Tennessee Plumber License Requirements (2026)

The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors licenses businesses performing plumbing and gas-piping work as CMC-A contractors. A Tennessee contractor license is required before contracting for a plumbing portion of a project valued at $25,000 or more, including labor, materials, and equipment. The CMC-A qualifying agent must receive Board pre-approval before the trade examination and show three years of experience. For work below the state contractor threshold, licensing and permits are often local. The separate Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) credential is an individual license for work below $25,000 only in municipalities using the Division of Fire Prevention for permits or inspections; the locality must accept it.

Regulatory Body

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; Board rules Chapter 0680. TBLC licenses contractor entities, classifications, qualifying agents, monetary limits, Limited Licensed Plumbers, and related renewals and discipline.

• Official portal: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors/license/get/contractor.html
• Address: 500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, TN 37243
• Phone: (615) 741-2241

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Applicants must provide a Social Security Number. No Tennessee residency requirement.

Good moral character

The Contractor’s Affidavit requires disclosure and explanation of relevant complaints, convictions, and prior unlicensed bidding. TBLC says those matters can require a Board interview; avoid treating any one item as an automatic denial without the Board’s review.

Background investigation

Submit the current online application and notarized Contractor’s Affidavit, with explanations and supporting records for required disclosures. The Board’s contractor page does not describe a universal fingerprint prerequisite.

Experience and Education

A minimum of three years of plumbing experience for the CMC-A qualifying agent, documented through the Board’s pre-approval process before the trade examination 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

• Completed CMC-A pre-approval request form and the experience documentation it requires
• A current Letter of Reference from a past client, employer, or code official who can speak to construction experience (not a family member)
• Qualifying-agent, entity, financial, insurance, and Contractor’s Affidavit documents required by the current online application

Education substitution

TBLC’s current CMC-A materials specify three years of experience for exam pre-approval and do not publish the degree substitution stated in the prior guide. Ask the Board before relying on education as a substitute.

Exam Requirements

An examination applies to the pathway described here. Individual parts and format details are not established in this record; confirm them with the authority. Provider or process notes: Prov (new Board exam provider beginning July 1, 2026; PSI completes already-scheduled appointments through September)

Examination fee: Consult the current Prov Tennessee contractor candidate information for fees, question count, time limits, passing score, and permitted references.

Retake policy: TBLC says contractor examinations are typically valid for two years. Follow the current Prov candidate instructions and Board pre-approval conditions for scheduling and retakes.

Insurance and Bonds

There is no statewide surety bond tied to this credential in the cited record. Bonding can still surface at the project level — permit, license, or public-works bonds — so check before you bid.

General liability

General liability minimums follow the license monetary limit: $100,000 up to $500,000; $500,000 for $500,001–$1,500,000; and $1,000,000 above $1,500,000 through unlimited. The certificate must match the licensed entity and contain the required policy details.

Workers' compensation

TBLC requires workers’ compensation insurance or proof of exemption as part of the contractor process. Separately confirm the business’s coverage duty under Tennessee workers’ compensation law.

Additional financial requirements

A GAAP reviewed financial 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, subject to experience; unlimited requires $300,000 in both plus experience. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Board-approved Contractors’ Surety Bond may be used instead of a review/audit and must equal at least 50% of the requested 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 plumber.

Renewal and Continuing Education

The Tennessee CMC-A Plumbing Contractor (LLP Limited Licensed Plumber for projects under $25,000) runs on a 2 years renewal cycle. The current renewal fee is $200. TBLC says continuing education is not required for contractor licenses other than specified residential classifications. Renew through CORE within 90 days of expiration and submit the current financial, insurance, entity, and workers’ compensation/exemption documents.

Reciprocity

For this classification, Tennessee does not recognize the NASCLA Accredited Examination.

Tennessee does not permit use of another state’s license. Its current trade-exam-waiver list is classification-specific: for plumbing it identifies Ohio and South Carolina Commercial Contractors Licensing Board plumbing. A waiver affects only the trade exam and does not apply to LLP; all contractor classifications require Tennessee Business and Law.

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

Plumber 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 Plumber License Requirements — Alabama Master Plumber Certification and Company Registration
• Arkansas Plumber License Requirements — Arkansas Master Plumber and Journeyman Plumber License
• Georgia Plumber License Requirements — Georgia Master Plumber (Class I or Class II)
• Kentucky Plumber License Requirements — Kentucky Master Plumber (and Journeyman Plumber)
• Mississippi Plumber License Requirements — Mississippi Plumbing Contractor License
• Missouri Plumber License Requirements — Missouri Plumber — City and County Licensing
• North Carolina Plumber License Requirements — North Carolina Plumbing Contractor (P-I or P-II)
• Virginia Plumber License Requirements — Virginia Master Plumber Tradesman License

