Tennessee Electrical Contractor License Requirements
Rules from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, the State Fire Marshal, and Prov, last verified October 1, 2026.
The short answer: In Tennessee you need a contractor's license with the Electrical (CE) classification before you bid, quote a price, or negotiate any covered electrical job worth $25,000 or more, counting materials, equipment, and labor. That's true when you contract with the owner, and it's also true when you're an electrical subcontractor and the electrical portion of the job is $25,000 or more (Tennessee Board: contractor licensing requirements).
To get a CE license, the Board needs five things:
- Two passed open-book exams: Tennessee Business and Law plus the Electrical (CE) trade exam, both scheduled through Prov for new appointments beginning July 1, 2026.
- Proof of finances: a CPA- or LPA-prepared reviewed financial statement (audited if you want a limit over $3,000,000), or, since July 1, 2026, the Board's Contractors' Surety Bond for at least half the monetary limit you request.
- Insurance: general liability sized to your monetary limit, plus workers' compensation unless you can document an exemption.
- A reference letter and a notarized Contractor's Affidavit.
- Business/entity paperwork and the $250 online application through Tennessee's CORE licensing system.
For jobs under $25,000, the license you need depends on where the job is. Tennessee has no single statewide journeyman or master electrician license that replaces the CE contractor license.
Which Tennessee electrical license do you need?
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| An electrical job of $25,000 or more, as the prime contractor or the electrical subcontractor | A contractor's license with the CE classification or another electrical classification that actually covers the work. Your monetary limit must cover the contract under the Board's rules. |
| A job under $25,000 where the state electrical program handles permits and inspections | A Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license, or a contractor license with an electrical classification |
| A job under $25,000 in a city or county that runs its own electrical program | Follow that jurisdiction's electrician licensing, permit, and inspection rules. A Tennessee CE license satisfies the state contractor classification and prevents a county or municipality from requiring another electrical trade exam, but local permits, registrations, business licenses, and fees can still apply. |
| You want to advertise as an "electrical contractor" | Hold a contractor's license. Tennessee law says an LLE may not use the title "contractor" or another designation that gives the impression the LLE is a contractor unless that person also holds a contractor license. |
| You're licensed in another state | You still need a Tennessee license. Tennessee's reciprocity arrangements are trade-exam waivers, not permission to work under the other state's license. |
Sources: Board contractor page, LLE page, Electrical Licensing, and Tennessee's LLE law.
Source update (October 1, 2026): The original Tennessee Board Electrical Licensing page and LLE law PDF are unavailable. The Board's current LLE page provides current LLE scope and local-acceptance information. The current Secretary of State Rule 0680-3-.01(2) compilation replaces the unavailable law-PDF link; it is a current rules compilation, not the same PDF.
How the $25,000 is counted. Materials, equipment and labor count. For the under-$25,000 LLE calculation, the Board says owner-supplied materials may be excluded, but materials supplied by a prime/general contractor may not be treated as owner-supplied (Board electrical licensing page). Your contractor license also carries a monetary limit that must cover the project under the Board's rules.
Scope clarification (October 1, 2026): The original Board Electrical Licensing page cited above is unavailable. Current Tennessee contractor Rule 0680-01-.13(8) addresses contractor monetary-limit project-cost calculations, not direct LLE-threshold guidance. Confirm with the Board or local jurisdiction before excluding owner-provided materials from the LLE $25,000 threshold.
