Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Board for Licensing Contractors


Please Note

We are a service company that can help you file with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Board for Licensing Contractors. We are not associated with this nor any other government agency. We offer paid services and software to help you file. You are not required to purchase our service to file - you may file directly with this agency without using our service.


Contact Information

Physical address:
500 James Robertson Pkwy.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243

Phone: (615) 741-8307

Web: Home Name search
Email: contractors.home-improvement@tn.gov

Licenses

We track the following licenses with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Board for Licensing Contractors in order to provide compliance services to our clients. As a client, you see this and other Compliance Core™ data in License Manager in-line with your licenses.

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Tennessee Contractor's License

Agency:Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Board for Licensing Contractors
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Yes
Financial Requirements:

To obtain an unlimited license, the contractor must show $300,000 in both working capital and net worth; experience, and an audited financial statement. An audit is not required at renewal to retain this limit.

Insurance Requirements:
  • Contractors must provide a certificate of insurance as proof of having general liability and workers' compensation insurance.
  • The certificate of insurance must include policy numbers, expiration date, and the "Board for Licensing Contractors" with address must be listed as the "Certificate Holder"
  • The coverage minimums for general liability insurance depend on the monetary license limit requested: Contractors requesting a monetary limit of up to $500,000 need at least $100,000 of coverage, contractors requesting a limit of between $500,001 and $1,500,000 need at least $500,000 of coverage, and contractors requesting a limit of $1,500,001 or more need at least $1,000,000 in coverage.
  • Workers' Compensation is required for all contractors applying for a license unless:
    • The contractor does not have any employees; and
    • The license owners/employer has met the criteria to be exempt or provided proof of registration as a "Construction Services Provider" with the Secretary of State.
Bond Requirements:

There is no general bonding requirement for a contractor's license, however, in some cases contractors are permitted to submit a bond in order to meet working capital or other requirements.

Notes:
  • A contractor's license is required for projects worth $25,000 or more when acting as either: A prime contractor; an electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, or roofing subcontractor; a masonry subcontractor on a project worth at least $100,000; or a construction manager on projects worth at least $25,000.
  • Unlimited licenses are available for contractors with at least $300,000 of working capital and a net worth of at least $300,000.

Initial Registration

Form:

Contractor's License Application

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$250

Turnaround:

AT least three weeks

Due:

The application is due 20th of the month before the Board meets.
The application must be received in the office by deadline date; not postmarked, to ensure it is prepped by the staff for review. The Board meets six (6) times annually during the following months: January (Nashville); March (Nashville); May (West TN); July (Nashville); September (East TN); and November (Nashville). Meeting locations are tentative and subject to change. See “Public Meetings Calendar” on the website. For example, in order to be reviewed at the January meeting, application would be due December 20th. If 20th is on a holiday/weekend, next business day is considered the deadline.

Notarization Required?:Required
Notes:
  • Applicants requesting a monetary limit of $3,000,000 or less must submit a financial statement reviewed by a CPA. Monetary limits of $3,000,001 or more require an audited financial statement prepared by a CPA.
  • Financial statements must be prepared according to GAAP. Compiled and income tax basis statements are not accepted.
  • Financial statements can be no older than 14 months.
  • An interview with a board member at the meeting may be required for the
    following: Qualifying Agent (QA) is not a majority owner and employed less than six (6) months; Experience – Insufficient amount listed for the monetary limit requested; and/or if there are issues such as: Complaint history; judgments; felony convictions; bankruptcy; etc., or failure to disclose such issues. Whenever an interview is required, the QA is required to interview. If the QA is not a majority owner, then both the QA and an owner; or QA and an officer, must both attend the board meeting. An admission letter of the time, date and location of the meeting will be sent to those required to interview.
  • Those required to interview, this is informal and takes no longer than 30 minutes. However, due to several contractors scheduled, there may be a timely wait. Board members in your field of expertise usually perform the interview. For example, an electrical Board member will interview those applying for an electrical license, and the mechanical contractor interviews the plumbing and HVAC contractors, etc. At the interview, the application is reviewed and general questions will be asked about contracting experience and to ensure the license classification covers your type of projects. You may use this time to ask the Board member advice or the staff questions concerning the licensing law. There is no dress code requirement.
  • Interview Waived – Files are reviewed prior to the Board meeting and those granted waiver of the interview will be sent a notification letter. However, the license does not get granted earlier and must be approved at the Board meeting.
  • Board Review - See the “Public Meetings Calendar” for the Board meeting schedule. The law requires the full Board to vote to approve all licenses in order to be issued. Contractors granted a hardship for early review are ratified at this meeting for issuance.
  • License Issuance Upon approval by the full Board, the license will be issued for two (2) years. After the Board meeting, these may be confirmed online at “Verify a License” on the website at: http://verify.tn.gov/ within 3 to 7 business days. The license will have your license name, ID number, classification, expiration date and monetary limit (contains same information required to be on the outside of a bid envelope for primes and subs)
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. Register your business with the Tennesee Secretary of State
  2. Appoint an individual/Qualifying Agent to take the qualifying exam on behalf of the company. 
  3. Ensure there is a prepared and audited financial statement from an independent accounting firm. 
  4. Obtain a Letter of Reference to file with your application. 

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Foreign qualify your business with the Tennesee Secretary of State
  2. Appoint an individual/Qualifying Agent to take the qualifying exam on behalf of the company. 
  3. Ensure there is a prepared and audited financial statement from an independent accounting firm. 
  4. Obtain a Letter of Reference to file with your application. 

 

Required Attachments:
  • Letter of Reference - to be completed by a past client or emp;loyer, who can comment about construction work and expericene, or a code official who has inspected yuor work (not from a relative). 
  • Certificate of Insurance
  • Affidavit signed and notarized

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$200

Due:

Biennially

Notes:
  • Contractors with a monetary limit of $1,500,000 or less must submit a notarized statement that the information contained in the financial statement is true and correct with the renewal application. Contractors with a limit of $1,500,001 or more must submit a compilation prepared by a licensed public accountant or CPA.
  • Financial Statements can be no older than 14 months
Required Attachments:
  • A self-prepared financial statement if the monetary limit is $3,000,000 or less. A monetary limit of more than $3,000,000 requires a CPA-reviewed financial statement (no older than 14 months)
  • Certificate of insurance for General Liability in the correct format (The "Board for Licensing Contractors" must be named as the certificate holder. The policy number and current expiration date must be listed. TBD and binders are not acceptable)
  • Certificate of Insurance for Workers' Compensation, or Exemption Registration as a "Construction Service Provider", unless, claiming Handyman exemption
  • For corporate entities, proof of active status with the Tennessee Secretary of State's office
  • Disclosures (if applicable)
  • Contractors with the following designations are required to provide proof of completing the 8 hours of residential continuing education (RCE): 
    • BC-A
    • BC-A/r
    • BC-A,b(sm)

Amendment
Qualifying Agent Change

Form:

Qualifying Agent (QA) Add / Change Request

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Within 3 months of the departure of the previous qualifying individual.

Law:

TN Code § 62-6-115

Notarization Required?:Required
Required Attachments:
  • For classifications requiring a trade exam, attach a copy of the passing exam score; the “Business and Law” exam is not required to be taken by the new QA.
  • If the QA is a full time employee only, with no ownership or not a majority owner (less than 20% ownership interest), the “Power of Attorney” form must also be signed by the owner, notarized and attached to the application.
  • If the license classification does not require a trade exam, list their experience or attach a resume of the QA.

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