Verify the License Before You Bid or Hire
The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors regulates statewide contractor licenses, Home Improvement contractors, Limited Licensed Electricians and Limited Licensed Plumbers through the Department of Commerce & Insurance.
Use this guide to check a company’s status, classification, qualifying agent, monetary limit and expiration—or prepare exams, financial documents, insurance and a CORE application before offering a price on covered work.
Two Important Tennessee Changes Effective July 1, 2026
Prov became the Board’s new trade-exam provider. Applicants may schedule Prov examinations administered on or after July 1. Candidates already scheduled with PSI for a later date may keep that appointment, and PSI continues administering previously scheduled exams through September 2026.
A new Contractors’ Surety Bond option became available. It may be used instead of a CPA-reviewed or CPA-audited financial statement when the Board-approved bond equals at least 50% of the monetary limit requested.
When Is a Tennessee Contractor License Required?
A Tennessee contractor license is generally required before bidding, offering a price, negotiating or contracting when the complete project cost is $25,000 or more. Waiting until a bid is accepted or a contract is signed is too late.
Prime contractors
A person or business contracting directly with the owner generally needs the appropriate contractor license when the total labor-and-material project value reaches $25,000.
Regulated subcontractors
Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing subcontractors generally need licensing when their portion is $25,000 or more. Masonry subcontractor licensing generally begins at $100,000.
Construction managers
A person or company supervising, scheduling, directing or assuming charge of covered construction can need a license when the project value reaches $25,000.
Projects under $25,000 are not automatically unregulated
A smaller project can still require a Home Improvement license, Limited Licensed Electrician credential, Limited Licensed Plumber credential, local contractor registration, business license, permit or inspection. Bidding directly to a homeowner acting as their own general contractor can also make the bidder a prime contractor.
How to Verify a Tennessee Contractor License
Use the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance public search before signing, paying a deposit, accepting a bid or allowing work to begin. Search the exact legal entity—not only a truck name, social-media profile or salesperson’s name.
Collect exact identifiers
Ask for the legal business name, license number, classification, qualifying agent and written project amount. Keep the estimate or bid in front of you while searching.
Search the official public portal
Use the license number when possible. Also search the business or individual name to identify similar companies, prior entities, expired records or naming differences.
Open the complete result
Do not stop at a matching name. Review status, expiration, license type, classifications, monetary limit and any other available public details.
Verify the qualifying agent
Tennessee provides a separate contractor and qualifying-agent dashboard. Use it when the company relies on a particular person’s examination or experience.
Match the record to the contract
The licensee name, payment recipient, bid name and contract name should align. A license belonging to another company or individual does not automatically cover the business you are hiring.
Save and recheck the result
Save or print the public record on the day you sign. Recheck it before work starts and before releasing a substantial progress or final payment.
How to Read the Tennessee License Search Result
A record can be active but still unsuitable for the work. The classification and monetary limit must cover the project, and the licensed name must match the company bidding and receiving payment.
| Result field | What it means | What to compare | Stop when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Whether the license is active, expired, suspended or otherwise unavailable. | Check status before bidding, signing and starting work. | The license is expired, suspended or not found. |
| Licensed name | The exact legal entity authorized to contract. | Bid, contract, invoice, insurance and payment name. | A different company or individual is using the record. |
| Classification | The type of work the licensee may bid and perform. | Residential, commercial, industrial, electrical, mechanical or specialty scope. | The proposed scope is outside the listed classification. |
| Monetary limit | The maximum contract or project size assigned to the license. | Complete project value, including labor and materials. | The bid exceeds the approved limit and allowable tolerance. |
| Expiration | The date through which the current license term is valid. | Expected bid, contract and project-start dates. | The contractor says a pending renewal is equivalent to an active record. |
| Qualifying agent | The individual supplying exams or qualifying experience for a classification. | Confirm that the QA remains associated with the licensed entity. | The company relies on a person who is no longer connected to the license. |
Tool 1: Tennessee License Result Checker
Answer these questions after opening the official record. This planning tool does not replace the Board, legal advice or a local permit authority.
