Tennessee General Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (TBLC) licenses contractors statewide. A contractor license is required before bidding or negotiating a project costing $25,000 or more. Every license carries both a classification and a monetary limit: the classification defines permitted work, and the monetary limit caps the total cost of an individual project or contract. The current building family includes BC (full building), BC-A (residential), BC-A/r (restricted residential), BC-B (commercial), BC-b(sm) (small commercial), and BC-C (industrial). Highway/railroad/airport (HRA) and municipal/utility (MU) are separate classifications, not the old BC-B/BC-C labels.

Regulatory Body

This license is issued and enforced by Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — Department of Commerce and Insurance (TBLC) pursuant to 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

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants must provide a Social Security Number. TBLC’s contractor application is available to out-of-state applicants. Business-entity and qualifying-agent requirements still apply to the exact entity seeking the license.

Good moral character

The notarized Contractor’s Affidavit requires disclosures. TBLC states that applicants with complaints, convictions, or prior unlicensed bidding may be required to interview with the Board.

Background investigation

Do not describe a blanket TBLC criminal-background-check requirement without confirmation. The current application process requires disclosures and may require a Board interview for specified matters.

Experience and Education

No fixed number of years of experience is set out in the cited sources for this credential; instead, the controlling requirement is TBLC requires a reference from a past client or employer able to address construction experience, or from a code official who inspected the applicant’s work. The current public application guidance does not state a universal three-year experience minimum for every contractor classification..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

• TBLC Letter of Reference from a qualifying past client, employer, or code official; a family member cannot provide it
• Contractor’s Affidavit and materials required for the applicant’s entity and classification
• Additional classification or qualifying-agent documentation when the Board requests it

Education substitution

No universal education-for-experience substitution is stated in the current TBLC public contractor guidance. Verify the classification-specific rules before relying on a degree or apprenticeship credit.

Exam Requirements

Testing provider or authority: Prov administers Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors exams for appointments on or after July 1, 2026. TBLC states that all new applicants take Tennessee Business and Law, while a trade exam is required for specified classifications.. The following examination requirements cover the pathways described in this guide; follow each part's classification, waiver, and local-scope conditions. Unpublished format details do not remove an examination requirement:

• Tennessee Business and Law examination — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score: confirm in the current candidate bulletin
• Building classification trade examination, when required — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score: confirm in the current candidate bulletin

Examination fee: Confirm the current Prov examination fee, timing, passing standard, and reference materials when scheduling. TBLC’s current public contractor page identifies the required examinations but does not publish those figures.

Retake policy: Confirm current retake rules directly with Prov and TBLC; unsupported PSI timing and score claims have been removed.

Insurance and Bonds

The cited state source set does not require a contractor license surety bond for this credential. Contractors should still confirm project-specific bond, permit-bond, or public-works bond requirements before bidding.

General liability

General liability coverage is required and the minimum is tied to the monetary limit: up to $500,000 limit requires $100,000 coverage; $500,001–$1,500,000 requires $500,000; and $1,500,001 through unlimited requires $1,000,000. The certificate must match the licensed entity and show the required limits.

Workers' compensation

TBLC requires workers’ compensation coverage or proof of exemption as part of the contractor process. This should not be replaced with an unsupported employee-count rule on this licensing page.

Additional financial requirements

For a new contractor license, TBLC requires an independent accountant’s reviewed financial statement for a limit of $3,000,000 or less and an audited statement for a limit above $3,000,000. Limits are generally ten times the lesser of working capital or net worth, subject to experience. An unlimited limit requires $300,000 in both working capital and net worth, experience, and an audit. From July 1, 2026, TBLC also offers a Board-approved surety-bond alternative at least equal to 50% of the requested monetary limit.

Fee Schedule

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 general contractor.

Renewal and Continuing Education

Renewal of the Tennessee Contractor License — Building Classifications (TBLC) comes due every 2 years. As cited, the renewal fee stands at $200. Renew through CORE within 90 days before expiration and preferably at least 30 days before. Renewal documentation includes the applicable financial statement or balance sheet, liability insurance, workers’ compensation/exemption, and entity-status proof.

Continuing education: Eight hours of Board-approved residential continuing education is required for BC-A, BC-A/r, and BC-A,b(sm) licensees first licensed after January 1, 2009. Other classifications should follow their specific renewal terms.

Reciprocity

Tennessee accepts the NASCLA Accredited Examination for this classification.

These are trade-exam waiver agreements, not license reciprocity. You must obtain a Tennessee license before bidding or contracting in Tennessee. TBLC also accepts the NASCLA National Commercial exam where applicable; Business and Law remains required.

