STEP 1- TESTING

 

All applicants must take the Tennessee "*Business and Law" exam which is open book and based upon the "*Business and Law Reference Manual" which may be purchased by the testing center or professional book stores. Some applicants must also take a trade exam. If you do not see a trade exam (listed below) which falls within your profession, a trade exam probably is not required, but feel free to contact our office by fax and ask your question in writing at (615) 532-2868 or email staff at:  Contractor Exam Information.

 

License classifications and monetary limits are based on experience (the Board looks for at least three (3) years experience), equipment, and some classifications require a trade exam. A list of classifications may be reviewed from the web at:  "Classification Outlines" or review an outline of license classifications, which is from Rule 0680-1-16.)

 

Effective July 1, 2006, the exam vendor, PSI, will be administrating the exams. Fees, reference books and online registation is available at PSI's Website or you may review the CIB (Candidate Information Bulletin) on our website. The "Business and Law" exam is open book and based upon the reference manual, "Contractors Buide to Business, Law and Project Management" published by NASCLA.

 

The following is a list of trade exams (building, electrical and mechanical) offered:

• Residential (BC-A)
• Commercial (BC-B)
• Industrial (BC-C)
• Res/Com/Ind (BC)
• Res/SmCom (BC-A,b(sm) - (Projects less than $750,000)
• Com/Ind (BC-B,C)
• Electrical (CE)
• Full Mechanical -Plumbing & HVAC (CMC)
• *Plumbing (CMC-A) - Must be pre-approved to take the plumbing exam
• HVAC (CMC-C)
• Fire Sprinkler (CMC-D)
• **LLE – Limited Licensed Electrician
• **LLP – Limited Licensed Plumber

• Business & Law (exam is required by all applicants; this exam does not have to be taken by the same person who takes the trade exam)

*Effective May 24, 2007, must be preapproved to take the CMC-A plumbing contractors exam by providing evidence to the Board of three (3) years experience.

 

**The LLE and LLP exams are not acceptable for contractor license classifications. Individuals may obtain these licenses when required for work less than $25,000.

 

Examples for trade exams needed for classifications:

• Build residential houses only, take the BC-A exam.
• A construction manager is required to take the full BC exam.
• Residential, commercial and industrial building, take the BC exam. (NOTE: Do not take the BC exam unless you can show experience on your application or may be limited to specific class.)
• Build homes and commercial projects, (such as a doctor’s office, less than $750,000), need the BC-A and BC- b(sm) exams OR may take the combined BC-A,b(sm).
• Commercial building in excess of $750,000, BC-B exam.
• A BC-B or BC is needed to build a water/sewer plants or to get a MU classification.
• Communication/cell towers; no trade exam.
• Electrical wiring contracts in excess of $25,000, need the CE exam
• Work on electrical transmission lines/sub-stations, needs CE-A,H (high voltage), only
• * Performs plumbing, HVAC, refrigeration, and process piping; needs full CMC (mechanical).
• Performs process piping, only; NO test, (CMC-B) class.
• Gas piping: A contractor with CMC, CMC-A or CMC-C may perform gas piping to everything, such as water heaters, laundry equipment, kitchen equipment, and to appliances, gas grills, swimming pool heaters, or gas logs.
• Fire Protection/Sprinkler contractors must pass the contractor's CMC-D exam; also, NICET certification, currently with the Department of Fire Prevention (615) 741-7190 or their website at: http://tn.gov/commerce/sfm/index.html
• Geothermal System requires a CMC-C exam; the well driller needs to be licensed with Department of Environment and Conservation (800-523-4873) or their website at: http://tn.gov/environment/dws/
• Electrical wiring, in excess of $25,000, must take the CE (electrical exam); lless than $25,000 may need our LLE (Limited Licensed Electrician’s) license or the local license.. For an LLE license application, call our office at (615) 253-2144 or download from the LLE website.
• Solar Panel Installation - No trade exam; apply for a specialty license.
• Landscaping or mowing - No trade exam; apply for a BC-29 classification.
• Audio and low voltage equipment - No trade exam; specialty license or CE-D.

Be sure to check in the county you plan to work! (CE electrical contractors are exempt from the LLE requirement. CMC and CMC-A are exempt from the LLP. )

• Plumbers performing projects less than $25,000, need the state’s LLP (Limited Licensed Plumber) license, a separate license within the Board. For an LLP application, call (615) 532-3994 or download from our website at: LLP Application
• Contractors, with a CMC-A license are exempt from the LLP requirements

The following trades do not require an exam and are based on equipment and experience:

 

Building Subcategories such as: "Acoustical Treatments" (BC-1;) through "Irrigation" (BC-33;) Full "BC" exam would cover all. (Refer to T.C.A. Section 62-6-112 and Rule 0680-1-.16 of the Tennessee law for a complete listing, or review in the application on page 12.)