Who runs inspections where? These cities and counties are listed by the State Fire Marshal as not participating in the State Electrical Program (State Fire Marshal exempt electrical jurisdictions):
- East Tennessee: Athens, Bristol, Cleveland (including the Cleveland Utilities district), Elizabethton, all of Hamilton County (including Chattanooga, Collegedale, East Ridge, Lakesite, Lookout Mountain, Signal Mountain and Soddy-Daisy), Johnson City, Kingsport, Knoxville, Maryville, Morristown, Oak Ridge
- Middle Tennessee: Clarksville, Cookeville, Franklin, Gallatin, Hendersonville, McMinnville, Mt. Juliet, Murfreesboro, Nashville/Davidson County (Metro), Smyrna, Spring Hill
- West Tennessee: Jackson, all of Shelby County (including Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland, Memphis, Millington and Oakland)
If your job site isn't in one of these jurisdictions, the state electrical program generally handles the permit/inspection program. Either way, check the local codes office before relying on an LLE because local licensing and permit rules can change.
CE vs. LLE at a glance
| Row label | Electrical contractor (CE) | Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds it | The licensed contractor entity; required exams are taken by a qualifying agent | An individual |
| Job size | $25,000 and up, subject to the contractor's monetary limit | Under $25,000 per project |
| Where it works | State contractor classification; local permits and other local requirements still apply | Only where the local jurisdiction accepts the LLE/state inspection route |
| Exams | Business and Law + CE trade exam | LLE trade exam |
| Finances and insurance at application | Reviewed/audited financial statement or Contractors' Surety Bond, plus required insurance | No financial statement |
| Initial application fee | $250 | $50 |
How to get a Tennessee CE license, step by step
1. Pass the Business and Law and CE exams
Your company or licensed entity picks a qualifying agent, the person designated to take the required exam or exams for the entity. The QA may be an owner, an officer, or a full-time employee. A qualifying agent who doesn't have ownership must complete the Board's Power of Attorney form. Up to two people may take each exam for the company, and the person who passes Business and Law does not have to be the same person who passes the trade exam (Board exam information).
The exams are open-book. New exam scheduling beginning July 1, 2026, is through Prov. The Board says passing exam results are typically valid for two years, so don't let them lapse before you apply.
The official Prov Tennessee Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin that was directly accessible for this audit is dated June 15, 2026. It lists:
| Exam | Questions | Passing score | Fee | Main references |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business and Law | 50 | 73% | $53 | Tennessee Business and Law Study Guide for Contractors, 4th edition (2024) |
| Electrical (CE) | 100 | 73% | $53 | NFPA 70 (2017 NEC); Ugly's Electrical References (2020); OSHA 29 CFR 1926; American Electrician's Handbook, 17th edition |
| LLE (for comparison) | 40 | 73% | $53 | See the current Prov Tennessee bulletin for the permitted list |
Official bulletin checked: Prov, TNCONT_CIB 2026.06.15.
Source update (October 1, 2026): The June 15 bulletin linked above is historical, not current. Prov's current Tennessee contractor bulletin, TNCONT_CIB 2026.08.18 retains the table's question-count, passing-score, fee, and core-reference fields. The live bulletin in effect for your test date controls.
A few things to know before you buy books or schedule:
- Use the bulletin in effect for your test date. Prov can revise time limits, content details, and permitted references. The June 15 bulletin is the official version directly verified for this page, but candidates should open the current Tennessee bulletin from Prov's test information page before testing.
- Older PSI-era books have a deadline. The June 15, 2026 Prov bulletin permits specified prior-vendor alternate references only through January 1, 2027.
- The CE trade exam covers general electrical knowledge, plan and code reading, wiring and protection, wiring methods and materials, equipment, motors and controls, communication systems, special occupancies and equipment, hazardous locations, and OSHA safety.
- Passing an exam is not a license. Prov reports the result, but the Tennessee Board decides whether the applicant meets the licensing requirements.
Already licensed in another state? Tennessee may waive the trade exam for qualifying active licenses covered by a current Board waiver agreement. The waiver does not make the other state's license valid in Tennessee, does not waive the Tennessee application, and does not apply to the LLE. Official Tennessee pages currently conflict on the exact state list, so use the Board's live reciprocity/trade exam waiver information and have the participating board complete Tennessee's required verification form before relying on a waiver.
