Tennessee Low Voltage Contractor License Requirements (2026)

Tennessee splits low-voltage work between three credentials. The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (TBLC) issues the prime contractor license with the CE-C (Communication and Low Voltage) classification under T.C.A. §62-6-102 — required for any low-voltage project where the total project cost (including labor, materials, and overhead) is $25,000 or more. Smaller projects can be performed by a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) registered with the Department of Commerce and Insurance State Fire Marshal's Office. Burglar alarm, fire alarm, monitoring, CCTV, and access control are separately licensed by the Tennessee Alarm Systems Contractors Board (ASCB) under T.C.A. Title 62, Chapter 32 — every alarm contracting business needs an ASCB Alarm Contractor License and every installer needs an ASCB-issued Registered Alarm Systems Employee credential.

The Licensing Authority

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors — Department of Commerce and Insurance (TBLC) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license 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

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No Tennessee residency requirement.

Good moral character

TBLC reviews criminal history. ASCB disqualifies alarm applicants with felony convictions in the prior ten years involving moral turpitude under §62-32-310.

Background investigation

TBLC requires criminal disclosure on the application. ASCB requires fingerprint-based TBI and FBI background checks for the alarm qualifying agent and every Registered Alarm Systems Employee.

Experience and Education Requirements

The cited source set does not publish a fixed year-based experience threshold for this credential. The controlling requirement is TBLC CE-C does not specify a fixed minimum years of experience but the qualifying agent must demonstrate competence through the trade exam and references. ASCB Alarm Contractor: the qualifying agent must complete a TBI-approved alarm training course (no minimum years). Limited Licensed Electrician: no minimum years of experience but the applicant must pass the LLE exam..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

TBLC Reference Letters from licensed contractors or owners
ASCB Alarm Training Course Completion Certificate (TBI-approved)
TBI / FBI Fingerprint Cards (alarm)
NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II or higher (recommended for fire alarm endorsement)

Education substitution

TBLC accepts trade school transcripts in support of the qualifying agent application but does not waive the trade or business law exam. NICET certification supports the fire alarm endorsement but is not a substitute for ASCB licensure.

The Licensing Examination

The exam, administered by PSI Services LLC under contract to TBLC and ASCB., breaks into the parts shown below — all must be passed before licensure:

PSI TBLC CE-C Trade Knowledge examination — Communication / Low Voltage scope — 100 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 73%
PSI Tennessee Business and Law examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 73%
PSI Tennessee Alarm Systems Contractor examination (ASCB qualifier only) — 75 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $57 trade + $57 business and law per attempt to PSI; ASCB exam $50 per attempt.

Retake policy: Failed parts may be re-taken individually after a 30-day waiting period. The TBLC application file remains active for one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

TBLC does not impose a state liability minimum but requires proof of insurance on every contractor application. ASCB requires alarm contractors to maintain minimum $100,000/$300,000/$50,000 combined liability coverage under §62-32-308.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory for any construction business with one or more employees under T.C.A. §50-6-902.

Additional financial requirements

TBLC requires a CPA-reviewed financial statement showing minimum net worth equal to 10% of the requested monetary limit (e.g., $50,000 net worth for a $500,000 monetary limit).

Fee Schedule

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

License Renewal

The Tennessee Contractor License with CE-C (Communication / Low Voltage) Classification, Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE), and Alarm Systems Contractor must be renewed every 2 years. The fee to renew is presently $250. TBLC contractor license renews every two years; ASCB renews annually. A lapsed CE-C voids any contracts in progress and exposes the contractor to penalties under §62-6-136.

Continuing education: TBLC CE-C: no state-mandated continuing education at the contractor level. ASCB: annual continuing training set by the ASCB rule for the qualifying agent and every Registered Alarm Systems Employee.

Downloadable Asset

2026 Tennessee Low Voltage 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
Alabama	TBLC trade exam waived	TBLC and the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors maintain bilateral reciprocity for active contractors who have held a comparable classification for at least three years.
Georgia	TBLC trade exam waived	TBLC and Georgia SCILB recognize each other's contractor licenses on application after experience verification.
Mississippi	Reciprocity	Bilateral TBLC-Mississippi reciprocity for active contractors.
North Carolina	Reciprocity	TBLC-NCBEEC bilateral reciprocity.

