Tennessee Plumber License Requirements

Official classification: Contractor License, CMC-A (Plumbing and Gas Piping) classification · Issued by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance).

🔧 PlumberTN ✔ Verified 2026-09-30

In Tennessee, plumbers must hold the Contractor License, CMC-A (Plumbing and Gas Piping) 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 plumber in Tennessee

Follow these steps to earn your Contractor License, CMC-A (Plumbing and Gas Piping) 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 for the CMC-A license; experience is weighed with the financial statement when setting the monetary limit. Board pre-approval is required before taking the CMC-A plumbing exam, and it requires at least 3 years of plumbing experience or a degree in plumbing or mechanical engineering.
Pass the Plumbing (CMC-A) trade exam and Tennessee Business and Law exam exams. Providers, passing scores and fees are in the Exams section below.
Check the insurance rules. Liability: 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' compensation: Required if you have employees; a certificate of coverage or an approved exemption is required at renewal.
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 also requires $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. Renewal: Every 2 years.

For the general path in every state, see the Plumber guide →

Tennessee plumber license lookup

To confirm a plumber 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.

Verify a license now: Search the official search.cloud.commerce.tn.gov database →

License types

Contractor License - CMC-A (Plumbing and Gas Piping) — Required before bidding or contracting any plumbing project where the total cost is $25,000 or more. Plumbing is a subcategory of the Mechanical (CMC) classification; Board pre-approval is required to sit for the CMC-A plumbing exam.
Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) — Lower-tier state license for plumbing work under $25,000 per project (general maintenance under $500 is exempt). Required in municipalities that use the state Division of Fire Prevention for permits or inspections; elsewhere, check whether the local government accepts it.

Requirements at a glance

Experience required	Tennessee sets no fixed statutory number of years for the CMC-A license; experience is weighed with the financial statement when setting the monetary limit. Board pre-approval is required before taking the CMC-A plumbing exam, and it requires at least 3 years of plumbing experience or a degree in plumbing or mechanical engineering.
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.
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 also requires $300,000+ in both working capital and net worth).
Reciprocity	Tennessee's trade-exam waiver lists Ohio for plumbing and South Carolina for commercial plumbing; Louisiana, Mississippi (unlimited) and West Virginia are listed for mechanical work, which in Tennessee includes plumbing (CMC-A), so confirm with the Board that a mechanical waiver covers the plumbing exam. The waiver covers only the trade exam, not the Business and Law exam, and does not replace a Tennessee license. · compare all states
Processing time	Variable; the Board reviews applications at its scheduled meetings.

What a Tennessee plumber license costs

Application fee	$250 (application and initial license; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-01-.20).
License fee	Included in the application fee.
Plumbing (CMC-A) trade exam	$53 per exam, whether a first attempt or a retake.
Tennessee Business and Law exam	$53.
Surety bond	No statewide contractor surety bond is required for the full Contractor license.
Renewal fee	$200.
Renewal period	Every 2 years.

Exams

Plumbing (CMC-A) trade exam	Provider: Prov (took over from PSI on July 1, 2026) · Passing: 73% (the Board's published passing standard for every contractor exam) · Fee: $53 per exam, whether a first attempt or a retake
Tennessee Business and Law exam	Provider: Prov (took over from PSI on July 1, 2026) · Passing: 73% · Fee: $53

Renewing a Tennessee plumber license

The Contractor License, CMC-A (Plumbing and Gas Piping) classification renews on a fixed cycle set by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance). Late and lapsed renewals are handled differently by every board, so check the renewal page linked below before the deadline passes.

Renewal period	Every 2 years
Renewal fee	$200
Continuing education	None required by the Board
Where to renew	Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance)

Local / municipal notes

The plumbing exam requires Board pre-approval (3 years of plumbing experience or a relevant degree). The LLP is a separate state license, required for work in municipalities that use the state Division of Fire Prevention for permits or inspections (general maintenance under $500 is exempt); elsewhere, check whether the local government accepts it.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Tennessee plumber 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 plumber 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 plumbers in Tennessee need a surety bond?

No statewide contractor surety bond is required for the full Contractor license.

What experience is required for a Tennessee plumber license?

Tennessee sets no fixed statutory number of years for the CMC-A license; experience is weighed with the financial statement when setting the monetary limit. Board pre-approval is required before taking the CMC-A plumbing exam, and it requires at least 3 years of plumbing experience or a degree in plumbing or mechanical engineering.

Is insurance required for plumbers 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. Property damage: Covered under the general liability policy. Workers' compensation: Required if you have employees; a certificate of coverage or an approved exemption is required at renewal.

How long does it take to get a Tennessee plumber license?

Processing time: Variable; the Board reviews applications at its scheduled meetings.

Is a background check required for plumbers in Tennessee?

Background check: No statewide fingerprint-based background check for the Contractor license.

Is there a credit or financial requirement for a Tennessee plumber 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 also requires $300,000+ in both working capital and net worth).

How often must a Tennessee plumber license be renewed?

Every 2 years. Continuing education: None required by the Board.

Fees and rules change frequently (often annually). This page was last verified on 2026-09-30 — always confirm current requirements directly with the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance) before applying. This is not legal advice.