Tennessee Contractor, Home Improvement, LLE and LLP Routes
The correct credential depends on the total project cost, work type, county and permit jurisdiction. A job below $25,000 may still require a state limited license, Home Improvement license or local credential.
| License route | When to review it | Main limitation | Initial fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor license | Prime contracting, regulated subcontracting or construction management at $25,000 or more. | Classification and monetary limit must cover the complete project. | $250 |
| Home Improvement | Covered residential remodeling from $3,000 to $24,999 in counties that adopted the law. | Not statewide and not a substitute for the full contractor license. | $250 |
| Limited Licensed Electrician | Electrical work below $25,000 in jurisdictions accepting the LLE. | Not accepted by every city or county; local permits and licensing remain necessary. | $50 |
| Limited Licensed Plumber | Plumbing work below $25,000 where the local jurisdiction accepts the LLP. | Does not permit acting as a general contractor or splitting a larger project. | $75 |
Home Improvement license counties
The Home Improvement license currently applies to qualifying residential remodeling projects from $3,000 through $24,999 in:
Middle Tennessee
Davidson, Robertson and Rutherford counties.
East Tennessee
Bradley, Hamilton and Knox counties.
West and other counties
Haywood, Marion and Shelby counties.
Tool 2: Tennessee Project License Route Finder
Select the complete project amount, main work type, Home Improvement county status and contracting role. Official state and local rules control the final answer.
How to Apply for a Tennessee Contractor License
The contractor license is issued to the business entity—not automatically to the person taking the exam. Keep the legal name, mode of operation, financial proof, insurance and Secretary of State record consistent.
Select the classification and requested monetary limit
Choose the work classification before scheduling trade testing or preparing financial documents. The requested monetary limit affects financial proof and general-liability coverage.
Designate the qualifying agent
The QA is the individual who passes required exams or supplies qualifying experience for the licensed entity. The QA may be an owner, officer or full-time employee. A non-majority-owner QA generally needs a Power of Attorney.
Complete Business and Law and any required trade exam
All new contractor applicants take Tennessee Business and Law. Certain classifications also require a trade exam. Beginning July 1, 2026, Prov administers new Board trade-exam appointments.
Prepare financial proof or the approved surety bond
Use a CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement when following the traditional route, or evaluate the July 2026 Contractors’ Surety Bond option. The licensed name must match the financial or bond document exactly.
Obtain general liability and workers’ compensation proof
General-liability minimums rise with the requested monetary limit. Workers’ compensation proof or applicable exemption documentation is also required.
Prepare the reference, affidavit and entity documents
Include the required reference, contractor affidavit, qualifying-agent documentation and business-entity records. Explain judgments, complaints, convictions, bankruptcies or other disclosures when required.
Submit the Initial New Contractor Application through CORE
Upload documents separately, pay the nonrefundable $250 fee and retain the confirmation. Online filing avoids the additional delay caused by mailed documents being scanned into the paperless system.
Wait for Board review and active issuance
The Board meets every other month, and incomplete or concerning applications can require an interview. Allow at least three weeks for processing before routine follow-up.
Tool 3: Tennessee Application Readiness Checker
Select every item already prepared. The result identifies missing components rather than pretending to approve the application.
Official Tennessee Contractor Application Tutorial
This Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance presentation explains applying for and managing a Tennessee contractor license. Use it with the current 2026 forms and Prov exam information because individual screens and procedures can change.
Financial Statements, Insurance and the 2026 Surety Bond Option
The monetary limit is not selected only by preference. Tennessee evaluates financial capacity, experience and insurance. The new surety-bond route changes the document option but does not remove classification, experience or insurance requirements.
Traditional CPA financial-statement route
| Requested monetary limit | Traditional financial statement | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000,000 or less | CPA-reviewed or audited statement. | A compiled statement is not accepted. |
| More than $3,000,000 to unlimited | CPA-audited statement. | The entity name must match the license application exactly. |
July 2026 Contractors’ Surety Bond route
Beginning July 1, 2026, an applicant or licensee may use the Board-approved Contractors’ Surety Bond instead of the CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement. The bond must equal at least 50% of the monetary limit requested.
How the traditional monetary-limit calculation works
The application explains that the monetary limit is generally based on ten times the lesser of working capital and net worth, together with demonstrated experience. Working capital is current assets minus current liabilities; net worth is total assets minus total liabilities.
General-liability insurance levels
| Requested monetary limit | Minimum general liability |
|---|---|
| Up to $500,000 | $100,000 |
| $501,001 to $1,500,000 | $500,000 |
| More than $1,500,000 to unlimited | $1,000,000 |
- The insurance certificate must use the same name as the entity being licensed.
- The Board for Licensing Contractors must be listed as certificate holder.
- A declaration page, bill or invoice is not a substitute for the required certificate.