2. Prove your finances, or use the Contractors' Surety Bond
Every Tennessee contractor's license has a monetary limit: the total dollar amount of each individual project or contract you may undertake within the Board's rules. There's no cap on how many separate projects you take, but you can't split one project into phases to get around the monetary limit (Board contractor page, "Monetary Limit").
Option A: a financial statement.
- Reviewed statement for a requested limit of $3,000,000 or less.
- Audited statement for a requested limit over $3,000,000.
- It must be prepared by a licensed, independent accounting firm, be in the exact name and mode of operation you're licensing, follow GAAP, and be less than 12 months old when you submit the initial application.
Option B: the Contractors' Surety Bond (available beginning July 1, 2026). Instead of the reviewed or audited financial statement, you may submit the Board's Contractors' Surety Bond form in an amount of at least 50% of the monetary limit requested. A requested $500,000 limit therefore requires a bond amount of at least $250,000. The premium you pay the surety is not the same thing as the bond amount.
How your monetary limit is figured
The Board's published formula is 10 × the smaller of your working capital or your net worth, plus required experience.
- Working capital = current assets − current liabilities.
- Net worth = total assets − total liabilities.
Work it out in three steps:
- Find working capital and net worth on the financial statement.
- Take the smaller of the two. If you use the Board's acceptable line-of-credit supplement, it can increase working capital but not net worth.
- Multiply the smaller amount by 10.
The Board's examples: $15,000 in both working capital and net worth supports a $150,000 calculated limit. With $10,000 working capital and $200,000 net worth, the calculation is $100,000 because the smaller number controls. An unlimited monetary limit requires $300,000 in both working capital and net worth, plus the experience the Board requires.
The Board also publishes a 10% monetary-limit tolerance, except for the BC-A/r restricted residential license.
| Working capital | Net worth | Formula result | Statement level | Minimum general liability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 | $15,000 | $150,000 | Reviewed | $100,000 |
| $40,000 | $50,000 | $400,000 | Reviewed | $100,000 |
| $80,000 + $20,000 accepted line-of-credit supplement | $120,000 | $1,000,000 | Reviewed | $500,000 |
| $250,000 | $400,000 | $2,500,000 | Reviewed | $1,000,000 |
| $350,000 | $300,000 | Unlimited threshold met financially | Audited | $1,000,000 |
These are calculations from the Board's published formula and insurance tiers, not promises that the Board will assign that limit. Experience and the rest of the application still matter.
Coming up short? The Board lists a line-of-credit supplement to increase working capital and a Guaranty Agreement process for deficient financial statements. These are different from the July 2026 Contractors' Surety Bond that can replace the reviewed/audited financial statement.
3. Get your insurance, reference and affidavit
General liability insurance is required based on the monetary limit:
| Your monetary limit | Minimum general liability |
|---|---|
| Up to $500,000 | $100,000 |
| $500,001 to $1,500,000 | $500,000 |
| Over $1,500,000, including unlimited | $1,000,000 |
These are Board minimums, not a recommendation for how much coverage your business should carry.
Workers' compensation is required unless you provide acceptable proof of exemption. The Board's Forms and Downloads page links its current insurance resources.
One reference letter must come from a past client or employer who can speak to your construction experience, or from a code official who has inspected your work. The reference does not have to live in Tennessee, but cannot be a family member.
A notarized Contractor's Affidavit must be signed by all applicable people, including the qualifying agent, owners, partners, members, main officers, and major stockholders. The Board says applicants with complaints, convictions, or prior unlicensed bidding where a license was required must interview with the Board.
4. Register the business or entity correctly
The Board's current application guidance requires:
- Tennessee corporations: charter plus proof of registration with the Secretary of State.
- Out-of-state corporations: registration as a foreign corporation, plus charter and Certificate of Authority.
- LLCs: Articles of Organization plus proof of Secretary of State registration, including out-of-state LLCs.
- Limited partnerships: registration with the Secretary of State.
