Tennessee BC-A Masonry Contractor License Requirements (2026)

The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (TBLC) issues the BC-A Masonry Contractor classification under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62 Chapter 6 (Contractors Licensing Act of 1994). Any masonry contracting in Tennessee over $25,000 (including materials and labor) requires an active TBLC contractor license with the BC-A Masonry classification or a broader BC General Commercial classification. The qualifying individual must pass the PSI Business and Law and BC-A Masonry trade exams, submit a CPA-reviewed financial statement establishing the monetary limit, and maintain GL and workers compensation. This page documents the verified path including TBLC monetary limits, TOSHA silica enforcement, and TMS 402/602 plus IBC Chapter 21 compliance.

Regulatory Body Profile

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

The Eligibility Audit

The applicant must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid Social Security Number. No Tennessee residency requirement; out-of-state qualifying individuals accepted.

Good moral character

TBLC reviews prior license discipline and criminal history under TCA §62-6-120. Felonies relating to fraud, theft, or contracting bar issuance.

Background investigation

Criminal history disclosure on the application. TBLC reviews prior discipline from any jurisdiction.

Experience and Education Standards

A minimum of 3 years of masonry experience demonstrated through signed employer references and a project list covering brick, CMU, stone, anchored veneer, mortar, and grouted reinforced masonry must be documented and verified. Unless the board publishes a different lookback period, applicants should keep payroll, tax, project, or supervisor records that support the claimed experience.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Three signed letters of reference from prior employers or licensed contractors
Project list with addresses, dates, and dollar values
W-2, 1099, or certified payroll records covering the qualifying period

Education substitution

A construction-related associate or bachelor degree may substitute for up to one year of experience at TBLC discretion.

The Exam Syllabus

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

Tennessee Business and Law Examination — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 73%
BC-A Masonry Trade Examination — TMS 402/602, IBC Chapter 21, brick, CMU, stone, anchored veneer, grouted reinforced masonry — 80 questions, 240 minutes, passing score 73%

Examination fee: $57 per PSI exam section ($114 total).

Retake policy: Failed sections may be retaken after 30 days with a new $57 fee. Application remains valid for one year.

Bonding, Insurance & Financial Security

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

TBLC requires $500,000 per occurrence general liability minimum under Rule 0680-01-.06 for contractors with monetary limits at or below $1.5M, and $1,000,000 for higher limits.

Workers' compensation

Workers' compensation is mandatory under TCA §50-6-405 for any construction business with one or more employees. Masonry NCCI 5022 is one of the highest manual rates in Tennessee.

Additional financial requirements

TBLC requires a CPA-prepared or reviewed financial statement to establish the monetary limit (project value cap). BC-A masonry minimum monetary limit is set by net worth and working capital at the CPA review.

Schedule of Fees

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

Renewal and Continuing Obligations

The Tennessee BC-A Masonry Contractor — Board for Licensing Contractors runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $250. Tennessee BC-A licenses renew every two years. Late renewal carries a $100 penalty plus reinstatement requirements after 30 days lapsed.

Continuing education: No state CE requirement for BC-A, but bond and insurance must remain current and an updated financial statement may be required at renewal if monetary limit changes.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Out-of-State Reciprocity

For this classification, Tennessee recognizes the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Alabama	Trade exam waiver	TBLC–Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors reciprocity for active commercial masonry classifications.
Georgia	Business and law waiver only	Limited bilateral agreement for active contractors.
North Carolina	Partial reciprocity	TBLC–NCLBGC reciprocity for active masonry contractors.

Tennessee accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial Contractor exam in place of the BC-A Masonry trade exam for commercial masonry applicants.

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

The Application Roadmap

Form a Tennessee business entity and obtain federal EIN. Register with the Tennessee Secretary of State and Department of Revenue before filing the TBLC application.
Document three years of masonry experience. Compile signed employer references and a project list covering the qualifying period.
Prepare a CPA-reviewed financial statement. TBLC requires a CPA-prepared or reviewed statement (not compiled) to establish the monetary limit.
Pass the PSI Tennessee Business and Law exam. Score 73% or better on the 50-question business and law exam.
Pass the PSI BC-A Masonry trade exam. Score 73% or better on the 80-question trade exam covering TMS 402/602 and IBC Chapter 21.
Bind insurance certificates. Bind $500,000 GL (minimum) and workers compensation, then submit certificates naming TBLC as certificate holder.
Submit the TBLC Contractor Application. File with $250 application fee, financial statement, exam scores, insurance, and BC-A Masonry classification election.
Implement TOSHA silica written exposure control plan. Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA, state plan) enforces 29 CFR 1926.1153 with mandatory written plan and Table 1 controls.

Where Applications Stall

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a Tennessee Masonry application, based on the official instructions cited here.

Exceeding the monetary limit

Bidding a project above the TBLC-set monetary limit triggers automatic discipline under Rule 0680-01-.13. Request monetary limit increases via amended CPA financial statement before bidding.

Compiled instead of reviewed financial statement

TBLC rejects compiled financial statements. Only CPA-prepared or CPA-reviewed statements set the monetary limit. Compiled statements force a re-submission.

Missing the $25,000 threshold

Masonry contracts at or above $25,000 without an active BC-A trigger civil penalties under TCA §62-6-136, contract voidance, and inability to collect through Tennessee courts.

Anchored veneer ties at wrong spacing

Tennessee SDC C and D seismic zones (Memphis, East Tennessee) require corrosion-resistant ties at TMS 402 spacing. Shelby County and Knox County inspectors fail jobs with undersized ties.

TOSHA silica plan absent

TOSHA targets Nashville and Memphis masonry sites under 29 CFR 1926.1153. Missing written exposure control plans draw immediate citations with TN recordkeeping penalties higher than federal.

Pre-Application Checklist

Before submitting to TBLC, the applicant should have each of the following ready:

☐ Tennessee Secretary of State entity registration
☐ Federal EIN and Tennessee Department of Revenue registration
☐ Three letters of reference from licensed contractors or employers
☐ CPA-reviewed financial statement
☐ PSI Tennessee Business and Law exam pass certificate (73%+)
☐ PSI BC-A Masonry trade exam pass certificate (73%+)
☐ $500,000 GL certificate and workers compensation
☐ TOSHA silica written exposure control plan

Recommended Study 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 Contractor Reference Manual — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Required reference for the Tennessee business and law exam.
TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures — The Masonry Society. Adopted by reference under IBC Chapter 21 — required for the BC-A Masonry trade exam.
International Building Code Chapter 21 — Masonry — International Code Council. Tennessee adopts IBC at state and local levels; required reference for the BC-A trade exam.

Other Tennessee Trade Licenses

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

Common Questions

Does Tennessee have a dedicated masonry license?

Yes. BC-A Masonry Contractor classification issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors under TCA Title 62 Chapter 6.

What is the project value threshold?

$25,000 (materials plus labor). Any masonry contract at or above $25,000 requires an active TBLC license. Contracts under $25,000 fall to the TDCI Home Improvement Contractor registration for residential work.

What is the monetary limit?

A project-value cap set by TBLC based on the CPA financial statement. The BC-A Masonry limit equals 10 times net worth or 20 times working capital, whichever is lesser, under Rule 0680-01-.06.

Does Tennessee accept NASCLA?

Yes for commercial applicants. Tennessee accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial Contractor exam in place of the BC-A Masonry trade exam.

What is the difference between BC-A Masonry and Home Improvement?

BC-A Masonry is for projects over $25,000 and authorized by TBLC. Home Improvement (residential remodeling under $25,000) is registered separately through the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-04-15 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-14