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Tennessee Contractor, Electrician, Plumber and HVAC License Requirements

By Dale Morgan · Updated 2026-10-18 · Every fact links to its official source.

Many people search for Tennessee contractor licensing, often because they want to bid larger jobs or are moving their business into the state. Tennessee also has limited licenses for smaller electrical and plumbing work, and separate rules for HVAC. This guide summarizes the verified official requirements for all of them and explains what to check next.

Below, the guide works through each trade in turn. Inside each section the facts are grouped by topic: who issues the license, the license levels, experience, the exam, fees and renewal. Each one is quoted from an official Tennessee page and linked. Where we haven't verified something, we say so and point you to the board.

A practical tip: write down which license you actually need before you compare fees or exams. Contractor licenses (for businesses that bid and contract work) and individual trade licenses (for the person doing the work) often have different requirements, and the scope label on each fact tells you which one it belongs to.

Check a Tennessee license: we don't hold a bulk license file for Tennessee, so use the board's own search, linked from Tennessee licensing board website.

chart iconVerified facts at a glance

Typical licensing path1Find thelicensing authority2Log supervisedexperience3Pass theexam4Apply andpay fees5Renew and keepup CE
Typical licensing path. A general outline only; the order and requirements differ by jurisdiction — see the verified facts below.
Application fee by license — individual licenses (verified values only)Tennessee Plumber$75Tennessee Electrician$50
Application fee by license — individual licenses (verified values only) (USD). Each bar is a single number quoted on an official page and reviewed by our editor; amounts are for the license type named in the scope note below and are not totals. Jurisdictions without a verified value are left out rather than estimated.

Chart sources (application fee):

section iconTennessee contractor license

Here is what the official Tennessee pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Tennessee general contractor license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Is a state/provincial license required?

Exam

Other notes

We have not yet verified fees for Tennessee from an official page; the board may not publish it online. Check Tennessee licensing board website or our Tennessee general contractor page.

We have not yet verified experience / hours for Tennessee from an official page; the board may not publish it online. Check Tennessee licensing board website or our Tennessee general contractor page.

section iconTennessee electrician license

Here is what the official Tennessee pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Tennessee electrician license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Is a state/provincial license required?

Exam

Fees

We have not yet verified experience / hours for Tennessee from an official page; the board may not publish it online. Check Tennessee licensing board website or our Tennessee electrician page.

section iconTennessee plumber license

Here is what the official Tennessee pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Tennessee plumber license requirements page.

Licensing authority

Exam

Fees

Other notes

We have not yet verified experience / hours for Tennessee from an official page; the board may not publish it online. Check Tennessee licensing board website or our Tennessee plumber page.

section iconTennessee HVAC license

Here is what the official Tennessee pages we checked actually say. Each point is quoted from our reviewed record with its source; for the full picture, including anything still pending review, see our Tennessee hvac license requirements page.

Is a state/provincial license required?

Exam

We have not yet verified fees for Tennessee from an official page; the board may not publish it online. Check Tennessee licensing board website or our Tennessee hvac page.

We have not yet verified experience / hours for Tennessee from an official page; the board may not publish it online. Check Tennessee licensing board website or our Tennessee hvac page.

section iconBefore you apply: a practical checklist

steps iconHow to use this guide

help iconFAQ

What exam is required? (Tennessee contractor license)

From July 1, 2026, Prov is the Board’s trade exam provider. (Contractor license (TN Board for Licensing Contractors)) — source: board-overview.pdf, verified 2026-10-18

How much does it cost? (Tennessee electrician license)

Initial LLE application fee $50. (Individual worker license (TN Limited Licensed Electrician)) — source: limited-licensed-electrician-lle.pdf, verified 2026-10-18

What exam is required? (Tennessee electrician license)

The LLE license is issued to individuals passing the LLE trade exam. (Individual worker license (TN Limited Licensed Electrician)) — source: limited-licensed-electrician-lle.pdf, verified 2026-10-18

How much does it cost? (Tennessee plumber license)

Initial LLP application fee $75. (Individual worker license (TN Limited Licensed Plumber)) — source: limited-licensed-plumber-llp.pdf, verified 2026-10-18

What exam is required? (Tennessee plumber license)

The LLP license is issued to individuals passing the LLP trade exam. (Individual worker license (TN Limited Licensed Plumber)) — source: limited-licensed-plumber-llp.pdf, verified 2026-10-18

What exam is required? (Tennessee HVAC license)

Exam pre-approval request fee (plumbing CMC-A / mechanical CMC): $50. (Contractor license (TN Board for Licensing Contractors)) — source: contractor-license-classifications.pdf, verified 2026-10-18