State of Tennessee / Department of Commerce and

Insurance Board for Licensing Contractors

500 James Robertson Pkwy., Nashville, TN 37243-1150
Website: http://www.tn.gov/regboards/contractors/
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 800-544-7693 or Fax - (615) 532-2868

Trade Exam Waiver Agreement (Reciprocity)

To obtain a Tennessee license without retaking the trade exam, a contractor may apply for a trade exam waiver by
having one of the participating states (listed below), complete the attached “License Verification” form and returning it with
their “Tennessee Contractor’s License Application”. Note: Some states charge a fee for completing. All of the forms
and instructions may be downloaded from the Board’s website at: http://www.tn.gov/regboards/contractors/

The following is a list of state agencies with a trade exam waiver (reciprocal) agreement with our Tennessee
“Contractor’s” license:

Alabama (General, Electrical, Residential, and HVAC)

Arkansas (Commercial/Residential Building only)
Georgia (Commercial Building and Electrical)
Louisiana (Residential, Commercial, Electrical and Mechanical)
Mississippi (Residential, Commercial, Electrical, Mechanical (Unlimited)
North Carolina (Residential/Commercial Building, Electrical)
Ohio (Electrical; Plumbing; and HVAC)
South Carolina (Commercial Contractors Licensing Board)
NASCLA (National Commercial Exam)

Exceptions and Other Requirements

The reciprocating state must be the applicant’s home/domiciled state; or licensed in one of the participating states and
taken an exam comparable to Tennessee’s (e.g., if you’ve taken an exam with a state in which we do not have an
agreement, you may need to take Tennessee’s trade exam). If there is not a trade exam required, there is no need to apply for
reciprocity of an exam waiver. See a list of exams at:
http://www.tn.gov/regboards/contractors/documents/ClassificationOutlineWeb.pdf Contractors with disciplinary action, open
complaints or felony convictions are not granted a trade exam waiver.

All applicants must pass the “Tennessee Business and Law” exam with PSI, along with completing the entire license
application with all financial requirements, insurance, and Board review. (Note: A license is required prior to bidding,
contracting or even making an offer to engage. Doing so is a violation of law and the license would be held for six (6)
months.)

Other Tennessee Agencies and Licenses

Our reciprocity/trade exam waiver agreement only applies to “Contractors” licensed with our Board for Licensing
Contractors and does not apply to our other license programs (Home Improvement; LLE; LLP) or other State licensing
agencies separate from our Board, such as: Alarm Systems Contracting Board for security alarm systems; the Division of
Fire Prevention for fire sprinklers; Geothermal with the Department of Environment and Conservation, etc., (see “Valuable
Resources” link on the website). Contractors must comply with local government permits for inspections.

Bid Preference Law

The Bid Preference Law is for those contracting in other states bordering Tennessee and says that our state requires the
same of nonresident contractors as they do of resident contractors. This statute is found in T.C.A. 12-4-801 and states in
part, should the bidder on a public construction project in this state be a resident of another state, contiguous to
Tennessee, a like reciprocal preference is allowed. In short, if a nonresident’s home state gives a preference to their
residents, and adds a percentage to a nonresident’s bid to increase the total bid amount, we would apply the same criteria
to their bid on our state’s work.

Rev. 10/2019
Tennessee Licensed Contractors Requests
Contractors licensed with Tennessee may contact a participating state for their agency’s license requirements. To have a
license verification completed by our Board, you may email, fax or mail to our Board at the address listed above and
we will be happy to complete, at no charge, and return per your instructions as quickly as possible. If you have questions,
call (615)253-2144 or email [email protected]

Out of State Licensed Contractor Requests

Contractors licensed in another state wanting to obtain a Tennessee contractor’s license may obtain all of the instructions,
including the “License Verification” form at: http://www.tn.gov/regboards/contractors/contractor.shtml

