Tennessee Masonry License Requirements

Tennessee does not use a BC-A Masonry classification. The path depends on the project role and masonry cost. A prime contractor needs a Tennessee contractor license before contracting for a $25,000-or-more project; BC-9 is the masonry building category accepted for prime masonry work from $25,000 to less than $100,000. A masonry subcontractor must be licensed when its masonry portion is $100,000 or more, and masonry work at $100,000 or more requires the Licensed Masonry Contractor (LMC) classification and trade exam. The contractor license must have a classification and monetary limit that cover the work. Local permits, inspections, and business requirements are separate.

Regulatory Body

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

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Check the current application for identification and tax-number requirements. No Tennessee residency requirement was identified for a contractor license; local requirements can differ.

Good moral character

The Contractor’s Affidavit requires explanation of complaints, convictions, or prior unlicensed bidding, which can lead to a Board interview.

Background investigation

Use the current Contractor’s Affidavit and application instructions. The Board may require an interview when an application discloses complaints, convictions, or prior unlicensed bidding.

Experience and Education

The sources cited here stop short of naming a year requirement; the operative standard is The Board requires construction experience supported by a letter of reference from a past client, employer, or code official. The LMC classification also requires its designated trade examination; no numeric statewide masonry-experience period is published on the current contractor-license page..

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Board letter of reference from a past client, employer, or code official
Financial statement in the exact name and mode of operation to be licensed
Contractor’s Affidavit and proof of required insurance

Education substitution

No published education substitution for masonry was identified. The qualifying agent and application materials must meet the Board’s current requirements.

Exam Requirements

Testing provider or authority: Prov administers current Tennessee contractor examinations. The qualifying agent takes Tennessee Business and Law; the Licensed Masonry Contractor (LMC) classification requires the masonry trade examination.. 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
Licensed Masonry Contractor (LMC) trade examination — question count: confirm with the authority, timing: confirm with the authority, passing score: confirm in the current candidate bulletin

Examination fee: $250 initial contractor-license application fee. Examination fees are set by the current test provider and are separate.

Retake policy: Follow the current Prov candidate bulletin for retest rules. The Board states examinations are typically valid for two years.

Insurance and Bonds

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

The Board requires general liability based on the monetary limit: $100,000 up to a $500,000 limit; $500,000 for $500,001–$1,500,000; and $1,000,000 above $1,500,000. The Board must be the certificate holder.

Workers' compensation

Workers’ compensation coverage is required for contractor applicants unless the business qualifies for and supplies proof of an applicable exemption.

Additional financial requirements

A CPA or LPA must prepare the financial statement in the exact name and mode of operation to be licensed. A reviewed statement is required for limits of $3,000,000 or less; an audited statement is required above $3,000,000. The monetary limit is generally 10 times the lesser of working capital or net worth.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application	$250
Initial license	$250
Renewal (every 2 years)	$200

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 masonry.

Renewal and Continuing Education

The Tennessee Masonry Contractor License (BC-9 or Licensed Masonry Contractor) runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $200. Contractor licenses renew every two years. The Board charges $20 per month for late renewal, up to 12 months; local approvals have separate schedules.

Continuing education: No masonry-specific statewide CE requirement was identified for the contractor classification. Residential classifications can be subject to the separate residential CE rule.

Downloadable Asset

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

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity

For this classification, Tennessee recognizes the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
No formal bilateral reciprocity agreements identified.

Tennessee does not allow work on another state’s license. West Virginia is listed for a masonry trade-exam waiver agreement, subject to Board verification; Tennessee also accepts the NASCLA National Commercial exam where applicable. Confirm the precise LMC waiver before applying.

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

Masonry 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 Masonry License Requirements — Alabama Masonry Contractor — AL General Contractors Board Requirements
Arkansas Masonry License Requirements — Arkansas Masonry Contractor Requirements — Commercial and Residential Classifications
Georgia Masonry License Requirements — No Georgia masonry-contractor license; masonry is a recognized specialty
Kentucky Masonry License Requirements — Kentucky Masonry Contractor Requirements — Local Rules
Mississippi Masonry License Requirements — Mississippi Certificate of Responsibility — Masonry, Brick and Stone (Commercial); Residential Remodeler/Builder When Applicable
Missouri Masonry License Requirements — Missouri Masonry Contractor Requirements — Local Permits and Licensing
North Carolina Masonry License Requirements — North Carolina General Contractor License — S(Masonry Construction), Building, or Residential Classification
Virginia Masonry License Requirements — Virginia BRK Masonry Specialty Contractor — DPOR Board for Contractors

Local requirements and practical guides

Do Subcontractors Need a License? California, Tennessee, and Texas Examples
Learn why a prime contractor’s license may not cover a subcontractor, using California’s triggers, Tennessee’s trade thresholds, and Texas electrical rules.

