BC-A Residential
Scope: One- and two-family dwellings
Testing: PSI Residential exam plus Business & Law
Tennessee Contractor License Exam Guide (2026)
Tennessee contractor licensing often combines a trade exam (or NASCLA for certain paths) with a Business & Law requirement plus a financial review for the monetary limit. Use our Tennessee practice exam flow to build pace, reference navigation, and repeatable test-day habits. Confirm your classification and limit tier before scheduling.
Last verified: May 2026 via TN Board for Licensing Contractors. Official source: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors.
- Trade + Business & LawCommon requirement
- Monetary limitFinancial review
- NASCLAAccepted for BC-B
How Tennessee licenses contractors
Tennessee licenses contractors in classifications such as BC-A (Residential), BC-B (Commercial), and CE/MC trades. Applicants must provide experience affidavits, a reviewed or audited financial statement, pass the PSI trade exam (or NASCLA for BC-B), and pass the Tennessee Business & Law exam.
Expect humid summers, Mississippi River floods, and New Madrid seismic requirements. Exams stress slope stabilization, tornado shelter anchoring, and energy code details for mixed-humid climates.
Official source: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
Tennessee licensing at a glance
- Trade + Business & Law — Common requirement
- Monetary limit — Financial review
- Typical cost: $250 application fee
- NASCLA Accredited Examination accepted for qualifying Building paths
- Common license path: BC-A Residential
Tennessee contractor license types
BC-B Commercial
Scope: Commercial structures statewide
Testing: NASCLA or PSI BC-B exam plus Business & Law
CE/MC Trades
Scope: Electrical, mechanical, plumbing
Testing: PSI trade exam plus Business & Law
Monetary limits equal ten times the working capital shown on the financial statement (minimum $150k for unlimited). A $100,000 bond or line of credit can supplement working capital.
What's on the Tennessee contractor exam
PSI centers are located in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, Johnson City, and remote proctoring.
What Tennessee exam questions emphasize
- Tennessee Contractor's Reference Manual
- IBC/IRC structural, seismic, and tornado provisions
- Lien law (TCA 66-11) and prompt-pay requirements
- OSHA safety and TOSHA enforcement
Exam-day logistics
- Bring two IDs, approval letter, and the allowed references
- NASCLA transcripts must be sent directly to the Board
- Scores post immediately; submit financial statements and insurance for final approval
Tennessee contractor exam blueprint (verified July 2026)
| Licensing authority | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors |
|---|---|
| What is licensed | BC-A Residential, BC-B Commercial, and CE/MC trade classifications with monetary limits |
| Exams | PSI trade (~$57) and Business & Law (~$57); NASCLA accepted for certain BC-A/BC-B combinations |
| NASCLA | Accepted for qualifying BC-B and BC-A combinations — confirm current board rules |
| Money | $250 application fee plus PSI exam fees |
| Key gotcha | Monetary limit and classification must match the projects you bid—passing alone does not raise your limit |
What trips Tennessee applicants up
Tennessee BC-A (residential) and BC-B (commercial) paths differ on monetary limits and NASCLA combinations. Candidates often study the wrong classification bulletin.
Verified sources: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors.
Who needs a Tennessee contractor license (and who does not)
BC-A residential and BC-B commercial classifications differ on monetary limits and NASCLA combinations. CE/MC trades are separate.
| BC-B Commercial | Covers: Commercial contracting under BC-B monetary limits Authority: TN Board for Licensing Contractors — NASCLA combinations + Business & Law when eligible |
|---|---|
| BC-A Residential | Covers: Residential contracting under BC-A rules Authority: TN Board — confirm whether your NASCLA combo is accepted for BC-A |
| CE / MC trades | Covers: Electrical, mechanical, and related trade classifications Authority: Trade exams — not replaced by a Building NASCLA letter alone |
Most-missed Tennessee contractor exam topics
Tennessee reference-manual law items and monetary-limit rules trip candidates who only drill code lookups.
- Tennessee Contractor’s Reference Manual scenarios
- IBC/IRC structural, seismic, and tornado provisions
- Lien law (TCA 66-11) and prompt-pay requirements
- Monetary-limit alignment with the classification you hold
- Business & Law pairing rules when using NASCLA for BC-A/BC-B combos
Trade-specific exam guides
If you're licensing in a single trade rather than the Tennessee general contractor classification, the dedicated trade hub will get you to the right code book and exam structure faster.