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

General 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 General Contractor License Requirements — Alabama General Contractor License (prime or subcontractor)
• Arkansas General Contractor License Requirements — Arkansas Commercial Contractor / Residential Builder / Residential Remodeler
• Georgia General Contractor License Requirements — Georgia General Contractor (Unlimited Tier)
• Kentucky General Contractor License Requirements — Kentucky General Contractor (no state license)
• Mississippi General Contractor License Requirements — Mississippi Commercial Contractor / Residential Builder or Remodeler
• Missouri General Contractor License Requirements — Missouri General Contractor (local licensing and permits)
• North Carolina General Contractor License Requirements — North Carolina General Contractor (Limited, Intermediate, or Unlimited)
• Virginia General Contractor License Requirements — Virginia Class A, B, or C Contractor (RBC, CBC, or BLD)

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

1. Confirm the threshold, classification, and monetary limit. A TBLC license is required before contracting at $25,000 or more. Choose a building classification that fits the work and a limit that covers the entire project cost.
2. Identify the qualifying agent and gather a reference. Use the proper entity/qualifying-agent information and obtain the required reference from an eligible client, employer, or inspecting code official.
3. Prepare the financial support for the requested limit. For a new license, submit the required reviewed or audited statement, or use the current Board-approved surety-bond option where eligible.
4. Obtain insurance and workers’ compensation documentation. Meet the liability level connected to the requested monetary limit and provide workers’ compensation coverage or a valid exemption.
5. Pass the required current examinations. Business and Law is required for new applicants; obtain the classification trade exam or an approved trade-exam waiver where required.
6. Submit the $250 initial application through CORE. File the complete Initial New Contractor Application online with all current supporting documents.
7. Use the license within its classification and limit. Do not split projects to avoid the limit. A 10% tolerance normally applies, except to BC-A/r.

Application Checklist

These are the pieces to lock down before filing with TBLC:

• Correct TBLC classification and monetary limit
• Qualifying-agent/entity information and required reference
• Reviewed or audited financial statement, or current eligible surety-bond option
• Liability insurance at the monetary-limit tier
• Workers’ compensation coverage or exemption
• Current Business and Law and required trade-exam/waiver evidence
• CORE initial application and $250 fee

Progress is saved in this browser, so you can return to this checklist while your application is in flight.

Common Filing Mistakes

Working from the cited board instructions, here are the snags most likely to trip up a Tennessee General Contractor filing.

Using retired classification labels

BC-A is residential, BC-B commercial, and BC-C industrial; HRA and MU are separate classifications.

Using a compilation for a new-license application

Current TBLC guidance requires a reviewed statement up to $3 million and an audit above $3 million for a new license, unless using the current surety-bond option.

Treating a trade-exam waiver as a Tennessee license

A waiver can only waive an eligible trade exam. You still must complete the Tennessee process and receive a Tennessee license.

Ignoring residential CE

Qualifying agents for covered residential classifications must complete the required eight hours before biennial renewal.

Study and Reference Materials

The references below are either cited by the board, used during the application, or standard preparation for the trade. They are listed purely for convenience — CLR earns no commission on any of them.

• TBLC Contractor Classification Outline — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Current classification, scope, and examination framework.
• Current Prov Tennessee contractor candidate information — Prov / TBLC. Confirm current test content, score, fee, references, and scheduling instructions before testing.

Other Tennessee Trade Licenses

If the General Contractor license is not the right fit, the following published Tennessee trade guides are also covered by CLR:

• 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 Concrete 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

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I need a Tennessee contractor license?

Before bidding or negotiating a project costing $25,000 or more. The monetary limit must cover the total cost of the individual project or contract.

What are Tennessee’s current building classifications?

The building family is BC, BC-A, BC-A/r, BC-B, BC-b(sm), and BC-C. HRA and MU are separate highway/railroad/airport and municipal/utility classifications.

How does the Tennessee monetary limit work?

It caps an individual contract or project, not the number of jobs. It is generally ten times the lesser of working capital or net worth, with experience considered; normally a 10% tolerance applies except to BC-A/r.

Does Tennessee accept an out-of-state contractor license?

No out-of-state credential itself authorizes Tennessee work. TBLC may waive a trade exam for specific participating state and scope combinations, but the applicant still needs a Tennessee license.

Does Tennessee require continuing education?

Residential classifications BC-A, BC-A/r, and BC-A,b(sm) licensed after January 1, 2009 need eight hours of Board-approved residential continuing education for each biennial renewal. Do not assume the rule applies to every classification.

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