How to get a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license in Tennessee
Tennessee licenses electricians statewide through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors.1 For the Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license you need a passing score on the LLE trade exam1. The board lists $50 for the initial license1. You renew every 2 years2.
Who issues it
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
Exam
LLE trade exam1
Fees the board lists
Initial license fee: $501
Renewal
Every 2 years2
On this page
- Tennessee electrician licenses
- Applies to every license level
- Who needs a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license
- Requirements for a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license
- How much a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license costs
- How to apply
- Renewal and continuing education
- Moving to Tennessee with a license from another state
- Contractor license, Electrical (CE) classification
- City and county rules
- Laws and rules
- Rule changes since January 2024
- Common questions
- Electrician licenses in other states
Tennessee electrician licenses
Tennessee issues 2 electrician credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.
| License | What it covers | Exam | Application or license fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) | Electrical work under $25,000 per project in jurisdictions where the state Division of Fire Prevention handles electrical permits or inspections. LLE holders may not call themselves contractors without a contractor license.1 | Yes1 | $501 |
| Contractor license, Electrical (CE) classification | Electrical contracting: transmission lines, building and structure wiring, underground conduit, low-voltage/alarm/sound systems, signs, data cabling, cable TV, substations, building automation, roadway lighting and signals, meter installation.3 | Yes4 | $2503 |
Applies to every license level
These rules are the same for every Tennessee electrician license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.
Renewal
- Renew online
- access.cloud.commerce.tn.gov5
From another state
- Route
- Military service members and spouses
- What the board says
- Military members and spouses licensed in a substantially equivalent state can be licensed on paying the regular fees (or get a temporary license while meeting extra requirements); equivalent military training counts toward any Board license; activated Guard/Reserve licensees renew without late fees.3
Who needs a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license
Electrical work under $25,000 per project in jurisdictions where the state Division of Fire Prevention handles electrical permits or inspections. LLE holders may not call themselves contractors without a contractor license.1
Exemptions and dollar thresholds:
- Projects of $25,000 or more need a Board contractor license with the Electrical (CE) classification instead.4
Requirements for a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license
The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.
- Social Security number
- Photo ID and Social Security Number required.1
How much a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license costs
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial license fee | $501 | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors | Not refundable |
| Duplicate or replacement license | $56 | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors | Not refundable |
Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.
The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Prov1, when you schedule.
How to apply
- Schedule and pass the LLE trade exam with Prov (exam cost paid to Prov).2
- Submit the "Initial Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) Application" online in CORE with photo ID, Social Security number and the $50 fee.1 access.cloud.commerce.tn.gov1
- Before working, confirm with the city or county whether it accepts the LLE or requires a local license.1
- Apply online
- access.cloud.commerce.tn.gov1
Renewal and continuing education
- How often
- Every 2 years2
- When it expires
- Expires every two years on the last day of the month of issue; renew in CORE (option appears 90 days before expiry).2
- Renewal fee
- $502
- Late renewal
- Reinstatement fee: $805 (renewal more than 3 months after expiry)
- If it expires
- 3-month grace period with late fees; after 3 months reapply as new (new application, fee and exam, though the Board may waive the exam).5
Renewal planner
Enter the expiration date printed on your Tennessee Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license. The count is worked out on your device from today's date; nothing is sent anywhere.
Moving to Tennessee with a license from another state
These are the routes the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors publishes for the Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license. The other electrician licenses have their own routes in their sections below.