- Workers’ compensation coverage or applicable exemption documentation must accompany the application.
- Out-of-state contractors must address coverage for employees working in Tennessee.
Contractor Classifications and Monetary Limits
A Tennessee contractor license contains both a classification and a monetary limit. The classification answers what work may be performed; the limit answers the maximum project or contract size.
| Classification example | Typical authority | Exam note |
|---|---|---|
| BC-A Residential | One-to-four-family residences up to three stories and related accessory structures. | Residential trade exam required. |
| BC-A/r Restricted Residential | Single-family residential work with a maximum $125,000 monetary limit. | Approved course may replace the residential trade exam; no 10% bid tolerance. |
| BC-B Commercial | Commercial construction and residential work exceeding four units or three stories. | Commercial or qualifying combined exam required. |
| BC-b(sm) Small Commercial | Commercial work within an approved limit not exceeding $1,500,000. | Small-commercial or qualifying combined exam required. |
| BC-C Industrial | Structures used for industrial production and service. | Industrial or qualifying combined exam required. |
| CE Electrical | Electrical contracting at the statewide contractor level. | Electrical trade examination required. |
| CMC Mechanical | Mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration and related subcategories. | Full CMC and certain subcategories require exams; CMC/CMC-A preapproval applies. |
| LMC Masonry | Masonry work exceeding the applicable $100,000 threshold. | Licensed Masonry Contractor exam required. |
| Specialty | A defined specialty not otherwise covered by a broader classification. | Trade exam may not be required, but Business and Law, experience and certifications may apply. |
Tennessee Reciprocity, NASCLA and Trade-Exam Waivers
An out-of-state contractor license does not authorize contracting in Tennessee. Reciprocity generally affects the trade examination only; the business must still submit the Tennessee application and receive an active Tennessee license.
Reciprocal state exam
A participating state may verify an accepted trade examination so Tennessee can consider waiving the corresponding trade test.
NASCLA commercial exam
An accepted NASCLA examination can support a commercial trade-exam waiver, but it does not replace Tennessee Business and Law, financial proof, insurance or application review.
- Confirm that the exam and classification are covered by Tennessee’s current waiver agreements.
- Have the reciprocal state complete the official license-verification form.
- Do not assume years of experience alone waive a required examination.
- Do not bid until Tennessee issues the active license.
Tennessee Contractor License Renewal and Reinstatement
Contractor licenses are normally issued for two years. Tennessee recommends starting renewal early because an expired license cannot lawfully support covered bidding or contracting.
| Situation | Fee or rule | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Normal contractor renewal | $200 | Renew through CORE, ideally at least 30 days before expiration. |
| Late contractor renewal | $20 per month, up to 12 months | Submit renewal documents and accumulated penalty before renewal rights end. |
| Expired 12 months or longer | Initial/reinstatement route, $250 | Reapply and satisfy current initial-license requirements. |
| Home Improvement renewal | $200; $10 monthly penalty up to 3 months | After more than three months, reapply under initial requirements. |
| LLE renewal | $50; reinstatement $80 | After more than three months, complete the applicable reapplication route. |
| LLP renewal | $50; reinstatement $75 | Check the current limited-license renewal and local-jurisdiction requirements. |
Contractor renewal documents
- Complete the renewal questions in CORE.
- Attach the current financial statement or applicable approved alternative.
- Attach general-liability and workers’ compensation documentation.
- Confirm the corporation or LLC remains active where applicable.
- Report changes in ownership, mode of operation, officers or qualifying agent.
- Upload required Residential Continuing Education when applicable.
Residential Continuing Education
Contractors with BC-A, BC-A/r or BC-A,b(sm) residential classifications who were licensed after January 1, 2009 generally must provide eight hours of Board-approved Residential Continuing Education at renewal. One residential qualifying agent may satisfy the entity’s requirement when multiple residential QAs are listed.
Before Hiring a Tennessee Contractor
A valid license is one part of the decision. Homeowners should also compare scope, references, insurance, permits, payments, complaint history and the exact entity signing the contract.
Check before signing
- Active license status and expiration.
- Exact licensed entity and qualifying agent.
- Classification matching the proposed work.
- Monetary limit covering the complete project.
- Current general-liability and workers’ compensation proof.
- Required local permits and inspections.
Pause when
- The business asks to use another company’s license.
- The deposit or payment name differs from the contract.
- The contractor wants to split one project below $25,000.
- The company refuses to provide references or insurance.
- Permits are described as unnecessary without local confirmation.
