Tennessee General Contractor License Requirements
Official classification: Contractor License, BC (Building Construction) classification · Issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance).
🏗️ General ContractorTN ✔ Verified 2026-06-19
In Tennessee, general contractors must hold the Contractor License, BC (Building Construction) classification, issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance), and no state surety bond is required. Full requirements — experience, exams, fees, insurance, renewal and reciprocity — are detailed below.
How to become a licensed general contractor in Tennessee
Follow these steps to earn your Contractor License, BC (Building Construction) classification. Every figure is verified against the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance); full detail for each step is further down the page.
- Build the required experience. Tennessee sets no fixed statutory number of years; the Board weighs experience with the financial statement to set the monetary limit. Passing the BC trade exam is the core competency requirement (BC-A/r is exempt from the Business and Law exam).
- Pass the Building (BC) trade exam and Tennessee Business and Law exam exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
- Secure your surety bond. Tennessee requires No statewide contractor surety bond is required for the full Contractor license. (A $10,000 surety bond applies only to the separate Home Improvement license in certain counties.).
- Line up insurance. You'll need liability insurance (General liability insurance required (proof at application and each renewal); no fixed minimum dollar amount is published for the full Contractor license), and workers' compensation coverage.
- Clear the background check. No statewide fingerprint-based background check for the Contractor license.
- Meet the credit / financial requirement. Monetary-limit financial statement required: the limit is the lesser of 10x net worth or 10x working capital. A self-prepared statement is accepted for monetary limits up to $1,500,000; above $1,500,000 a CPA/LPA reviewed statement is required (acceptable up to $3,000,000) and an audited statement above $3,000,000. An unlimited license requires an audited statement and $300,000+ in both working capital and net worth.
- Submit your application and fees. Apply through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance) — $250 (application and initial license; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-01-.20) application fee, plus a Included in the application fee license fee. Processing time: Variable; the Board reviews applications at its scheduled meetings.
- Keep the license active. Renew every 2 years.
Tennessee general contractor license lookup
To confirm a general contractor is properly licensed in Tennessee — or to check the status of your own license — search the issuing agency's official license database. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.
License types
- Contractor License - BC (Building Construction) — Required before bidding or contracting any building project where the total cost is $25,000 or more. The BC classification covers residential, commercial and industrial building. Subtypes include BC-A (residential) and BC-A/r (limited residential).
Requirements at a glance
| Experience required | Tennessee sets no fixed statutory number of years; the Board weighs experience with the financial statement to set the monetary limit. Passing the BC trade exam is the core competency requirement (BC-A/r is exempt from the Business and Law exam). |
|---|---|
| Application fee | $250 (application and initial license; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-01-.20) |
| License fee | Included in the application fee |
| Renewal fee | $200 |
| Renewal period | Every 2 years |
| Continuing education | None required by the Board |
| Bond required | No statewide contractor surety bond is required for the full Contractor license. (A $10,000 surety bond applies only to the separate Home Improvement license in certain counties.) |
| Liability insurance | General liability insurance required (proof at application and each renewal); no fixed minimum dollar amount is published for the full Contractor license |
| Property damage | Covered under the general liability policy |
| Workers' comp | Required if you have employees; a certificate of coverage or an approved exemption is required at renewal |
| Background check | No statewide fingerprint-based background check for the Contractor license. |
| Credit requirement | Monetary-limit financial statement required: the limit is the lesser of 10x net worth or 10x working capital. A self-prepared statement is accepted for monetary limits up to $1,500,000; above $1,500,000 a CPA/LPA reviewed statement is required (acceptable up to $3,000,000) and an audited statement above $3,000,000. An unlimited license requires an audited statement and $300,000+ in both working capital and net worth. |
| Reciprocity | Tennessee has trade-exam (exam-waiver) reciprocity agreements with several states — commonly Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina — but coverage varies by classification; confirm the current agreement with the Board. |
| Processing time | Variable; the Board reviews applications at its scheduled meetings. |
Exams
| Building (BC) trade exam | Provider: PSI · Passing: Not officially published by the Board · Fee: Set by PSI (exam vendor), subject to Board approval — recently about $57 per exam |
|---|---|
| Tennessee Business and Law exam | Provider: PSI · Passing: Not officially published by the Board · Fee: Set by PSI (exam vendor), subject to Board approval — recently about $57 |
Tennessee Home Improvement license ($3,000–$24,999 projects)
Working on smaller residential remodels? In nine Tennessee counties a separate Home Improvement license from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors is required for residential remodeling projects priced from $3,000 to $24,999 — at $25,000 and above you need the full Contractor (BC) license described on this page. Home improvement work is defined in T.C.A. § 62-6-501(4)(A) and covers repair, replacement, remodeling, alterations and additions, including driveways, swimming pools, porches, garages, landscaping, fences, roofing and painting.