- General contractor exam guide — IBC/IRC, NASCLA acceptance, and Business & Law.
- Electrical contractor exam guide — NEC (NFPA 70) calculations and grounding/bonding.
- Plumbing contractor exam guide — IPC/UPC drainage sizing, venting, and backflow.
- HVAC contractor exam guide — IMC ventilation, refrigerant management, and load calcs.
Tennessee code books & approved references (2026)
Always confirm the exact editions and tab rules in your candidate bulletin before exam day. Editions can change between license cycles.
- NASCLA Contractor's Guide to Business, Law and Project Management - Tennessee Edition
- International Building/Residential Codes 2018
- Tennessee energy code
- Tennessee lien law (TCA 66-11)
- OSHA 29 CFR 1926 / TOSHA requirements
Fees & timeline for the Tennessee contractor license
- $250 application fee
- $57 PSI trade exam and $57 Business & Law exam
- Financial statement preparation or surety bond costs
- $100 license issuance fee
- Continuing education for electrical and mechanical trades
Use the All States hub for budgeting; confirm fees with the Board.
Tennessee Business & Law focus
The Business & Law exam covers licensing statutes, lien law, tax registration, insurance, and accounting.
- Know Title 62 licensing and disciplinary procedures
- Understand lien notice deadlines and retainage rules
- Register with the Department of Revenue and Department of Labor
- Maintain workers-comp, unemployment insurance, and drug-free workplace policies
Practice with our Tennessee PSI & NASCLA prep and the national Business & Law exam hub for cross-state baseline rules.
NASCLA acceptance in Tennessee
Tennessee accepts NASCLA for certain BC-B (Commercial) and BC-A (Residential) combinations when paired with the state Business & Law exam. Confirm the exact combo in the Board for Licensing Contractors bulletin before you schedule. Confirm the current board bulletin before you schedule, then drill timed practice so Business & Law and remaining state filing steps do not surprise you after a NASCLA pass.
NASCLA reciprocity peers for Tennessee contractors
If you carry a Tennessee license and want to work in another NASCLA-accepting jurisdiction, the following state boards will credit your NASCLA Accredited Examination score (you still file a state-specific application and Business & Law module):
- How Alabama credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How Arkansas credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How Florida credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How Georgia credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How Louisiana credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How Mississippi credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How Nevada credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How North Carolina credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How Oregon credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How South Carolina credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How Utah credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How Virginia credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
- How West Virginia credits the NASCLA Accredited Examination
More: National NASCLA exam guide and our in-depth NASCLA Accredited Exam study walkthrough.
A focused 4-week study plan for the Tennessee exam
Because Expect humid summers, Mississippi River floods, and New Madrid seismic requirements, this four-week outline targets what Tennessee field inspectors and your licensing board exam items actually test—not generic national prep.
- Week 1 — Map the exam. Pull your current candidate bulletin, list every reference, and confirm the modules you have to pass. Start a one-page error log. Spend extra time on: Tennessee Contractor's Reference Manual.
- Week 2 — Code book navigation. Drill open-book lookups (or memorisation drills if your module is closed-book) until you can find any answer in under 60 seconds. Anchor practice around: IBC/IRC structural, seismic, and tornado provisions.
- Week 3 — Business & Law. The Business & Law exam covers licensing statutes, lien law, tax registration, insurance, and accounting. Layer in scenario-based questions on contracts, lien notice, payroll, and insurance.
- Week 4 — Full simulations. PSI centers are located in Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, Johnson City, and remote proctoring. Run two full-length timed simulations. Review every miss with a one-sentence rule statement.
FAQs - Tennessee contractor exam
Does Tennessee accept NASCLA?
Yes for the BC-B Commercial classification.
What experience is required?
At least two years of hands-on construction experience verified by reference letters.
How are monetary limits set?
Ten times working capital or ten times net worth, whichever is less.
Are exams open book?
Yes when you use PSI-approved references for your classification. Tab the Tennessee Business & Law manual and code books listed in your bulletin so lookups stay under a minute on timed items.
What insurance is required?
$100k liability minimum plus workers-comp for employees.
How often do I renew?
Biennially with updated financial statements for limits above $1.5 million.
Where are exams offered?
PSI centers statewide and remote proctoring.
More Tennessee contractor exam prep resources
Core resources
Exam-day reading
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