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

Determine the state and local path before bidding. A prime contractor needs a license before contracting for $25,000 or more. A masonry subcontractor needs one at $100,000 or more. Check the local permit, registration, inspection, and code requirements for every project.
Select the masonry classification and monetary limit. BC-9 is accepted for prime masonry work from $25,000 to less than $100,000. Masonry work at $100,000 or more requires LMC and its trade exam. Ensure the monetary limit covers the entire contract amount.
Prepare financial, reference, affidavit, and insurance records. Obtain the required CPA/LPA financial statement, a qualifying reference letter, notarized Contractor’s Affidavit, general-liability certificate, and workers’ compensation coverage or valid exemption proof.
Complete testing that applies. The qualifying agent takes the Tennessee Business and Law exam. Take the LMC masonry trade exam for work requiring the Licensed Masonry Contractor classification.
Apply online and pay the initial fee. Submit the Initial New Contractor Application through the Board’s online system and pay the $250 initial fee.
Implement masonry safety controls. TOSHA adopts the federal construction standards subject to Tennessee exceptions. Apply the respirable-crystalline-silica controls, written exposure-control plan, scaffold, fall, lifting, and mortar safety measures required for the actual task.
Renew and maintain the monetary limit. Renew on time, keep insurance current, and do not bid or contract above the monetary limit. Local approvals and permits have separate terms.

Application Checklist

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

Correct prime/subcontractor role, masonry classification, and monetary-limit determination
Tennessee Business and Law examination pass for the qualifying agent
LMC trade-exam pass when $100,000-or-more masonry work requires LMC
CPA/LPA financial statement in the exact business name and mode of operation
Reference letter and notarized Contractor’s Affidavit
General-liability certificate and workers’ compensation coverage or exemption proof
Local permit, registration, inspection, and safety review

Common Filing Mistakes

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

Using the wrong masonry threshold

Prime masonry work is licensed from $25,000, while a masonry subcontractor threshold and the LMC trade-exam threshold are $100,000. Determine the role and masonry portion before bidding.

Exceeding the monetary limit

The monetary limit is a per-contract cap. Ensure it covers the proposed project before contracting and do not split a project to evade the limit.

Using a financial statement not accepted for the limit

The statement must be prepared in the exact business name and mode of operation. Use a reviewed or audited statement at the level required for the requested limit.

Ignoring local permits and approved design documents

State licensing does not replace city or county permits, inspections, code requirements, or the approved project plans.

Ignoring silica exposure controls

Masonry work can generate respirable crystalline silica. Apply the controls, respiratory protection, training, and written exposure-control plan required for the actual task.

Study and Reference 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 Classification Outline — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Current masonry thresholds, classifications, and exam requirements.
Tennessee Contractor License Application Resources — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Current financial, reference, affidavit, insurance, and examination requirements.
OSHA Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction — U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Construction silica standard and compliance requirements.

Other Tennessee Trade Licenses

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tennessee have a dedicated masonry license?

Yes. Tennessee uses the Licensed Masonry Contractor (LMC) classification for masonry work at $100,000 or more. BC-A Masonry is not a current classification.

What is the project value threshold?

A prime contractor needs a contractor license before contracting for a $25,000-or-more project. BC-9 is accepted for prime masonry work from $25,000 to less than $100,000; masonry work at $100,000 or more requires LMC. A masonry subcontractor’s licensing threshold is $100,000 for its masonry portion.

What is the monetary limit?

It is the maximum amount for each individual contract. The Board generally calculates it as 10 times the lesser of working capital or net worth, based on the financial statement; the licensee cannot split a project to evade the limit.

Does Tennessee accept NASCLA?

Tennessee accepts the NASCLA National Commercial exam where applicable. It also has limited trade-exam waiver agreements, but another state’s license does not authorize work in Tennessee.

What is the difference between BC-9 and LMC?

BC-9 is a masonry building category accepted for prime masonry work from $25,000 to less than $100,000. The Licensed Masonry Contractor classification requires a trade exam and is required for masonry work at $100,000 or more.

Primary Sources

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

Verified 2026-09-04 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-03

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Corrections and presentation updates

2026-09-30: Corrected examination detection when format details are unpublished and updated the summary layout and requirements score. Source-check dates are unchanged.
2026-09-08: Shared template updated to distinguish unspecified eligibility requirements, retain cost qualifications, and use consistent headings. Source-check dates are unchanged by presentation updates.
2026-09-21: Local-only guides now use a compliance-focused structure and terminology instead of implying a statewide license application. Source-check dates are unchanged by this presentation update.