 

Low Voltage (less than 70 volts) : Sound, Intercom, Fire Detection or *Alarm Systems (CE-D); Telephone Lines (CE-F); and Cabling (CE-G).

 

*Alarm Contractors: Must check with the "Alarm Systems Contractors Licensing Board" for their separate licensing and examination requirements at: (615) 741-9771 or their website at: http://tn.gov/commerce/boards/asc/

 

Heavy Construction (HC) such as: Marine (Docks, Harbor Improvements) HC-A; Dams, Dikes, Levees and Canals (HC-D); Structural Steel Erection (HC-1); Clearing, Grubbing, Snagging and Rip Rap (HC-5).

 

Highway, Railroad and Airport (HRA) such as: Grading and Drainage (HRA-A); Base and Paving (HRA-B); Bridges and Culverts (HRA-C); Well Drilling (HRA-E.4)., (well drillers may need to be certified with the Department of Environment and Conservation).

 

Municipal Utility (MU) such as: Underground Piping (MU-A); Grading and Drainage (MU-C); Gas Distribution and Transmission Lines (MU-A,1). (Water well drillers may need to be certified with the Department of Environment and Conservation and may be contacted at 800-523-4873.)

 

Environmental Specialties : Asbestos Handling (S-A); Underground Storage Tanks (S-B); Lead Based Paint Abatement (S-C); Hazardous Waste Removal (S-D); and Air, Water or Soil Remediation (S-E). (Must attach designated qualifying agent’s (QA) training certifications and resume in these areas.) These contractors may need to check with the Department of Environment at 888-891-8332 for further state requirements or their website at: http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/

 

Specialties : Cell/Communication Towers; Equipment Installation; Vinyl/Wood Siding; Fabrication of Above-Ground Storage Tanks/Vessels; etc. Specialty license classifications are for unique types of contracting where the Board specifies the exact type of work you perform, such as "S-Installation of Paint Finishing Equipment", "S-Mowing and Tree Trimming", "S-Audio and Video Installation".

 

Medical Gas certification is required by the American Medical Gas Institute (AMGI) or the Piping Industry Progress and Education Trust Fund (PIPE), with a minimum of 32 hours of training, with eight (8) of these hours in brazing. You may also check with the National Inspection Testing Certification (NITC) for local certification locations at 877-457-6482.

 

Note: Contractors with non-tested trades or "specialty" license classifications, cannot perform any electrical, mechanical or plumbing in excess of $25,000, and would be required to subcontract to properly licensed contractors. Example: A contractor with classification "S-Food Service Equipment" would be required to hire a licensed mechanical contractor to perform refrigeration portions in excess of $25,000.

 

Who may be designated as the Qualifying Agent (QA) to take the exam?  

 

An owner or full time employee, with a power of attorney (form is in the application) may take the exam on behalf of the licensee. The license does not belong to the qualifying agent. However, if the qualifying agent leaves, they must notify the Board within 10 days.  Another person must take the exam within 90 days or the license becomes invalid. The qualifying agent cannot be listed on more than one license, unless they have ownership.

 

Restricted/Limited Residential License ( BC-A/r)

 

In lieu of taking the "BC-A" residential trade exam and "Business & Law" exam, residential contractors wanting to construct homes for less than $70,000, may take a "Limited License" course with their local community college or vocational school. The contractor MUST comply with all other application requirements as the examination is waived, only. A contract or permit valuation cannot exceed $70,000, which includes contractor’s cost of land and profit; not allowed to joint venture or perform home inspections or act as a home improvement contractor to perform remodeling.  In order to increase the license to remove restriction, must take the exams and provide a reviewed financial statement. The classification for this license is " BC-A/r". For a list of these schools, please refer to our website at: BC-A/r.

 

Reciprocity with other States

 

Tennessee presently holds a trade exam waiver agreement with: Alabama, Arkansas General Contractors; Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina (Residential and Commercial) and South Carolina. Please attach a copy of your exam scores and/or the license verification from one of these states. A license verification form is also in our application. With reciprocity, the contractor applicant must complete all application requirements. Note: A license is required prior to bidding or contracting! Must take the Tennessee "Business & Law".

 

Please note, the exam center offers special accomodations for those with disabilities. Review their "Candidate Information bulletin)

 

Exam Scores

 

Exam scores are generally accepted for two (2) years. However, if the contractor fails to apply for a license within this time period and remains active in the construction industry, such as performing projects where a license is not required (under $25,000), or working for another licensed contractor, etc., then the Board may accept the scores after the two year period.  This is decided by the Board and the staff cannot make this determination.  Therefore, a written request would need to be submitted with your contractor's license application to be reviewed by the Board at their next regularly scheduled board meeting.