Step-by-Step Application Roadmap

1. Decide whether CMC-A or a local/LLP path applies. CMC-A is the contractor classification for plumbing and gas piping at the state contractor threshold. For below-threshold work, confirm municipal permit and license rules; an LLP is useful only where the local jurisdiction uses and accepts it.
2. Obtain CMC-A trade-exam pre-approval. Submit the current pre-approval request and $50 fee. TBLC requires pre-approval and three years of experience for CMC-A.
3. Pass the required Board examinations. Beginning July 2026, use Prov for new appointments. CMC-A and every contractor classification require the Tennessee Business and Law exam; the trade-exam waiver rules are separate.
4. Choose a monetary limit and financial route. Use a reviewed or audited GAAP statement in the exact entity name, or the Board’s new surety-bond option. The limit must cover each contract.
5. Complete the online contractor application. File through CORE with the $250 initial fee, reference, financial information/bond, general-liability certificate, workers’ compensation documentation or exemption, entity documents, and notarized affidavit.
6. Maintain the entity, insurance, and limit. The license is issued in the financial-statement entity name. Keep the monetary limit, general liability, workers’ compensation status, and local permits aligned with the work.

Application Checklist

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

• CMC-A pre-approval request, $50 fee, and three years of qualifying experience documentation
• Prov CMC-A trade and Tennessee Business and Law examination results, or a current trade-exam waiver verification
• CORE contractor application and $250 initial fee
• One non-family Letter of Reference from a past client, employer, or code official
• Reviewed/audited GAAP financial statement in the entity name or the Board-approved Contractors’ Surety Bond option
• General-liability certificate appropriate to the monetary limit and workers’ compensation documentation or exemption
• Entity documents and notarized Contractor’s Affidavit

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

Common Filing Mistakes

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

Assuming Tennessee issues a master plumber credential

CMC-A is a contractor entity license supported by a qualifying agent; LLP is a separate individual license with limited below-$25,000 and municipality-specific use. Do not assume either describes every local journeyman or master credential.

Confusing CMC-A with LLP

LLP applies only below $25,000 and only where the municipality uses the Division of Fire Prevention for permits or inspections. Always confirm that the local jurisdiction accepts LLP.

Filing a stale financial statement

A reviewed or audited GAAP financial statement must be less than 12 months old when submitted. A compilation is not the current standard; the Board now also offers an approved surety-bond alternative.

Studying the wrong plumbing code

The Board changed trade-exam administration to Prov beginning July 2026. Use the current candidate information for exam references and check the project jurisdiction for building-code adoption and amendments.

Missing local backflow certifications

Below the $25,000 state contractor threshold, local permit and license rules still matter. Confirm the applicable municipality or county before bidding or seeking an inspection.

Study and Reference Materials

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.

• Prov Tennessee contractor candidate information — Prov / Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Official current source for the CMC-A and Business and Law examination format, fee, references, and scheduling.
• TBLC CMC-A pre-approval and contractor application materials — Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Primary source for CMC-A experience pre-approval, monetary limits, financial documentation, insurance, and contractor entity requirements.
• TBLC LLP requirements — Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Use this source when considering the separate below-$25,000 LLP credential and its municipality/inspection limitation.

Other Tennessee Trade Licenses

For a different Tennessee credential, see these companion guides published by CLR:

• Tennessee General Contractor License Requirements
• Tennessee Electrician 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

Does Tennessee issue individual plumber credentials?

CMC-A is a contractor-entity classification with a qualifying agent. TBLC also issues the individual LLP credential for work below $25,000 only in municipalities using the Division of Fire Prevention for permits or inspections. Local governments may have additional credentials or may not accept LLP.

When does Tennessee require a plumbing contractor license?

A Tennessee contractor license is required before contracting for a plumbing project portion valued at $25,000 or more, including labor, materials, and equipment. Below that threshold, check the municipality or county for permit and licensing rules; LLP is not statewide permission for all small work.

Which plumbing code does Tennessee use?

Use the current Prov Tennessee contractor candidate information for the CMC-A examination references. Building-code adoption and local amendments are separate from the contractor license, so confirm the authority having jurisdiction for project compliance.

Does Tennessee reciprocate plumbing contractor licenses?

A reciprocal agreement is a trade-exam waiver only, not authority to operate on an out-of-state license. TBLC’s current list identifies plumbing paths through Ohio and the South Carolina Commercial Contractors Licensing Board; verify the classification and examination history with the current waiver form. The Tennessee Business and Law exam remains required.

How often does the Tennessee CMC-A plumbing license renew?

Contractor licenses renew every two years. TBLC lists a $200 contractor renewal fee and a 12-month grace period with a $20 monthly late fee; the renewal materials call for the applicable financial, insurance, entity, and workers’ compensation/exemption documentation. LLP renews separately for $50 with a three-month grace period.

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