- The bid exceeds the public monetary limit.
Use a detailed written contract
| Contract item | What it should answer |
|---|---|
| Scope | Exactly what will be built, repaired, removed or excluded. |
| Materials | Brands, models, grades, substitutions and allowances. |
| Schedule | Start expectations, milestones, delays and completion terms. |
| Payments | Deposit, progress milestones and final-payment conditions. |
| Permits | Who obtains permits, schedules inspections and corrects failed inspections. |
| Changes | Who may authorize changes and how added cost or time is approved. |
File a Tennessee Contractor Complaint
The Board accepts complaints involving unlicensed activity, possible licensing-law violations, misconduct and unfair or deceptive practices. A regulatory complaint is not the same as a lawsuit or guaranteed refund process.
Evidence to organize before filing
- Signed contract, estimate and written change orders.
- Proof of deposits and progress payments.
- License-search result and qualifying-agent information.
- Advertisements, business cards and messages.
- Dated photographs and videos.
- Permit, inspection and correction records.
- Written requests for correction and the contractor’s responses.
- Court documents, judgments or liens when applicable.
What happens after filing
The online complaint system allows supporting attachments. Tennessee sends an email confirmation with a complaint number after submission. The matter is reviewed to determine the appropriate regulatory course and presented to the program for a final decision.
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors Contact and Location
Use the public search for routine verification and CORE for applications or renewals. Contact the Board when classification, monetary limit, examination, qualifying-agent or document questions cannot be resolved through the official instructions.
Telephone
Fax: 615-532-2868
Contractors.Home-Improvement@tn.gov
Application help: Contractor.App@tn.gov
Office
Board for Licensing Contractors
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-1150
Have these details ready before contacting the Board
- Exact legal business name.
- License or application number.
- Qualifying-agent name.
- Requested classification and monetary limit.
- Exam date and provider.
- CORE confirmation or error message.
- Form name or PDF title.
- Project county and total value.
Tennessee Contractors Licensing Board FAQs
What is the official Tennessee contractor licensing board?
The official agency is the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors within the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance. It regulates contractor, Home Improvement, Limited Licensed Electrician and Limited Licensed Plumber credentials.
Where can I verify a Tennessee contractor license?
Use the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance public license search. Search the license number or exact legal business name, then confirm status, classification, monetary limit, expiration and qualifying-agent information where available.
When is a Tennessee contractor license required?
A contractor license is generally required before bidding, offering a price, negotiating or contracting when the total project cost is $25,000 or more. Certain subcontractors and construction managers are also covered.
How much is a Tennessee contractor license in 2026?
The initial contractor application fee is $250 and the normal contractor renewal fee is $200. Fees are nonrefundable, and late or transaction-specific fees can also apply.
What is a Tennessee contractor qualifying agent?
The qualifying agent is the person who completes required examinations or supplies qualifying experience for the licensed business. The QA may be an owner, officer or full-time employee, and a non-majority owner may need a Power of Attorney.
What changed for Tennessee contractor applicants in July 2026?
Prov became the new trade-exam provider beginning July 1, 2026. Tennessee also introduced a Contractors’ Surety Bond option that may replace a reviewed or audited financial statement when the bond equals at least 50% of the requested monetary limit.
Does Tennessee require a Home Improvement contractor license?
A Home Improvement license is required for covered residential remodeling projects from $3,000 to $24,999 in Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby counties.
Can I work in Tennessee using a contractor license from another state?
No. Another state license does not authorize Tennessee work. A participating state or NASCLA exam may support a trade-exam waiver, but the business must still apply for and receive the proper Tennessee license.
How does Tennessee contractor license renewal work?
The CORE renewal option generally appears within 90 days of expiration. The contractor renewal fee is $200, Tennessee recommends applying at least 30 days early, and a 12-month grace period with monthly late fees applies to contractor licenses.
Can the Tennessee contractor board force a refund?
The Board can investigate possible licensing violations and impose regulatory discipline, but it cannot provide legal advice or represent a private person seeking reimbursement. Mediation, private legal counsel, arbitration or court action may be necessary.
Use the Official Record Before You Bid, Hire or Pay
Homeowners and project owners: verify the exact business, classification, monetary limit and expiration, then confirm permits, insurance and required trade credentials before signing.
Applicants: choose the classification first, prepare the qualifying agent, exams, financial or surety-bond route, insurance, affidavit and entity documents, then file through CORE and wait for active issuance before bidding.