- DBAs: the full DBA name must appear on the Secretary of State documentation and the forms submitted to the Board.
The Board also directs contractors to obtain the applicable local business tax license for the cities or counties where they operate. Tennessee Department of Revenue rules determine the precise registration and license obligations for a particular location and level of receipts, so confirm the current business-tax requirement for each place you will operate rather than assuming one license covers the state.
After you're licensed, bid and contract in the name shown on the license.
5. Apply online
File the Initial New Contractor Application through CORE and pay the $250 nonrefundable initial contractor fee.
The Board says contractor license issuance typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. You may not bid, offer a price, or negotiate covered $25,000+ work while you are waiting for the license.
If the application isn't complete and in order, the Board may require an interview at a scheduled meeting. The Board describes those interviews as informal and generally handled by a member experienced in the applicant's field.
Tennessee CE application checklist
Current Board forms are on the Forms and Downloads page.
What does a Tennessee electrical contractor license cost?
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial contractor application | $250 |
| Each Prov exam | $53 in the official Prov bulletin directly checked for this page |
| Reviewed or audited financial statement | Set by the accounting firm |
| Contractors' Surety Bond, if used | Premium set by the surety; bond amount must be at least 50% of the requested monetary limit |
| General liability and workers' compensation | Set by the insurer |
| Contractor renewal | $200 |
If you take both required exams once at the $53 rate, the application and exam fees total $356 ($250 + $53 + $53). Accounting, bond, insurance, business-registration, permit, and other costs vary and are not included in that figure.
Board fee source: Tennessee contractor fees.
What a CE license covers
The full CE classification covers all electrical categories in Tennessee's contractor-classification system. The Board also issues narrower electrical subclassifications (Classification Outline):
| Code | Work | Trade exam? |
|---|---|---|
| CE | Full electrical classification; electrical work for buildings and structures | Yes |
| CE-A | Electrical transmission lines | Yes |
| CE-B | Electrical work for buildings and structures | Yes |
| CE-C | Underground electrical conduit | No |
| CE-D | Sound/intercom, fire detection, signal, burglar alarm and security systems up to 70 volts | No |
| CE-E | Electrical signs | No |
| CE-F | Telephone lines and ducts | No |
| CE-G | Cable TV | No |
| CE-H | Substations | Yes |
| CE-I | Electrical temperature controls | No |
| CE-J | Fire detection, signal, burglar alarm and security systems with conduit and wiring above 70 volts | Yes |
| CE-K | Roadway lighting, attenuators and signalization | Yes |
| CE-L | Electric meter installation | Yes |
The Board notes that separate alarm-system regulation can apply. Holding CE does not automatically eliminate every requirement of Tennessee's Alarm Systems Contractors Board.
The LLE: Tennessee's under-$25,000 electrical license
- Issued to an individual who passes the LLE trade exam through Prov.
- Covers electrical work under $25,000 per project where the local jurisdiction uses or accepts the state LLE route.
- The initial application fee is $50 through CORE.
- No financial statement or letter of reference is required for the LLE.
- An LLE may not use the title "contractor" or give the impression that the LLE is a contractor unless the person also holds a contractor license.
- Check the city or county before applying because some jurisdictions use their own electrician licensing and inspection systems.
Sources: Board LLE page, Electrical Licensing, and Tennessee LLE law.
After you're licensed
- Renewal: contractor licenses renew biennially. The current renewal fee is $200. The Board's renewal materials require a self-prepared financial statement for a monetary limit of $1.5 million or less and a compiled statement from a CPA or licensed public accountant when the monetary limit is greater than $1.5 million.
- Continuing education: the Board's current eight-hour residential continuing-education requirement applies to specified residential classifications such as BC-A and BC-A/r, not to a CE-only electrical classification.
- Late renewal: the contractor grace period is 12 months, with a $20 per month late fee. After the license has been expired for 12 months or more, the Board requires a new application/reinstatement process.
