Electrician Licensing in Tennessee
Tennessee has no statewide journeyman electrician license. The state licenses electrical contractors through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Some local governments issue their own electrician licenses; check the rules where you will work.
Source: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, checked 2026-10-07
Page last reviewed 2026-10-01 against official sources; credential requirements checked 2026-09-06. Confirm with the issuing authority before applying.
Licensed in another state? See reviewed routes into Tennessee.
How electrical licensing works in Tennessee
Tennessee's Board for Licensing Contractors issues the Electrical Contractor (CE) license for contracting businesses and the Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license to individuals. For electrical work costing $25,000 or more, the contractor-license requirement applies; LLE covers projects below $25,000 only where the local authority accepts it.
Choose by the work, its total cost, and the job-site jurisdiction. CE qualifies the contracting business through a qualifying agent; LLE is not a statewide journeyman or master license. This page covers CE and LLE, not a complete list of local electrician licenses.
Credential-specific requirements
Requirements differ by credential. Expand any credential for the work or business activity you plan to perform. Issued by Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors unless noted.
Electrical Contractor (CE) Contractor/business authorization
- Issuing authority
- Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors →
- Scope of work
- Electrical contracting at $25,000 or more, including materials, equipment, and labor. The license is required before bidding, offering, negotiating, or contracting where the contractor requirement applies. Electrical subcontractors need it when their portion reaches $25,000. Each project must be within the assigned monetary limit and applicable Board tolerance; projects cannot be split to avoid licensing. CE is accepted statewide, but local permits, inspections, business licenses, and fees still apply.
- Experience or qualification
- The qualifying agent takes the required exams for the contracting entity and may be an owner, full-time employee, or officer; a non-owner needs a Power of Attorney. Provide the Board-required experience reference, financial documentation, general liability insurance, and workers’ compensation coverage or exemption. The Board offers a surety-bond alternative to the CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement beginning July 1, 2026; follow its current application instructions.
- Examination
- Tennessee Business and Law plus the Electrical (CE) trade exam. The qualifying agents taking the two exams need not be the same person. Current Prov exams are open-book, cost $53 each, and require 73% to pass; CE has 100 questions with five hours allowed. New scheduling goes through Prov. The Board allows already scheduled PSI appointments through September 2026. A qualifying out-of-state contractor may request a trade-exam waiver; this does not waive the Tennessee license requirement.
- Initial fee
- $250 initial application fee, separate from the $53 fee for each required Prov examination and financial/insurance costs.
- Renewal
- Two-year license term; $200 renewal. CORE opens renewal within 90 days of expiration; submit at least 30 days before expiration. Provide current financial and insurance documentation and entity-status evidence where applicable. Do not work on an expired license. The 12-month late-renewal window carries a $20 fee per month; at the cutoff, confirm reinstatement with the Board. Reinstatement requires a new application and $250 fee. The Board’s eight-hour continued-education requirement is for BC-A and BC-A/r residential classifications, not an electrical CE hours requirement; check it if you also hold either residential classification.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) Individual license
- Issuing authority
- Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors →
- Scope of work
- Individual electrical work on projects below $25,000, including materials and labor, where the local jurisdiction accepts LLE and uses the state permit/inspection program. Projects cannot be split to avoid the threshold. Local licensing, permits, inspections, and business-tax requirements still apply. LLE holders may not advertise as an electrical contractor.
- Experience or qualification
- Apply as an individual. The Board’s LLE application says experience and preapproval are not required to take the exam. Submit a passing score report, photo identification, Social Security number, and proof of U.S. citizenship or qualified-alien status, plus required disclosures. This exam-entry rule does not replace local licensing requirements.
- Examination
- Pass the LLE trade exam. Current Prov materials list 40 questions, two hours, an open-book format, a $53 fee per attempt, and a 73% passing score. Older Board forms still name PSI; use the current Board/Prov instructions when scheduling. Contractor reciprocal trade-exam waivers do not apply to LLE.
- Initial fee
- $50 initial application fee, plus the separate $53 Prov examination fee.
- Renewal
- Two-year license term, expiring on the last day of the month of issuance; $50 renewal. CORE opens renewal within 90 days of expiration; submit at least 30 days before expiration. Do not work on an expired license. The three-month late-renewal window carries a $10 fee per month. At the cutoff, confirm reinstatement with the Board: the current form requires reapplication at three months or more. Reinstatement costs $80 ($50 application plus $30 late penalty). The Board’s LLE application states there are no continuing education requirements. Former licensees who never passed the exam must confirm the exam or Board-approved waiver route.
- Official application
- Apply / forms →
Licensed in another state?
Tennessee has a reviewed application route for some licenses from 5 states. A route can waive an exam or some experience; you still need the Tennessee credential before you work. Expand a state for the routes and their requirements.
