Tennessee Construction Licensing

Application for a Firm or LEA to Conduct Asbestos Activities

Mail

$125

Application for a Firm or LEA to Conduct Asbestos Activities (Renewal)

Mail

$125

Annually by the end of the registration anniversary month.

Boiler Repair/Erection License Application

Mail

$100

License applications must be approved by the board. These applications are reviewed at each quarterly meeting (March, June, September, & December).

Renewal forms are emailed to the license holder prior to the expiration of the license. If an email is not listed on the account, the renewal form will be sent in the mail. 

Mail

$60

Annually by date of issuance

Licensing Steps

Online

$250

4-6 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.
• Financial statements can be no older than 12 months.
• 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. 

• Financial Statement
• Letter of Reference - to be completed by a past client or employer, who can comment about construction work and experience, or a code official who has inspected your work (not from a relative). 
• Certificate of Insurance
• Formation Documentations with the Tennessee Secretary of State
• Contractor's Affidavit signed and notarized

Online

$200

Licenses expire biennially by date of issuance. Renewals are due 30 days prior to the expiration of the license. 

• Contractors with a monetary limit of $1,500,000 or less must submit a notarized statement that the information contained in the financial statement is true and correct with the renewal application. Contractors with a limit of $1,500,001 or more must submit a compilation prepared by a licensed public accountant or CPA.
• Financial Statements can be no older than 12 months

• A self-prepared financial statement if the monetary limit is $1,500,000 or less. A monetary limit of more than $1,500,000 requires a CPA-reviewed financial statement (no older than 12 months)
• 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
• Proof of active status with the Tennessee Secretary of State's office
• Disclosures (if applicable)
• Contractors with the following designations are required to provide proof of completing the 8 hours of residential continuing education (RCE): 
  • BC-A
  • BC-A/r
  • BC-A,b(sm)

Qualifying Agent (QA) Add / Change Request

Mail

$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.