How to become a plumber in Tennessee

The path in Tennessee, step by step

Tennessee licenses some plumbing work at the state level and leaves the rest to cities or to no one. A state contractor license is needed for plumbing work of $25,000 or more, including materials, equipment and labor. Under $25,000, the LLP license applies only where the state Division of Fire Prevention handles permits or inspections. General maintenance work under $500 is exempt from the LLP license.

1. Decide if your jobs will reach $25,000. If not, check whether your area uses the LLP or a local license.
2. For the contractor license, send the Pre-Approval Request Form and $50 fee to take the CMC-A plumbing exam.
3. Pass the CMC-A exam and the Business and Law exam through Prov.
4. Get a CPA reviewed financial statement, or a surety bond of at least half your limit.
5. Buy general liability insurance at the required minimum and set up workers comp or an exemption.
6. Apply online through the state portal and pay the $250 fee.

The full license guide, with every fee and form: plumbing license in Tennessee.

Finding an apprenticeship in Tennessee

Tennessee runs Registered Apprenticeship through its own State Apprenticeship Agency, recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor to register and oversee programs there. Its staff are state employees, and it may use the federal paperwork or forms of its own. Apprenticeship.gov lists the Tennessee State Apprenticeship Agency as the contact.

Either way, a registered program means paid work with a mentor, raises as you progress, classroom instruction and a credential recognized in every state. Search open spots in the Apprenticeship Job Finder.

Across the country. Most plumbers learn the trade in a 4 or 5 year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training plus some classroom instruction each year.

License levels and exams in Tennessee

The license to aim for: Contractor license with the CMC-A (plumbing and gas piping) classification, or the Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) for jobs under $25,000.

Trade exam. Yes. The CMC-A plumbing exam, given by Prov from July 1, 2026, needs board pre-approval, which has a $50 fee. The LLP license also has its own trade exam through Prov.

Business exam. Yes for the contractor license. Every contractor license except BC-A/r needs the open-book Tennessee Business and Law exam. The LLP does not list one.

Keeping it. Contractor renewal is $200, and the renew option shows up in your online account 90 days before expiration. There is a 12-month grace period with a $20 monthly late fee. LLP renewal is $50.

Coming from another state. Tennessee waives the trade exam, not the Business and Law exam, for plumbing contractors licensed in Ohio and South Carolina (CMC-A). The waiver cannot be used for the LLP.

What the Tennessee license costs

The fees the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Board for Licensing Contractors lists. Exam fees from a testing company, insurance and any bond come on top.

What plumbers earn in Tennessee

The median plumber in Tennessee earned $28.17 an hour in May 2025, 41st of 51 states, with 9,270 on payrolls. The national median was $30.67.

At the bottom of the range, a quarter of plumbers in Tennessee earned under $22.72 an hour and a tenth under $18.52. At the top, a quarter earned over $35.32 and a tenth over $39.43.

Every state, the neighbors and what a business should charge: plumber salary in Tennessee.

Jobs ahead in Tennessee

Tennessee's labor market office projects jobs for plumbers growing from 9,460 in 2022 to 10,290 in 2032, a change of 8.8%. Counting people who retire or change careers, that is about 920 openings a year.

Jobs are projected to grow 8.8% from 2022 to 2032, faster than the 2.3% projected nationally, ranking 23rd of the 50 states in the file.

These are the state's own long-term projections, published together on Projections Central for the occupation group plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters.

Starting your own plumber business in Tennessee

To contract on your own in Tennessee, the license is the Contractor license with the CMC-A (plumbing and gas piping) classification, or the Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) for jobs under $25,000.

Insurance. General liability and workers comp (or a valid exemption) are required. Minimum general liability is $100,000 for a monetary limit up to $500,000, $500,000 for $500,001 to $1,500,000, and $1,000,000 above that.

Bond. A CPA reviewed financial statement (audited above a $3,000,000 limit) less than 12 months old, or a contractor surety bond equal to at least 50% of the monetary limit requested.

Pricing comes next. Paying yourself the Tennessee median of $28.17 an hour, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) come to $120.06 per billable hour. Try your own in the plumber labor rate calculator.

The full checklist is in how to start a plumbing business. The free Koira Office plan gives you a website on a Koira address, estimates customers sign with a deposit, invoices with card payments and your day's jobs in one place, with no per-person fee. See the plans.