Tennessee Concrete Contractor License Requirements (2026)
By Gabriel Giner, Editor · Source checked 2026-09-08
Tennessee does not use one universal concrete license. BC-19 is Concrete within the Building Construction categories, while the classification outline separately lists concrete-paving and miscellaneous-concrete routes for highway and municipal/utility work. The statewide rule answers only the starting licensing question. Before signing a concrete contract, match the exact scope, project type, value, permits, and any separately regulated work to the authority identified in the sources below.
Regulatory Body
Licensing for this trade is governed by Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — classification outline, the agency that issues and regulates the credential under undefined. Use this official state or local authority to confirm the concrete route, scope, and current filing requirements for the project.
- Official portal: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors/license/classification-outline.html
Eligibility Requirements
This guide does not establish a minimum applicant age; confirm any age requirement with the issuing authority. Check the current application for identification and tax-number requirements. Use the current state or local application for identity and entity requirements.
Good moral character
Use the current regulator application and disclosure requirements for the actual route.
Background investigation
No universal concrete-specific fingerprint requirement is stated in the reviewed source.
Experience and Education
The cited source set does not publish a fixed year-based experience threshold for this credential. The controlling requirement is Use the Board’s current classification and application requirements; do not carry requirements from another trade into BC-19 or a pavement route..
Accepted proof of experience or eligibility
- Use the current application and any state or local supporting forms required for the selected route.
Exam Requirements
There is no statewide written trade test for this credential in the cited record; the controlling process is: See the cited regulator for the selected concrete route
Examination fee: New applicants take Business and Law; the Board’s current outline controls whether the selected classification also requires a trade exam.
Retake policy: Follow the current regulator instructions if an examination applies to the selected route.
Insurance and Bonds
There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.
General liability
Use the cited state or local route for any required bond or liability insurance; requirements vary by classification and project.
Workers' compensation
Meet applicable workers’ compensation requirements for the business and workforce.
Fee Schedule
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application (non-refundable) | No separate state fee |
| Initial license | No separate state fee |
| Renewal cycle varies by jurisdiction | No separate state fee |
To turn these board fees into a realistic year-one budget — bond premium, liability insurance, and exam prep included — open the cost calculator preloaded for Tennessee concrete contractor.
Renewal and Continuing Education
No one statewide renewal cycle governs the Tennessee Concrete Contractor — Classification and Monetary-Limit Path; the controlling schedule is the issuing board's or the local jurisdiction's. No separate statewide renewal fee is listed in the cited sources. Use current Board renewal rules for the actual license held.
Reciprocity
For this classification, Tennessee does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.
| Reciprocal State | Accepted Exam | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified. | ||
No concrete-specific reciprocity claim is made unless the cited state route expressly provides one.
Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Concrete Contractor license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.
Concrete Contractor Licensing in Neighboring States
Contractors working near a state line, or weighing where to qualify first, should compare Tennessee's requirements against the bordering jurisdictions before committing to an application:
- Alabama Concrete Contractor License Requirements — Alabama Concrete Contractor — No Standalone State Concrete License
- Arkansas Concrete Contractor License Requirements — Arkansas Concrete Contractor — Commercial / Residential Concrete Classification Path
- Georgia Concrete Contractor License Requirements — Georgia Concrete Contractor — No Standalone State Concrete License
- Kentucky Concrete Contractor License Requirements — Kentucky Concrete Contractor — No Standalone State Concrete License
- Mississippi Concrete Contractor License Requirements — Mississippi Concrete Contractor — MSBOC Concrete / Concrete Paving Specialty Classifications
- Missouri Concrete Contractor License Requirements — Missouri Concrete Contractor — No Standalone State Concrete License
- North Carolina Concrete Contractor License Requirements — North Carolina Concrete Construction — NCLBGC Classification Path
- Virginia Concrete Contractor License Requirements — Virginia CEM Concrete Contracting — DPOR Board for Contractors
Step-by-Step Application Roadmap
- Identify the governing route. Match the project to BC-19, HRA-B.4, MU-D.4, MU-D.5, or another applicable classification and monetary limit. A Tennessee contractor license is generally required before contracting on projects of $25,000 or more.
- Confirm scope and project type. Match residential, commercial, public-right-of-way, and specialty work to the actual governing classification or local requirement.
- Complete current filings. Use the cited regulator’s current application, bond, insurance, tax, and permit instructions.
- Assemble the project-specific file. Keep the classification or registration record, insurance or bond evidence, contract scope, and the documents required by Tennessee's permitting authority together before applying for a permit or beginning work.
- Keep state authority and project approval aligned. Do not let a broad contractor credential, registration, or specialty label substitute for the actual project permit, plan review, inspection, or separately licensed trade requirement.
Application Checklist
Before submitting to Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — classification outline, the applicant should have each of the following ready:
Progress is saved in this browser, so you can return to this checklist while your application is in flight.
Common Filing Mistakes
The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Tennessee Concrete Contractor applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.
Using another trade’s requirements for concrete work
This guide uses the state-specific concrete route rather than inherited trade requirements.
Ignoring scope or local authority
Concrete classification and permitting requirements can change by project type and location.
Bidding outside the actual concrete scope
A classification, registration, or exemption must match the particular concrete scope and project facts; it is not blanket authority for unrelated or separately regulated work.
Study and Reference Materials
These materials are drawn from the regulator's own citations and the references applicants commonly use to prepare. CLR receives no compensation for listing them.
- Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — classification outline — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — classification outline. Use this official source to confirm the current concrete route and filing requirements.
- Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — contractor license — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — contractor license. Use this official source to confirm the current concrete route and filing requirements.
Other Tennessee Trade Licenses
Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Tennessee licensing guides:
- Tennessee General Contractor License Requirements
- Tennessee Electrician License Requirements
- Tennessee Plumber License Requirements
- Tennessee HVAC Technician License Requirements
- Tennessee Roofing Contractor License Requirements
- Tennessee Painting Contractor License Requirements
- Tennessee Landscaping Contractor License Requirements
- Tennessee Masonry Contractor License Requirements
- Tennessee Carpentry Contractor License Requirements
- Tennessee Solar Installer License Requirements
- Tennessee Low-Voltage Technician License Requirements
- Tennessee Fire Sprinkler Contractor License Requirements
- Tennessee Home Inspector License Requirements
- Tennessee Pool Contractor License Requirements
- Tennessee Handyman License Requirements
- Tennessee Pest Control License Requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tennessee have a separate concrete contractor license?
Tennessee does not use one universal concrete license. BC-19 is Concrete within the Building Construction categories, while the classification outline separately lists concrete-paving and miscellaneous-concrete routes for highway and municipal/utility work.
What is the current state-level route?
Match the project to BC-19, HRA-B.4, MU-D.4, MU-D.5, or another applicable classification and monetary limit. A Tennessee contractor license is generally required before contracting on projects of $25,000 or more.
What testing, cost, or renewal rule applies?
New applicants take Business and Law; the Board’s current outline controls whether the selected classification also requires a trade exam. Use the current Tennessee Board fee schedule for the actual classification and monetary limit. Use current Board renewal rules for the actual license held.
Does the statewide route replace local concrete permits or approvals?
No. The statewide route described here is separate from the permit, inspection, zoning, right-of-way, and project-specific contractor requirements set by Tennessee's permitting authority.
Primary Sources
Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.
- Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — classification outline
- Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — contractor license
Verified 2026-09-08 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-07
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Corrections and presentation updates
- : Shared template updated to distinguish unspecified eligibility requirements, retain cost qualifications, and use consistent headings. Source-check dates are unchanged by presentation updates.