- 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.
- 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. LLP renewal is $50.
Do you need a state license in Tennessee?
Tennessee licenses some plumbing 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 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.
Check with your city or county first to see if it accepts the LLP or has its own plumbing license for permits. You also need a business tax license for each city or county where you work.
Tennessee license types for plumbing work
Tennessee splits the work into 3 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 |
|---|---|
| CMC-A | Plumbing and gas piping. Trade exam required, with board pre-approval |
| CMC | Full mechanical: plumbing and HVAC. Trade exam required, with board pre-approval |
| LLP | Limited Licensed Plumber 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 LLP or a local license.
- For the contractor license, send the Pre-Approval Request Form and $50 fee to take the CMC-A plumbing exam.
- Pass the CMC-A 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.
- 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 CMC-A (plumbing and gas piping) classification, or the Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) for jobs under $25,000.
Tennessee plumbing exams
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 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 LLP 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 |
| CMC-A exam pre-approval request | $50 |
| LLP initial or reinstatement | $75 |
| LLP renewal | $50 |
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. LLP renewal is $50.
Reciprocity. 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.
Good to know in Tennessee
- Subcontractors hired by another contractor must also be licensed when their plumbing portion is $25,000 or more.
- Your monetary limit is about 10 times the lower of your working capital or net worth.
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 a plumber 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 plumbing companies run on Koira.