Alabama Reciprocity
- If you hold
- Alabama electrical contractor license (Alabama Electrical Contractors Board, Ala. Code Title 34, Chapter 14), exam-based (PSI national exam)
- You can apply for
- Tennessee CE (Electrical Contractor) classification by trade exam waiver (Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors; T.C.A. Title 62, Chapter 6)
To apply:
- hold a current Alabama Electrical Contractors Board (AECB) electrical contractor license obtained by examination (not waived or grandfathered)
- be in good standing with no violations/disciplinary action or open complaints
- submit verification of the out-of-state (Alabama) license through the receiving board's required form completed by the AECB
- have the 'Request for Contractor License Verification' form completed by the Alabama Electrical Contractors Board and submit it with the TN contractor license application in lieu of the trade exam score
- take the Tennessee Business & Law exam (required for every contractor license except restricted residential BC-A/r)
Limits:
- the waiver is limited to the trade exam and cannot be used for home improvement, limited licensed plumber, or limited licensed electrician applications
- applicants with disciplinary action, open complaints, or felony convictions are not eligible for the trade exam waiver
- TN journeyman electrician certification is municipal: the AL journeyman certification has no state-level TN pathway (the LLE lane is explicitly excluded from the waiver)
- the Tennessee license must be issued before work; the examination waiver is not authority to work
Reciprocity. Official source 1 · Official source 2 · Checked 2026-09-21.
Louisiana Exam waiver
- If you hold
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors Electrical Work (Statewide) contractor license (classification 9) with a comparable Louisiana examination verified by LSLBC
- You can apply for
- Tennessee CE (Electrical Contractor) classification under the Tennessee contractor license (Board for Licensing Contractors)
To apply:
- Louisiana license verified by LSLBC as having a comparable examination (Request for Contractor License Verification form)
- pass the Tennessee Business and Law exam
Limits:
- the waiver cannot be used for license applications for home improvement, limited licensed plumber, or limited licensed electrician (LLE) - the LLE program offers no Louisiana reciprocity path
- applicants with disciplinary action, open complaints or felony convictions are not eligible; the waiver covers the trade exam only
- the Tennessee license must be issued before work; the examination waiver is not authority to work
Exam waiver. Official source · Checked 2026-09-17.
North Carolina Exam waiver
- If you hold
- North Carolina electrical contractor license (NCEEB; N.C. Gen. Stat. ch. 87, Art. 4), exam-based (PSI)
- You can apply for
- Tennessee Contractor license with CE (Electrical Contractor) classification via trade exam waiver (Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors; T.C.A. title 62, chapter 6)
To apply:
- hold a current North Carolina electrical contractor license issued by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCEEB), obtained by examination (PSI-administered)
- be in good standing: 'Applicants with disciplinary action, open complaints, or felony convictions are not eligible for the trade exam waiver.'
- have the reciprocating state be the applicant's home state, or the exam must be comparable to PSI's
- complete the 'REQUEST FOR CONTRACTOR LICENSE VERIFICATION' form, forward it to the NC board for completion, and submit it with the TN contractor license application 'in lieu of the "trade" exam score'
- pass the Tennessee Business & Law exam ('Every Contractor license except for the restricted residential (BC-A/r) classification requires the Tennessee Business & Law exam.') and meet the remaining TN application requirements (financial statement, qualifying agent, fees)
Limits:
- the waiver covers the trade exam only: 'You cannot operate in Tennessee with a license from another state. However, Tennessee has a trade exam waiver agreement with several states.' - a full TN application is still required
- the waiver 'does not apply to other license programs (Home Improvement, LLE, or LLP)' - TN's individual Limited Licensed Electrician program is outside the agreement
- the TN table maps NC's Electrical scope to CE without subdividing NC's contractor tiers, so eligibility of the NC Intermediate/Restricted tiers is subject to the verification form's classification/exam review by the Board (not explicitly named)
Exam waiver. Official source 1 · Official source 2 · Checked 2026-09-29.
Ohio Exam waiver
- If you hold
- Ohio OCILB Electrical Contractor license (Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board; Ohio Rev. Code ch. 4740), exam-based (PSI)
- You can apply for
- Tennessee Contractor license with CE (Electrical Contractor) classification via trade exam waiver (Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors; T.C.A. title 62, chapter 6)
To apply:
- hold a current Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) Electrical Contractor license obtained by examination (PSI-administered; ORC ch. 4740; not grandfathered or waiver-issued)
- be in good standing with no disciplinary action or open complaints in Ohio
- be licensed in a participating state (Ohio) with the state verifying a comparable examination
- complete the 'Request for Contractor License Verification' form, forward it to OCILB for completion, and submit it with the TN contractor license application in lieu of the trade exam score
- pass the Tennessee Business & Law exam ('Every Contractor license except for the restricted residential (BC-A/r) classification requires the Tennessee Business & Law exam')
Limits:
- 'The waiver is limited to the trade exam' - 'Reciprocation is with the TRADE exam, only. Some states may charge a fee to complete verification.'
