the ICC Chief Clerk and verified by a corporate officer. The application fee is $50 for both DG and EV charging station certification, and the DG fee is nonrefundable.
Eligibility turns on having a qualified person who performs installations on behalf of the certificate holder. For DG, a qualified person has either completed at least 5 installations of a specific DG technology, or holds a DOL apprenticeship, a NABCEP, UL or ETA certification, or an ICCB AAS degree. For EV charging, a qualified person has completed at least 5 EV charger installations, or holds a DOL journeyman apprenticeship or a UL EV charging certification.
A DG certificate stays valid while the holder is in good standing, and the holder must submit a recertification report every year by April 1. A holder who does not submit it within 30 days after April 1 is subject to suspension or revocation. Because there is no exam in these facts, we list no score, time limit or retake rule. Forms and requirements can change, so confirm them with the ICC before you file.
Prepare for the ICC - Illinois Commerce Commission Certified Contractor exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What is a key process for managing changes in a project?
Answer: C. Implementing change management processes
Explanation:
Implementing change management processes is correct because a change to scope, budget or schedule needs a record, a decision and a way to tell the people affected. That keeps a job from drifting without anyone noticing.
Disregarding stakeholder feedback is wrong because the people paying for or affected by the work need a say in changes. Adjusting scope without documentation is wrong because nobody can later show what was agreed, which invites disputes. Ignoring changes to stick to the original plan is wrong because real conditions on site do shift, and a plan that never adapts fails.
Rule to remember: every change is requested, reviewed, approved and written down before the work changes.
Question: What color is the grounding conductor in a standard U.S. electrical system?
Answer: D. Green or bare copper
Explanation:
Green insulation or bare copper marks the grounding conductor. The color tells anyone opening a panel or box which wire is a safety path and which wires carry current.
White is wrong because it normally identifies the neutral conductor, which carries current in normal operation. Black is wrong because it is a common color for ungrounded, energized conductors. Red is wrong for the same reason: it is another color used for energized conductors, so treating it as a ground could be dangerous.
Rule to remember: color coding is a safety signal. Green or bare means ground, white means neutral, and other colors are treated as live until tested.
Question: What is the first recommended step when an ICC contractor and a client have a payment dispute?
Answer: B. Attempt to resolve the dispute through direct negotiation or mediation
Explanation:
Trying direct negotiation or mediation first is correct because it is usually the fastest and cheapest way to settle a payment disagreement, and it keeps the working relationship and the written record intact.
Filing a lawsuit immediately is wrong because it skips cheaper steps and escalates cost and time. Stopping all work and abandoning the project is wrong because it can put the contractor in breach and create new liability. Reporting the client to the ICC is wrong as a first step because it does not resolve a payment dispute between the two parties.
Rule to remember: talk first, document everything, and escalate only when informal resolution fails.
Start with the official material. Read the ICC rules and application instructions for your certification type so you know what the Commission actually requires: who counts as a qualified person, what the application must include and when recertification is due. Note anything you are unsure about and check it on the ICC site rather than relying on a practice question.
Then work through the practice sets by topic. Begin with Contractor Licensing Requirements and Regulations and Compliance. Move to Electrical Systems and Safety and Construction Practices for the field side of the work. Finish with Project Management and Documentation and Consumer Protection and Dispute Resolution.
After each set, reread every question you missed and write the rule in your own words. Retake the weak sets after a break, then try the mixed practice test. Our questions are written by us and are not real exam questions, so use them to check your understanding, not to predict anything.
The verified facts we have describe a written application filed with the ICC Chief Clerk, with no exam for distributed generation installers. Our practice sets are for reviewing related knowledge, not for a specific test. Check the ICC website for the current requirements for your certification type before you apply.
The application fee is $50 for distributed generation installers and for EV charging station installers. The distributed generation fee is nonrefundable. The EV charging instructions list certified check, cashier's check or money order as payment methods. Confirm the current fee and payment method with the ICC before you submit.
A qualified person performs installations on behalf of the certificate holder. For distributed generation, that means at least 5 installations of a specific technology, or a DOL apprenticeship, NABCEP, UL or ETA certification, or an ICCB AAS degree. For EV charging, it means at least 5 EV charger installations, or a DOL journeyman apprenticeship or UL EV charging certification.
A distributed generation certificate holder must submit a recertification report by April 1 each year to stay in good standing. A holder who has not submitted it within 30 days after April 1 is subject to suspension or revocation of the certificate.
For distributed generation, a certificate is valid while the holder remains in good standing, which requires recertifying annually. We have not verified a fixed expiry date or an EV charging renewal schedule, so check the ICC for the current rules on your certificate.
No. The questions are written by us with AI tools and are not real exam questions. They cover topics such as regulations, electrical safety, ethics and project documentation so you can test your understanding. They do not predict what the ICC will ask, and they carry no promise of any result.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.