| Where it applies | Only the 9 adopting counties: Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Haywood, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford and Shelby |
|---|---|
| Project range | $3,000–$24,999 (residential remodeling) |
| Surety bond | $10,000 — or a cash or property bond, or an irrevocable letter of credit |
| Insurance | Proof of general liability and workers' compensation coverage required |
| Exam | None listed by the Board for this license |
| Application fee | $250 initial application, filed online at core.tn.gov |
| Other requirements | Photo ID and Social Security number; corporate registration with the TN Secretary of State if operating as a corporation, partnership or LLC; experience performing remodeling work |
Figures verified against the Board's Home Improvement Contractor page on 2026-07-07.
BC-A, BC-b and BC-B: the Building Construction subclassifications
Tennessee's contractor license uses classification codes, and the Building Construction family causes the most confusion. BC covers building work; the letters after it set whether you may build residential, commercial, or both. Note that your dollar cap (the monetary limit) is set separately by your financial statement — not by the subclassification.
- BC-A (Residential) — construction, remodeling, repair or improvement of one- to four-family residences not exceeding three stories, plus accessory structures (the statutory definition of a residential contractor in T.C.A. § 62-6-102).
- BC-A/r (Limited Residential) — a restricted subclassification for limited residential work.
- BC-b (Small Commercial) — small commercial building work, commonly issued in combination with residential as BC-A,b.
- BC-B (Commercial) — what searchers often call a “General B” license: buildings for use and occupancy by the general public, including residential buildings of more than four units or more than three stories.
- BC (full Building Construction) — residential, commercial and industrial building without subclass restriction.
Mechanical trades are separate classifications of the same license — HVAC, refrigeration and gas piping fall under CMC-C; see our Tennessee HVAC license guide. Roofing is building category 21 under BC — see the Tennessee roofing guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Tennessee general contractor license cost?
Application: $250 (application and initial license; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-01-.20). License: Included in the application fee. Renewal: $200.
How do I look up a general contractor license in Tennessee?
Search the official license database at search.cloud.commerce.tn.gov. The record shows whether the license is active and in good standing.
Do general contractors in Tennessee need a surety bond?
No statewide contractor surety bond is required for the full Contractor license. (A $10,000 surety bond applies only to the separate Home Improvement license in certain counties.)
What experience is required for a Tennessee general contractor license?
Tennessee sets no fixed statutory number of years; the Board weighs experience with the financial statement to set the monetary limit. Passing the BC trade exam is the core competency requirement (BC-A/r is exempt from the Business and Law exam).
Is insurance required for general contractors in Tennessee?
Liability: General liability insurance required (proof at application and each renewal); no fixed minimum dollar amount is published for the full Contractor license Workers' compensation: Required if you have employees; a certificate of coverage or an approved exemption is required at renewal
How often must a Tennessee general contractor license be renewed?
Every 2 years.
Do you need a contractor license in Tennessee?
Yes, for any project of $25,000 or more, and the license is required before you bid, not just before you build. Residential remodeling projects of $3,000 to $24,999 require the separate Home Improvement license in nine counties (detailed above). Below $3,000 no state license applies, though local permits may.
What is a BC-B or 'General B' license in Tennessee?
BC-B is the commercial subclassification of the Building Construction (BC) contractor license: buildings for use and occupancy by the general public, including residential projects of more than four units or more than three stories. There is no separate 'General B' license, and your dollar limit comes from your financial statement, not from the subclassification.
What is the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors?
The state agency, part of the Department of Commerce & Insurance, that issues, renews and disciplines contractor licenses. You can verify any Tennessee contractor license through the state's search at search.cloud.commerce.tn.gov.
How do I apply for a Tennessee contractor license?
Submit the $250 application to the Board for Licensing Contractors with a financial statement (which sets your monetary limit as the lesser of 10x working capital or 10x net worth), proof of general liability insurance, and pass the PSI trade exam plus the Tennessee Business and Law exam. The Board approves applications at its scheduled meetings, so allow time for the next meeting in your planning.
Does Tennessee have a separate mechanical license?
Mechanical work is licensed by the same Board under its own classifications rather than a separate license: HVAC, refrigeration and gas piping fall under the CMC-C classification. See our Tennessee HVAC license page for the full requirements.
Official sources
tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors/license/get/contractor.html
law.cornell.edu/regulations/tennessee/Tenn-Comp-R-Regs-0680-01-.20
law.cornell.edu/regulations/tennessee/Tenn-Comp-R-Regs-0680-01-.13
codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-62-professions-businesses-and-trades/tn-code-sect-62-6-102
tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors/license/get/home-improvement.html