Tennessee Concrete Contractor License Requirements (2026)
By Gabriel Giner, Editor · Verified · Updated · Published
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.
Who Issues the Tennessee Concrete Contractor License?
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — classification outline issues and enforces the Tennessee concrete contractor license. Use this official state or local authority to confirm the concrete route, scope, and current filing requirements for the project.
- Official portal: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — classification outline
Tennessee Concrete Contractor License 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.
How Much Experience Do You Need for a Tennessee Concrete Contractor License?
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.
Tennessee Concrete Contractor Exam Requirements
The examination requirement has not been established in this record. Confirm it with the authority before applying. Provider or process notes: 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.
Tennessee Concrete Contractor Insurance and Bond Requirements
The cited sources do not require a license surety bond for the Tennessee concrete contractor license, but a permit, contract, or public-works bond can still apply to a given job, so confirm bonding 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.
How Much Does a Tennessee Concrete Contractor License Cost?
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance |
| Initial license | No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance |
| Renewal cycle varies by jurisdiction | No separate amount recorded; confirm in the fee guidance |
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.
Tennessee Concrete Contractor License Renewal and Continuing Education
The Tennessee concrete contractor license has no single statewide renewal cycle; follow the schedule set by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — classification outline or the local jurisdiction. The cited sources list no separate statewide renewal fee for the Tennessee concrete contractor license. Use current Board renewal rules for the actual license held.
Does Tennessee Accept Out-of-State Concrete Contractor Licenses?
Tennessee does not accept the NASCLA Accredited Examination for the Tennessee concrete contractor license.
| Reciprocal State | Accepted Exam | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified. | ||
There is no separate concrete-specific reciprocity agreement; any reciprocity comes from the state route cited on this page.
Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares published Concrete Contractor license requirements by state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.
How to Get a Tennessee Concrete Contractor License, Step by Step
- 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
Have each of these ready before you file with the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — classification outline:
Progress is saved in this browser, so you can return to this checklist while your application is in flight.
Common Filing Mistakes
These are the problems most likely to delay or derail a Tennessee Concrete Contractor application, drawn from the instructions of the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — classification outline and the other sources cited on this page.
Using another trade’s requirements for concrete work
Concrete work follows the state-specific route described here; requirements for masonry, paving, or other trades can differ.
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 references are cited in the Tennessee sources for this guide or commonly used to prepare for concrete work; 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.
Concrete Contractor Pay and Employment in Tennessee
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 3,920 cement masons and concrete finishers work in Tennessee, earning a median of $47,910 a year ($23.04 an hour). That is 16% below the national median of $57,020, ranking 43rd of 51 jurisdictions BLS published. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $35,990 and the top 10% earn over $60,440. The trade's share of Tennessee's workforce is close to the national average (location quotient 0.90).
| Measure | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $47,910 | $57,020 |
| Median hourly wage | $23.04 | $27.41 |
| 10th–90th percentile | $35,990–$60,440 | $39,190–$85,480 |
| Employment | 3,920 | 206,170 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 47-2051 (Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers). Figures cover wage and salary employees and exclude self-employed owners.
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 updates
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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
More guides for Tennessee contractors
- Can You Get a Contractor License With a Criminal Record? A 50-State Breakdown
- Concrete vs. Masonry License: Which Classification Covers Your Work?
- Does an LLC Need Its Own Contractor License?
- How Long Does It Take to Get a Contractor License? A Realistic Timeline
- What Happens If You Work Without a Contractor License?
Other Tennessee Trade Licenses
CLR also publishes these Tennessee licensing guides for other trades:
- 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
- Tennessee Septic Contractor License Requirements