Tennessee Electrician License Requirements (2026)

The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (TBLC) regulates electrical contracting statewide under T.C.A. Title 62 Chapter 6. Tennessee does not issue individual journeyman or master electrician credentials at the state level — instead, electrical contractors are licensed as business entities under the CE (Electrical) classification with a monetary limit set by a CPA-prepared financial statement. Any electrical project, regardless of dollar value, requires a TBLC license. The Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) credential covers smaller electrical work up to $25,000 and is administered through the Department of Commerce and Insurance separately. All electrical contractor applicants pass a PSI trade exam and the Business and Law exam at 73%.

The Licensing Authority

Authority over this credential rests with Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — Department of Commerce and Insurance (TBLC), which issues and polices it under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 6 (Contractors Licensing Act of 1994); Rules of the Board Chapter 0680. TBLC licenses general and specialty contractors statewide, sets monetary limits based on CPA-reviewed financial statements, administers the PSI examination program, and conducts disciplinary proceedings under T.C.A. Title 62 Chapter 6.

Official portal: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractor.html
Address: 500 James Robertson Parkway, Davy Crockett Tower, Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: (615) 741-8307

Baseline Eligibility

Eligibility begins with two baseline checks: the applicant must be 18 or older and must provide a valid Social Security Number. No Tennessee residency requirement.

Good moral character

TBLC reviews fitness for licensure on every application. Prior license revocations in any state are grounds for denial.

Background investigation

Mandatory criminal history disclosure on the application.

Disqualifying conditions

Electrical-related fraud convictions
Felonies involving dishonesty within the past ten years
Prior electrical contractor license revocations in any U.S. jurisdiction

Experience and Education Requirements

The experience bar is 3 years of three or more years of practical electrical experience for the qualifying individual, demonstrated through completed projects of comparable scope and value to the requested monetary limit, and it must be backed by verifiable records — typically payroll, tax, project, or supervisor documentation covering the claimed period.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

TBLC Reference Letter forms from prior owners, engineers, or licensed electrical contractors
Project list with addresses, dollar values, and dates for the past five years
W-2 statements, 1099 records, or business tax returns covering the qualifying period
Approved electrical apprenticeship completion certificate (where applicable)

Education substitution

Electrical engineering technology or industrial electrician coursework from an accredited institution may substitute for a portion of the experience requirement at the discretion of the Board.

The Licensing Examination

Testing is handled by PSI Services LLC under contract to TBLC. The applicant has to pass each part listed here before the credential is granted:

PSI Tennessee Business and Law Examination — open book — 50 questions, 140 minutes, passing score 73%
PSI Tennessee CE Electrical Trade Examination — National Electrical Code, theory, and calculations — 100 questions, 300 minutes, passing score 73%

Examination fee: $57 per PSI exam part paid on the day of testing.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually after a 24-hour wait by paying a new $57 fee. Each application remains valid for one year from filing.

Financial Security and Insurance

No license surety bond is mandated statewide here under the cited sources, though project-specific or public-works bonding obligations can still attach to a given job.

General liability

Minimum general liability of $500,000 combined single limit for the CE classification. Higher limits are commonly required by owners and general contractors.

Workers' compensation

Workers compensation insurance is mandatory for any electrical contracting business with five or more employees under T.C.A. §50-6-902.

Additional financial requirements

A CPA-prepared financial statement is required at application. Compilation is acceptable for monetary limits up to $1,500,000; a CPA review is required for limits up to $3,000,000; an audited statement is required for unlimited monetary limits.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$250
Examination	$114
Initial license	$250
Renewal (every 2 years)	$250

License Renewal

The Tennessee CE Electrical Contractor (LLE Limited Licensed Electrician for projects under $25,000) must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $250. Tennessee CE licenses renew every two years on the anniversary date assigned at issuance.

Continuing education: Tennessee does not mandate continuing education hours for CE renewal, but an updated CPA financial statement is required each cycle.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Tennessee Electrician License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

Tennessee grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
North Carolina	Trade exam waived	Bilateral TBLC–NCBEEC reciprocity for active electrical contractors in good standing.
Georgia	Trade exam waived	Bilateral TBLC–Georgia Construction Industry Licensing Board reciprocity.
Alabama	Trade exam waived	Bilateral TBLC–Alabama Electrical Contractors Board reciprocity.
Mississippi	Trade exam waived	Bilateral TBLC–Mississippi State Board of Contractors reciprocity.
South Carolina	Trade exam waived	Bilateral TBLC–SC Contractors Licensing Board reciprocity.
Kentucky	Trade exam waived	Bilateral reciprocity where Kentucky issues equivalent electrical contractor classification.

