- A state contractor license is needed for electrical work of $25,000 or more, including materials, equipment and labor. Under $25,000, the LLE license applies only where the state Division of Fire Prevention handles permits or inspections.
- Plan for a trade exam and a business and law exam.
- 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.
- 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. LLE renewal is $50.
Do you need a state license in Tennessee?
Tennessee licenses some electrical work at the state level and leaves the rest alone. Which side of that line a job falls on decides whether you need the state license.
A state contractor license is needed for electrical work of $25,000 or more, including materials, equipment and labor. Under $25,000, the LLE license applies only where the state Division of Fire Prevention handles permits or inspections.
Check with your city or county first to see if it accepts the LLE or has its own electrical license for permits. You also need a business tax license for each city or county where you work.
Tennessee license types for electrical work
Tennessee splits the work into 4 licenses. Pick the one that matches the jobs you take, since working outside its scope is the same as working without one.
| License | What it covers |
|---|---|
| CE | Full electrical classification for buildings and structures. Trade exam required |
| CE-B | Electrical work for buildings and structures. Trade exam required |
| CE-D | Sound, intercom, fire detection, alarm and security systems up to 70 volts. No trade exam |
| LLE | Limited Licensed Electrician for jobs under $25,000 in areas where the state Division of Fire Prevention does permits or inspections |
Steps to get licensed in Tennessee
- Decide if your jobs will reach $25,000. If not, check whether your area uses the LLE or a local license.
- Pass the Electrical (CE) trade exam and the Business and Law exam through Prov.
- Get a CPA reviewed financial statement, or a surety bond of at least half your limit.
- Buy general liability insurance at the required minimum and set up workers comp or an exemption.
- Get a reference letter from a past client, employer or code official.
- Apply online through the state portal and pay the $250 fee.
Experience and other requirements
Experience. The official pages we read do not say. Check with the board (official site).
The license to apply for. Contractor license with the CE (electrical) classification, or the Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) for jobs under $25,000.
Tennessee electrical exams
Trade exam. Yes. The Electrical (CE) trade exam is given by Prov starting July 1, 2026. The LLE license has its own trade exam through Prov.
Business and law exam. Yes for the contractor license. Every contractor license except BC-A/r needs the open-book Tennessee Business and Law exam. The LLE does not list one.
What it costs in Tennessee
The board lists 6 fees along the way. These are the state's own numbers. Insurance, any bond, exam prep and your business registration come on top.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Contractor initial application | $250 |
| Contractor renewal | $200 |
| Contractor late renewal penalty | $20 per month, up to 12 months |
| LLE initial application | $50 |
| LLE renewal | $50 |
| LLE reinstatement | $80 |
Insurance and bond
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.
Renewal and licenses from other states
Renewal. 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. LLE renewal is $50.
Reciprocity. Tennessee waives the electrical trade exam, not the Business and Law exam, for electrical contractors licensed in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia, and accepts NASCLA National Electrical exam scores. The waiver cannot be used for the LLE.
Good to know in Tennessee
- Subcontractors hired by another contractor must also be licensed when their electrical portion is $25,000 or more.
- Board interviews for electrical contractors are usually done by electrical members of the board.
After you are licensed
The license lets you take the work. Getting the work is the next job.
- Register the business. If you work under a name other than your own, register it where your state asks (often the Secretary of State, sometimes the county), and keep the name the same on your license, your truck and your invoices.
- Claim your Google Business Profile. It is the listing people see when they search for an electrician near them. Fill in your service area, hours and real photos of your work.
- Put up a website that shows the license. Customers look for it before they call. Koira builds a contractor website for you and keeps it current.
- See where you stand. The free Koira report checks how your business shows up in search and on maps against shops near you.
Where this comes from
Every fact on this page comes from the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Board for Licensing Contractors and the official pages below, checked October 8, 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm with the board before you file.
More for your trade: how electrical contractors run on Koira.