- 'This waiver cannot be used for license applications for home improvement, limited licensed plumber, or limited licensed electrician' - Ohio municipal journeyman certification has no state-level TN pathway
- 'Applicants with disciplinary action, open complaints, or felony convictions are not eligible for the trade exam waiver'
- the TN license must be issued before work; the exam waiver is not authority to work
Exam waiver. Official source · Checked 2026-09-25.
West Virginia Exam waiver
- If you hold
- West Virginia Electrical Contractor license (WV Contractor Licensing Board), exam-based
- You can apply for
- Tennessee Contractor license with CE (Electrical Contractor) classification via trade exam waiver (Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors; T.C.A. title 62, chapter 6)
To apply:
- hold a current West Virginia Electrical Contractor license issued by the WV Contractor Licensing Board, obtained by examination
- be in good standing: 'Applicants with disciplinary action, open complaints, or felony convictions are not eligible for the trade exam waiver'
- be licensed in a participating state (West Virginia) with the state verifying a comparable examination
- complete the 'REQUEST FOR CONTRACTOR LICENSE VERIFICATION' form, forward it to the WV board for completion, and submit it with the TN contractor license application 'in lieu of the "trade" exam score'
- pass the Tennessee Business & Law exam ('Every Contractor license except for the restricted residential (BC-A/r) classification requires the Tennessee Business & Law exam') and meet the remaining TN application requirements (financial statement, qualifying agent, $250 application fee)
Limits:
- the waiver covers the trade exam only: 'You cannot operate in Tennessee with a license from another state. However, Tennessee has a trade exam waiver agreement with several states.' - a full TN application is still required
- the trade exam waiver agreement 'only applies to "Contractors" licensed with the Board. It does not apply to other license programs (Home Improvement, LLE, or LLP)' - the WV Master, Journeyman and Specialty certifications and Tennessee's individual Limited Licensed Electrician program are outside the agreement
- the waiver 'cannot be used for license applications for home improvement, limited licensed plumber, or limited licensed electrician'
- the TN license must be issued before work; the exam waiver is not authority to work
Exam waiver. Official source 1 · Official source 2 · Checked 2026-09-30.
Reviewed and found no reciprocity or exam-waiver agreement for licenses from these states. You can still apply through the standard route:
Local permits and alarm work
Check the job-site city or county before applying. CE is accepted statewide, but local permits, inspections, business licenses, and fees still apply. LLE is not accepted everywhere. The State Fire Marshal handles electrical permitting and inspections in much of Tennessee; jurisdictions outside that program use their own local authority. A license does not replace a permit.
Alarm work has separate rules. An eligible CE contractor must satisfy the alarm program's exclusion conditions, including an affidavit of exclusion and deriving less than 50% of gross annual revenues from alarm services, rather than assuming CE alone settles those requirements. LLE does not qualify for that exclusion.
Before you apply
For CE, use the Board's contractor application instructions to choose the business name and mode of operation, designate the qualifying agent, arrange the examinations, and prepare financial, insurance, and experience documentation. The Board now offers a surety-bond alternative to the CPA financial statement; use its current instructions for that option. Obtain the license before bidding or contracting for work requiring it.
For LLE, confirm local acceptance first, then pass the trade exam and submit the application with your score report, photo identification, and citizenship or qualified-alien documentation. Passing the exam alone does not issue the license. Follow current Board and Prov instructions for exam scheduling: older application forms still refer to PSI.
Renew before expiration. The late-renewal windows in the cards are not extra time to work on an expired license. The Board uses both “or longer” and “more than” at the three-month LLE and twelve-month contractor reinstatement cutoffs; contact the Board at the cutoff rather than assuming late renewal remains available. For a former LLE who never took the exam, the application describes a Board-approved waiver request; confirm the reinstatement route with the Board.
Use the official links to apply for CE, apply for LLE, renew through CORE, and verify a license. Tennessee's contractor trade-exam waiver route is not permission to work on another state's license and does not apply to LLE. This page was re-verified against tn.gov on October 1, 2026.
View Application Information → License Lookup →
Cite this page
- Title
- Electrician Licensing in Tennessee
- URL
- https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/tennessee
- Information checked
- 2026-10-01
Suggested citation: Electrician Licensing in Tennessee. Trades Directory. https://tradesdir.com/electrical/licensing/tennessee (information checked 2026-10-01).