- Permits and code: a CE license does not replace project permits, inspections, or applicable local licensing/registration. In jurisdictions served by the State Electrical Program, the State Fire Marshal currently says the program enforces the 2017 NEC (Electrical Permits). Local programs may administer their own adopted code editions.
- Working unlicensed or over the limit: Tennessee law and Board enforcement rules can impose serious consequences. Do not bid covered work before licensure or exceed the license's permitted monetary scope.
- Check any license: use Tennessee's license verification system.
Questions people ask
Does Tennessee have a journeyman or master electrician license?
Not as one statewide credential that replaces the CE contractor license. Tennessee regulates statewide contractor electrical work through the contractor classifications and regulates the LLE separately; some local governments have their own journeyman/master electrician requirements for work in their jurisdictions.
Can I run an electrical business on an LLE?
You can perform qualifying under-$25,000 electrical work where the LLE is accepted, but Tennessee law says an LLE is not a contractor and may not use the title "contractor" unless the person also holds a valid contractor license. The local jurisdiction still controls whether it accepts the LLE route.
How long does the whole process take?
Allow time for exam preparation and scheduling, financial documents or a bond, insurance and entity paperwork. After a complete application is submitted, the Board says contractor license issuance typically takes about 4 to 6 weeks.
I'm an electrical subcontractor under a GC. Do I still need CE?
You need the appropriate Tennessee contractor classification if your electrical portion of the project is $25,000 or more. The Board also states that electrical subcontractors farther down the subcontracting chain must be licensed where the contractor-licensing law applies.
Can another state's electrical license let me work in Tennessee?
No. Tennessee describes its reciprocity arrangements as trade-exam waivers only. You still must qualify for and obtain the Tennessee contractor license.
How do I tab my code book for an open-book exam?
Use only tabs and markings permitted by the Prov bulletin in effect for your test date. The directly verified June 15, 2026 bulletin allows permanent tabs and highlighting/underlining under its rules and prohibits movable tabs and handwritten notes. If Castleport's NEC code-book tabbing guide is current for the same rules, it can be used as a study aid; the Prov bulletin controls on test day.
Tennessee tab-guide scope note (October 1, 2026): The current Tennessee CE bulletin identifies NFPA 70 (2017 NEC). The linked guide's 2023/2026 tab maps are not a map for the Tennessee CE exam; use the guide only for general tab rules that match the live Prov bulletin, which controls on test day.
Sources
- Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors: Contractor license requirements; Exam information; Limited Licensed Electrician; Electrical licensing; Classification Outline; Renewal; Fees; Forms and Downloads
- Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance Customer Service Center: Subcontractors / who is required to be licensed; Reciprocity / trade exam waiver
- Tennessee State Fire Marshal: Electrical permits; Exempt electrical jurisdictions
- Tennessee Department of Revenue: Business tax registration and licensing
- Prov: Tennessee Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin, June 15, 2026; Test information
Source update (October 1, 2026): The current Secretary of State Rule 0680-3-.01(2) compilation is the replacement for the unavailable original LLE law PDF cited above. It is a current rules compilation, not the original statutory PDF.
Last verified: October 1, 2026. The Tennessee licensing threshold, CE/LLE distinction, Prov transition, application fee, renewal fee, financial-statement rules, July 2026 Contractors' Surety Bond option, monetary-limit formula, qualifying-agent rules, State Electrical Program jurisdiction list, and directly accessible Prov bulletin facts above were rechecked against the linked official sources. Candidates should use the Prov bulletin in effect on their actual test date for time limits and permitted references.
Castleport Test Prep is an independent exam prep publisher. We aren't affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, the State Fire Marshal, or Prov. Exam and credential names identify their subjects; trademarks belong to their respective owners. This page explains published requirements. The Tennessee Board decides every contractor-license application.
By the Castleport Test Prep Editorial Team