Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Board for Licensing Contractors

Contractor's License Application

Mail

$250

AT least three weeks

The application is due 20th of the month before the Board meets.
The application must be received in the office by deadline date; not postmarked, to ensure it is prepped by the staff for review. The Board meets six (6) times annually during the following months: January (Nashville); March (Nashville); May (West TN); July (Nashville); September (East TN); and November (Nashville). Meeting locations are tentative and subject to change. See “Public Meetings Calendar” on the website. For example, in order to be reviewed at the January meeting, application would be due December 20th. If 20th is on a holiday/weekend, next business day is considered the deadline.

• Applicants requesting a monetary limit of $3,000,000 or less must submit a financial statement reviewed by a CPA. Monetary limits of $3,000,001 or more require an audited financial statement prepared by a CPA.
• Financial statements must be prepared according to GAAP. Compiled and income tax basis statements are not accepted.
• An interview with a board member at the meeting may be required for the
  following: Qualifying Agent (QA) is not a majority owner and employed less than six (6) months; Experience – Insufficient amount listed for the monetary limit requested; and/or if there are issues such as: Complaint history; judgments; felony convictions; bankruptcy; etc., or failure to disclose such issues. Whenever an interview is required, the QA is required to interview. If the QA is not a majority owner, then both the QA and an owner; or QA and an officer, must both attend the board meeting. An admission letter of the time, date and location of the meeting will be sent to those required to interview.
• Those required to interview, this is informal and takes no longer than 30 minutes. However, due to several contractors scheduled, there may be a timely wait. Board members in your field of expertise usually perform the interview. For example, an electrical Board member will interview those applying for an electrical license, and the mechanical contractor interviews the plumbing and HVAC contractors, etc. At the interview, the application is reviewed and general questions will be asked about contracting experience and to ensure the license classification covers your type of projects. You may use this time to ask the Board member advice or the staff questions concerning the licensing law. There is no dress code requirement.
• Interview Waived – Files are reviewed prior to the Board meeting and those granted waiver of the interview will be sent a notification letter. However, the license does not get granted earlier and must be approved at the Board meeting.
• Board Review - See the “Public Meetings Calendar” for the Board meeting schedule. The law requires the full Board to vote to approve all licenses in order to be issued. Contractors granted a hardship for early review are ratified at this meeting for issuance.
• License Issuance Upon approval by the full Board, the license will be issued for two (2) years. After the Board meeting, these may be confirmed online at “Verify a License” on the website at: http://verify.tn.gov/ within 3 to 7 business days. The license will have your license name, ID number, classification, expiration date and monetary limit (contains same information required to be on the outside of a bid envelope for primes and subs)

Domestic Applicants:

1. Register your business with the Tennesee Secretary of State
2. Appoint an individual/Qualifying Agent to take the qualifying exam on behalf of the company. 
3. Ensure there is a prepared and audited financial statement from an independent accounting firm. 
4. Obtain a Letter of Reference to file with your application. 

Foreign Applicants:

1. Foreign qualify your business with the Tennesee Secretary of State
2. Appoint an individual/Qualifying Agent to take the qualifying exam on behalf of the company. 
3. Ensure there is a prepared and audited financial statement from an independent accounting firm. 
4. Obtain a Letter of Reference to file with your application. 

• Letter of Reference - to be completed by a past client or emp;loyer, who can comment about construction work and expericene, or a code official who has inspected yuor work (not from a relative). 
• Certificate of Insurance
• Affidavit signed and notarized

Online

$200

Biennially

• Contractors with a monetary limit of $3,000,000 or less must submit a self-prepared or compiled financial statement along with the renewal application. Contractors with a limit of $3,000,001 or more must submit a CPA-reviewed financial statement.

• A self-prepared financial statement if the monetary limit is $3,000,000 or less. A monetary limit of more than $3,000,000 requires a CPA-reviewed financial statement.
• Certificate of insurance for General Liability in the correct format (The "Board for Licensing Contractors" must be named as the certificate holder. The policy number and current expiration date must be listed. TBD and binders are not acceptable)
• Certificate of Insurance for Workers' Compensation, or Exemption Registration as a "Construction Service Provider", unless, claiming Handyman exemption
• For corporate entities, proof of active status with the Tennessee Secretary of State's office
• Disclosures (if applicable)

Qualifying Agent (QA) Add / Change Request

$0

Within 3 months of the departure of the previous qualifying individual.

TN Code § 62-6-115

• For classifications requiring a trade exam, attach a copy of the passing exam score; the “Business and Law” exam is not required to be taken by the new QA.
• If the QA is a full time employee only, with no ownership or not a majority owner (less than 20% ownership interest), the “Power of Attorney” form must also be signed by the owner, notarized and attached to the application.
• If the license classification does not require a trade exam, list their experience or attach a resume of the QA.