- Route
- No reciprocity
- What the board says
- No reciprocity or exam waiver for the LLE; an out-of-state license cannot be used in Tennessee.4
Contractor license, Electrical (CE) classification
Electrical contracting: transmission lines, building and structure wiring, underground conduit, low-voltage/alarm/sound systems, signs, data cabling, cable TV, substations, building automation, roadway lighting and signals, meter installation.3
Requirements
- Experience
- Experience adequate for the Electrical classification, shown through the experience sheet and a reference letter; the Board judges it case by case.4
- Exam
- Tennessee Business and Law exam4
Given by: Prov (from July 1, 2026; PSI before)7
Open book7
Time limit: Exam scores typically valid two years.7 - Exam
- Electrical (CE) trade exam4
Given by: Prov7
Exam waived: Trade exam waived for applicants actively licensed for electrical in AL, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC (commercial only) or WV, via the other state's License Verification form.4 - Background check
- Background check required4
Applicants disclosing convictions or complaints interview with the Board.4 - Business requirements
- A qualifying agent (owner, partner, 20%+ stockholder, LLC manager/member, or full-time employee with power of attorney) passes the exams for the firm.3
- Business requirements
- CPA/LPA reviewed (limits up to $3,000,000) or audited (over $3,000,000) financial statement under 12 months old; from July 1, 2026 a surety bond of at least 50% of the requested limit may replace it.4
- Business requirements
- Monetary limit per project = 10 times the lesser of working capital or net worth (unlimited needs $300,000 of both), with a 10% tolerance.4
- Business requirements
- Entities register with the Secretary of State; a business tax license for each city/county of operation.4
Fees
| Fee | Amount | Paid to | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $2503 | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors | Not refundable. Effective November 26, 2005 |
| Duplicate or replacement license | $253 | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors | Not refundable |
| Mode of Operation Change | $1006 | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors | Change in mode of operation (e.g. partnership/proprietorship to corporation). Not refundable |
| Fee for a Board interview no-show | $253 | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors | Missed Board interview without 3 days notice. Not refundable |
Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.
The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.
How to apply
- The qualifying agent registers with Prov and passes the Business and Law exam and the Electrical (CE) trade exam (or gets a trade exam waiver).4
- Get a CPA/LPA reviewed or audited financial statement (or, from July 1, 2026, the Contractors’ Surety Bond).4
- Gather the reference letter, certificate of general liability insurance, workers’ comp proof and notarized Contractor’s Affidavit; register the entity with the Secretary of State.4
- Apply online in CORE ("Initial New Contractor Application") with the $250 fee; attend a Board interview if asked.4 core.tn.gov4
- Apply online
- core.tn.gov4
Renewal
- Renewal fee
- $2003
- Late renewal
- Late renewal fee: $205 (per month late, up to 12 months (rule: 10% of the renewal fee per month))
From another state
- Route
- Exam waiver
- What the board says
- No reciprocal license; electrical contractors licensed in AL, LA, MS, NC, OH, SC (commercial) or WV can have the trade exam waived but must otherwise apply in full.4
- States named for the waiver
- Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia4
Licenses from these states can qualify for the waiver described above. This is not a list of licenses Tennessee accepts in place of its own; it does not say those states give a Tennessee license the same waiver. - Conditions
- The other state completes the License Verification form, returned with the application.4
The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.
City and county rules
Contractor license, Electrical (CE) classificationCities and counties cannot make a state CE licensee or its employees pass a local exam, but a city/county business tax license is needed where you operate.3
Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE)Check with the local government first: it may accept the LLE or require its own local license for permits and inspections.1
Laws and rules
The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.
- T.C.A. § 62-6-102(d) and § 68-102-150
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 0680-03 (Limited Licensed Electricians)
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-03-.03
- T.C.A. Title 62, Chapter 6
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 0680-01 (Licensing), incl. 0680-01-.16 classification CE
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-01-.20
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 0680-06 (General Liability Insurance)
Rule changes since January 2024
- July 1, 2026: Prov replaced PSI as exam provider.7
Common questions
Can I transfer my electrician license to Tennessee?
No reciprocity or exam waiver for the LLE; an out-of-state license cannot be used in Tennessee.4 Conditions and forms.
Electrician licenses in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
Every number and rule above links to one of these official pages. Select a footnote number to read the board's own words.
- Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE)Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Board for Licensing ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 0680-03 Limited Licensed ElectriciansTennessee Secretary of State, Official Compilation of Rules and Regulations (Board for Licensing Contractors)Dated September 2, 2001Checked November 7, 2026
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 0680-01 LicensingTennessee Secretary of State, Official Compilation of Rules and Regulations (Board for Licensing Contractors)Dated November 18, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- How to Get a License: ContractorTennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, Board for Licensing ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026
- Renewal, Reinstatement, & Other ResourcesTennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Board for Licensing ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026
- FeesTennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Board for Licensing ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026
- Exam InformationTennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Board for Licensing ContractorsChecked November 7, 2026