How to get an electrical contractor license in Tennessee (2026)
Checked against TN Board for Licensing Contractors publications and Prov's Tennessee bulletin (June 15, 2026). Guide facts verified September 2026 and re-checked in our October 9, 2026 sweep.
Tennessee splits electrical work at $25,000 per project. Below it, the Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) covers you in most of the state. At or above it, you need the CE (Electrical) classification of the state contractor license. There is no statewide journeyman or master card; those are local.
Tennessee at a glance
| Board | TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Nashville |
|---|---|
| License types | Electrical Contractor (CE): projects of $25,000+, statewide, with a monetary limit. LLE: projects under $25,000, valid in about 65 counties, not in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville or Chattanooga. |
| Exams (first) | Prov since July 1, 2026. CE trade: 100 questions, 2 hours. Business & Law: 50 questions, 2 hours. LLE: 40 questions, 2 hours. Open book, pass 73%, 2017 NEC, $53 per exam. |
| Monetary limit | 10 times the lesser of working capital and net worth. Or, since July 2026, a surety bond of at least 50% of the limit. |
| Application fee | CE: $250 (covers the 2-year license). LLE: $50. |
| Insurance | General liability $100k to $1M depending on your monetary limit; workers' comp if you have employees. |
| Renewal | Every 2 years: CE $200, LLE $50. |
| Continuing education | None for CE contractors or LLEs. |
| Exam waivers | Trade exam waived for AL, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC, WV, and for Texas master electricians under the October 2026 agreement. NASCLA accepted. Georgia is not on the list. Business & Law is never waived. |
Fees and rules change. Confirm current figures with the TN Board for Licensing Contractors before you file.
How the process works
- Pick CE or LLEIf any single project will reach $25,000, you need the CE classification. The LLE is cheaper but limited by project size and by county.
- Pass the exams firstTennessee tests before you apply. Since July 1, 2026 the exams are with Prov: $53 each, open book, 73% to pass, at a test center or remotely.
- Set your monetary limitYour limit comes from your financial statement (10 times the lesser of working capital and net worth) or, new in July 2026, a surety bond of at least half the limit.
- Apply with insuranceFile the $250 CE application with financials or bond and proof of insurance. The license runs two years and renews at $200.
Want the whole Tennessee path on paper?
The Tennessee Electrical Roadmap is a 9-page PDF that goes past this summary:
- How to calculate and raise your monetary limit
- The financial-statement and bond options side by side
- The CE vs LLE decision by county
- Printable application checklist and a dated sources page
Instant download · free updated edition for 12 months · 30-day money-back guarantee
Already licensed in another state?
Tennessee waives the trade exam for actively licensed electrical contractors from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia, verified board to board. The Business & Law exam is never waived. Georgia is not a participating state, and Arkansas's agreement covers building classifications only. The LLE has no reciprocity. New in October 2026: Tennessee and Texas signed a two-way agreement. A Tennessee CE license earned by exam and held 1 year qualifies for a Texas Master Electrician license by reciprocity ($45 TDLR fee; TDLR also requires a journeyman license held 1 year, and Tennessee has no statewide journeyman card, so ask TDLR what it accepts). Going the other way, a Texas master electrician licensed by exam for 1 year can have the CE trade exam waived, but still passes the Tennessee Business & Law exam. Tennessee's own waiver form (July 2026) doesn't list Texas yet, so confirm with the Board before you file.
Reciprocity lists change often. See every Southeast state side by side in the Southeast electrical reciprocity overview.
Free: Board Change Alerts
State boards change fees, exams and reciprocity lists with little notice. Join the free Board Change Alerts list and we'll email you when TX, FL, GA, NC, SC, TN, AL or VA changes fees, exams or reciprocity. No spam.
You'll get a confirmation email first. After you confirm: a short welcome email and 3 licensing tips over the next 10 days, then an email only when a board changes fees, exams or reciprocity. Unsubscribe anytime. We never sell or share your email. Privacy policy.
Tennessee electrical license FAQ
Do I need a CE license or an LLE in Tennessee?
You need the CE (Electrical) classification for any project of $25,000 or more. The Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) covers projects under $25,000, but only in counties where the State Fire Marshal inspects, not in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville or Chattanooga.
What are the Tennessee electrical exams like?
Since July 1, 2026 they are given by Prov. The CE trade exam is 100 questions in 2 hours, Business & Law is 50 questions in 2 hours, and the LLE exam is 40 questions in 2 hours. All are open book on the 2017 NEC, need 73% to pass, and cost $53 each.
Which states have electrical reciprocity with Tennessee?
Tennessee waives the trade exam for electrical contractors from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia, and, under an agreement announced October 6, 2026, for Texas master electricians. The Business & Law exam is always required. Georgia is not on the list.
Can a Tennessee electrical license transfer to Texas?
Yes, since October 2026. Texas (TDLR) added Tennessee to its master electrician reciprocity list on October 6, 2026: a Tennessee CE license earned by exam and held 1 year counts as the equivalent of a Texas master. TDLR also requires a journeyman license held 1 year, and the application fee is $45. The agreement runs both ways, so a Texas master can have Tennessee's CE trade exam waived.
Ready to file in Tennessee?
Every step in filing order, a printable checklist, and every figure dated and cited to the board. Built by a contractor who holds licenses in 30+ states.
Get the Tennessee roadmap: $39 See sample pages →Other states
Informational only, not legal advice. LicenseFootprint is not affiliated with any state agency. The board's current published requirements always control.