Contact Information for Participating States

1. Alabama
 Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors at: http://genconbd.alabama.gov/default.aspx
o Commercial Exam (BC-B)
 Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board at http://www.hblb.state.al.us/
o Residential Exam (BC-A)
 Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors at http://www.hacr.alabama.gov/
o HVAC Exam (CMC-C or CMC)
 Alabama Electrical Contractors Board at http://aecb.alabama.gov/
o Electrical Exam (CE)
2. Arkansas
 Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board at http://aclb.arkansas.gov/Pages/default.aspx
o Commercial building only (BC-B)

3. Georgia
 Georgia – State Licensing Board for General Contractors at http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/plb/46
o Commercial Exam (BC-B) or NASCLA National Commercial Exam

 Georgia Board of Electrical Contractors at http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/licensing/plb/21

o Electrical Exam (CE) – (Eff. November, 2013)
4. Louisiana
 Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors at http://www.lslbc.louisiana.gov/
o All contractor exams within this agency
5. Mississippi
 Mississippi State Board of Contractors at http://www.msboc.us/
o Mississippi will only accept Unlimited (Audit financial required)
6. North Carolina
 North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors at http://www.nclbgc.com/
o BC-A for Residential Exam / BC-B; BC-A,B Combined for Commercial Exam / CE Electrical
Contrator
7. Ohio
 Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board at http://www.com.ohio.gov/DICO/ocilb/default.aspx
o Electrical (CE); Plumbing (CMC-A); and HVAC (CMC-C) Exams
8. South Carolina
 South Carolina Contractor’s Licensing Board at http://www.llr.state.sc.us/pol/contractors/
o Commercial - All contractors within this agency
 SC Residential Building Commission does NOT reciprocate

9. NASCLA National Commercial Exam

 http://www.nascla.org/
o Commercial Exam (BC-B)
Tennessee Contractor’s License Requirement
Pursuant T.C.A. § 62-6-102, a contractor must be licensed for projects $25,000 or more, first prior to bidding, contracting
or submitting a price, by the following:
o Prime (General) Contractors (bidding directly to the owner)
o Subcontractors (bidding directly to a licensed contractor and not to the owner):
 Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, HVAC and Roofing are required to be licensed as a
Contractor for projects $25,000 or more.
 Masonry subcontractors when the total is $100,000 or more (includes materials and labor).
o Construction Managers

See our website to obtain further information for license requirements in Tennessee at:
http://www.tn.gov/regboards/contractors/
 State of Tennessee
Board for Licensing Contractors
500 James Robertson Pkwy., Nashville, TN 37243-1150
(615) 741-8307 or 800-544-7693 / Fax (615) 532-2868
Website: http://www.tn.gov/regboards/contractors/ Email: [email protected]

REQUEST FOR CONTRACTOR LICENSE VERIFICATION

Instructions to Applicant: Complete the “Applicant Information” section below and forward to the reciprocal State
verifying your licensing information for a trade exam waiver. Return to us by including it with your contractor’s license
application in lieu of the “trade” exam score.

CONTRACTOR LICENSE APPLICANT INFORMATION

License Name: License ID#

Address: City: State: Zip Code:

Telephone: ( ) - Fax#: ( ) -

Contract Person: E-Mail:

Signature: Date:
If you are licensed with one of the following state agencies, Tennessee has entered into a trade exam waiver agreement and you may qualify
to have the trade exam waived: Alabama – (General, Electrical, Residential, and HVAC); Arkansas (Commercial Building only); Georgia
(Commercial, Electrical); Louisiana; Mississippi, North Carolina (Residential, Commercial, Electrical); Ohio (Electrical; Plumbing; and HVAC);
and South Carolina General. (Note: The Board also accepts the NASCLA National Commercial trade exam). Reciprocation is with the TRADE
exam, only.
LICENSE VERIFICATION
Instructions for Verifying State: The above name applicant has submitted an application for a
contractor’s license with this Board. Please complete the following and return this form to the applicant.

License Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________

License ID#: _______________ Date Issued: ________________ Status: ___Active ___*Inactive ___*Expired

Expiration Date: _______________ Disciplinary Action: ____No ___*Yes *Does not qualify for exam waiver

License Classification(s):

Qualifying Agent’s Trade Exam Exam Type Exam Date Score Waiver
Name Residential, (PSI, NAI, Experior, (Endorsement State; Prior to
Commercial, Block, NASCLA, In- Exam, Not Required, etc.)
Electrical, etc.) House, etc.)

Signature:_____________________________________ Title: _________________________ Date: ______________

State Agency: ____________________________________________________________ -State Seal -

T.C.A. § 12-4-801 - Bid Preference Law - A like reciprocal preference is allowed to the lowest responsible bidder to a contractor who is either a resident of this state or is a
resident of another state.

Rev. 10/2019
 LICENSE CLASSIFICATIONS

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (BC) (Trade Test Required)

The “BC” classification requires a combined exam and covers all areas of contracting for building (residential, commercial and
industrial), as well as any of the 34 building subcategories. The “BC” combined classification is most commonly referred to as a
“General” contractor. There are “combined” exams, such as: BC-A,B (residential and commercial); BC-A,b(sm) (residential and small
commercial); or BC (residential, commercial and Industrial).

Residential (BC-A)
Residential building contractors are those whose services are limited to construction, remodeling, repair, or improvement of one, two,
three, or four family unit residences, not exceeding three stories in height and accessory use structures in connection therewith. May
also take a combined exam, such as BC-A,B or b(sm) or BC. Residential contractors may bid any of the 34 building subcategories, as
long as it is “residential”.

Commercial (BC-B) (May take a combined exam, such as “BC” or “BC-A,B”, etc.)
A commercial building contractor is authorized to bid on and contract for the construction, erection, alteration, repair or demolition of
any building or structure for use and occupancy by the general public, including residential construction with more than four (4) units or
greater than three (3) stories in height. In addition, may perform any of the 34 building subcategories for “commercial”.
Pursuant T.C.A. § 62-6-111, if a contractor does not have a classification to cover 60% of the project, they may still bid if they have a
commercial classification, but would be required to subcontract any portion $25,000 or more to a properly licensed contractor.

Small Commercial (BC-b(sm) Same as above, but limited to obtaining a monetary limit of $750,000 and less. A small commercial
building contractor is authorized to bid on and contract for the construction, erection, alteration, repair or demolition of any building or
structure for use and occupancy by the general public. Must take the “BC-B” exam to increase limit above $750,000 or may take a
combined exam to include residential and or industrial.

Industrial (BC-C) A contractor under this classification is authorized to bid on and contract for the erection, alteration, repair and
demolition of buildings or structures used for industrial production and service, such as manufacturing plants. May also take a BC
combined exam to cover all building trades.

Masonry (LMC) (Masonry Trade Test Required)

HEAVY CONSTRUCTION (HC) (No Trade Test Required)

HIGHWAY, RAILROAD AND AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION (HRA) (No Trade Test Required)

MUNICIPAL AND UTILITY CONSTRUCTION (MU) (BC-B (Commercial) Trade Test Required)

MECHANICAL CONTRACTING (Plumbing, Refrigeration, HVAC) (CMC) (Trade Test Required – Requires Pre-Approval)

Plumbing and Gas Piping (CMC-A) (Trade Test Required – Requires Pre-Approval)

HVAC, Refrigeration and Gas Piping (CMC-C) (Trade Test Required)

Sprinklers & Fire Protection - (CMC-D) (Trade Test Required) Note: This requires a separate license with the Division of Fire Protection

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING (CE) (Trade Test Required)

See additional license classifications at:

http://www.tn.gov/regboards/contractors/documents/ClassificationOutlineWeb.pdf

Note: All license classifications require the Tennessee Business and Law exam!