TBLC has multistate trade reciprocity for the contractor license but the Tennessee Business and Law exam is still required. ASCB alarm credentials are not reciprocal.

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

The Licensing Roadmap

Decide which credential you need. Project cost $25,000+ = TBLC CE-C contractor; smaller jobs = LLE; alarm/CCTV/access control = ASCB Alarm Contractor; fire alarm = ASCB plus NICET.
Prepare the TBLC CE-C application. Compile reference letters, CPA-reviewed financial statement, certificate of insurance, and the requested monetary limit.
Pass the PSI CE-C Trade and Business and Law examinations. Score 73% on each. Trade is 100 questions in 240 minutes; Business and Law is 50 questions in 120 minutes.
Submit the TBLC application. File the application packet with the $250 fee and exam pass certificates.
Apply for the ASCB Alarm Contractor License (if doing alarm work). File the ASCB application with a $200 fee, qualifying agent training certificate, fingerprint cards, and proof of $100,000/$300,000 liability insurance.
Register every alarm installer with ASCB. Each installer must hold a Registered Alarm Systems Employee credential and pass a TBI / FBI background check.
Receive the credentials and begin work. TBLC issues the contractor license within 30 days of board meeting; ASCB issues alarm licenses within 60 – 90 days. CE-C renews every two years; ASCB renews annually.

Common Application Pitfalls

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

Bidding $25,000+ projects without TBLC CE-C

T.C.A. §62-6-103 makes it unlawful to bid or contract for any project of $25,000 or more without the TBLC contractor license. Bid amount, not contract price, triggers the requirement.

Skipping ASCB for alarm work

CE-C does not authorize burglar alarm or fire alarm contracting. ASCB licensure is independent and required for any monitored alarm or fire alarm installation.

Underestimating the financial statement

TBLC monetary limits are tied 10:1 to net worth. Bidding above the monetary limit on file is a board violation even if the contract is below $25,000.

Missing fingerprint clearance

ASCB applications stall in fingerprint review for 30 – 90 days. Plan ahead — applicants who start fingerprints late delay the entire alarm contractor approval.

Confusing LLE with CE-C

LLE authorizes individual electricians on small projects only. It does not authorize a contracting business or projects of $25,000 or more.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to TBLC:

☐ TBLC CE-C application with reference letters and $250 fee
☐ CPA-reviewed financial statement (10% of monetary limit)
☐ PSI CE-C Trade exam pass at 73%
☐ PSI Tennessee Business and Law exam pass at 73%
☐ Certificate of insurance
☐ ASCB Alarm Contractor application (if doing alarm work)
☐ TBI / FBI fingerprint cards (ASCB)
☐ Registered Alarm Systems Employee credentials for every installer

Preparation Resources

The list below collects the board's cited references and the materials applicants typically study from. CLR is not paid to recommend any of them.

National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), Tennessee-adopted edition — NFPA. Articles 725, 760, 770, and 800. Required reference for the CE-C trade exam.
NFPA 72 — National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code — NFPA. Required reference for the ASCB and CE-C fire alarm content.
Tennessee Contractor's Reference Manual — TBLC / PSI. Official PSI reference for the Tennessee Business and Law exam.

Other Tennessee Trade Licenses

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

Answers to Common Questions

When does Tennessee require the TBLC CE-C contractor license vs the LLE?

Any low-voltage project with a total cost of $25,000 or more requires the TBLC contractor license with the CE-C classification. Smaller projects can be done by a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) registered with the State Fire Marshal.

Does TBLC CE-C cover burglar and fire alarm work?

No. Burglar alarm, fire alarm, monitoring, CCTV, and access control require a separate Tennessee Alarm Systems Contractors Board (ASCB) Alarm Contractor License under T.C.A. Title 62 Chapter 32.

What is the financial requirement for the CE-C license?

TBLC requires a CPA-reviewed financial statement showing minimum net worth of 10% of the requested monetary limit. A $500,000 monetary limit needs $50,000 net worth.

Does Tennessee require NICET for fire alarm?

NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II is required by most Tennessee AHJs for fire alarm plan review and acceptance testing. ASCB licensure plus NICET is the standard combination.

How often does the CE-C contractor license renew?

Every two years. ASCB Alarm Contractor renews annually with continuing education and proof of liability insurance.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-05-29 · Next scheduled review 2026-08-27