Tennessee maintains broad bilateral electrical contractor reciprocity across the Southeast. The Business and Law exam is required even when the CE trade exam is waived through reciprocity.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Electrician license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Choose the monetary limit. Decide the maximum project size you want assigned. The limit drives the financial statement type and CPA fees.
Designate a qualifying individual. The qualifier must be a full-time owner, officer, or W-2 employee with three or more years of practical electrical experience.
Prepare the CPA financial statement. Compilation up to $1.5M, review up to $3M, audited statement for unlimited. Less than twelve months old at filing.
Submit the TBLC application packet. File with the application fee, financial statement, reference letters, project list, certificate of insurance, and entity formation documents.
Pass the PSI Business and Law exam at 73%. Open-book 50-question Tennessee Business and Law exam scheduled with PSI after TBLC approves the application.
Pass the PSI CE Electrical trade exam at 73%. Open-book 100-question NEC-based trade exam covering theory, calculations, and Tennessee-specific rules.
Receive the CE license. TBLC issues the license at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting after the exams are passed and the file is complete.

Common Application Pitfalls

The errors below are the ones that most frequently cost Tennessee Electrician applicants time, drawn from the cited board guidance.

Assuming Tennessee issues a master electrician credential

Tennessee licenses business entities, not individuals, at the state level. Applicants from credentialing states often waste time looking for a master electrician path that does not exist.

Confusing CE with LLE

The LLE Limited Licensed Electrician is capped at $25,000 per project and is a separate program. Contractors planning larger work must apply for the CE classification with TBLC.

Filing a stale financial statement

TBLC rejects financial statements older than twelve months. Time the CPA engagement to land within the application window.

Underestimating the trade exam scope

The CE trade exam includes NEC calculations, theory, and Tennessee-specific rules. The 73% passing score is stricter than many neighboring states.

Missing local credentials

Some Tennessee cities (Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga) issue local journeyman or master electrician credentials in addition to the TBLC CE license. Check the local code office before working there.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Ahead of submission to TBLC, confirm every item on this short list:

☐ TBLC application with $250 fee and qualifying individual designation
☐ CPA-prepared financial statement (compilation, review, or audit) less than twelve months old
☐ Three reference letters from prior owners, engineers, or licensed electrical contractors
☐ Project list covering the past five years with addresses, values, and dates
☐ PSI Business and Law exam pass certificate at 73%+
☐ PSI CE Electrical trade exam pass certificate at 73%+
☐ Certificate of insurance showing $500,000 GL and workers compensation coverage

Preparation Resources

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Tennessee-adopted edition — National Fire Protection Association. Primary technical reference for the CE trade exam. Open-book at the PSI test center.
NASCLA Contractors Guide to Business, Law and Project Management — Tennessee edition — NASCLA. Required reference for the Business and Law portion of the exam.
Tom Henry Electrical Trade Exam Prep — Tom Henry Books. Widely used by Tennessee CE applicants for NEC calculation problems.

Other Tennessee Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these Tennessee licensing guides:

Answers to Common Questions

Does Tennessee issue individual electrician credentials?

No. Tennessee licenses electrical contractors as business entities under the CE classification with TBLC. The Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) covers electrical projects under $25,000, but there is no state-issued journeyman or master electrician credential. Some municipalities issue local journeyman credentials.

When does Tennessee require an electrical contractor license?

Always. Electrical work has no dollar threshold under T.C.A. §62-6-102. Any electrical project, even a $500 service call, must be performed by a CE-licensed contractor or LLE.

What financial statement does the CE classification require?

A CPA-prepared compilation for limits up to $1.5M, a CPA review for limits up to $3M, and an audited statement for unlimited monetary limits. The statement must be less than twelve months old at filing.

Does Tennessee reciprocate electrical contractor licenses?

Yes. TBLC maintains bilateral CE reciprocity with North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Kentucky. Reciprocal applicants must still pass the Tennessee Business and Law exam.

How often does the Tennessee CE license renew?

Every two years. Renewal requires the $250 fee and an updated CPA financial statement of the same type as the original.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-30 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-29