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How to get an electrician license in Tennessee

Hours, exam, fees, renewal and continuing education for Tennessee, pulled from official TN sources and checked .

Quick answer
  • Licensing body: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance)
  • State journeyman license: No (Tennessee has no state journeyman license. The state issues a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license for jobs under $25,000 where the state Division of Fire Prevention handles permits, and Board contractor licenses. Cities such as Nashville and Chattanooga license electricians themselves.)
  • Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE): No experience requirement is listed: a photo ID, your Social Security number and a passing LLE trade exam. Check first that your local government accepts the LLE, because many cities have their own licensing.
  • Exam: open book, via Prov
  • Code edition: Exam references (Prov bulletin, 10/23/2026): the LLE and CE Electrical Contractor exams list NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, 2017 edition, as open book. Local permit offices may use a newer code.

Requirements by license

Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE)

ExperienceNo experience requirement is listed: a photo ID, your Social Security number and a passing LLE trade exam. Check first that your local government accepts the LLE, because many cities have their own licensing.Source: tn.gov · as of
ExamProv. Open book. LLE exam: 40 questions, 120 minutes, 73% to pass, open book (NEC 2017 allowed).Source: provexam.com · as of · The LLE page names Prov as the exam administrator: tn.gov
Fees
  • Initial LLE application: $50
  • LLE exam (paid to Prov): $53
Source: tn.gov · as of · Exam fee: provexam.com
RenewalEvery 2 years. Expires on the last day of the month it was issued, every 2 years. $50 to renew; $10 late fee for each month, up to 3 months. After 3 months you reinstate with a new application ($50 + $30 penalty = $80).Source: tn.gov · as of · LLE application package, revised June 2025.
CE to renew0 hours per
None. The Board's LLE package says there are no continuing education requirements.
Source: tn.gov · as of

Electrical Contractor (CE classification)

ExperienceA Board for Licensing Contractors classification for electrical work in residential, commercial and industrial buildings; the LLE covers only jobs under $25,000. Other requirements (financial statement, references, monetary limit) were not confirmed.Source: provexam.com · as of · LLE limit: tn.gov
ExamProv. Open book. CE Electrical Contractor exam: 100 questions, 300 minutes, 73% to pass, open book. New licensees also take the TN Contractor Business and Law exam (50 questions, 150 minutes, 73%). The NASCLA Electrical Contractor exam (110 questions, 270 minutes, 75%) is also offered.Source: provexam.com · as of
Fees
  • CE trade exam (Prov): $53
  • Business and Law exam (Prov): $53
  • NASCLA Electrical Contractor exam (Prov): $100
  • Renewal (Board): $200
Source: provexam.com · as of · Renewal fee and $20-a-month late fee: Board renewal booklet (rev. 6/2018) tn.gov
RenewalNot confirmed (ask the Board). The Board's renewal page did not load for our checks.Not confirmedSource: tn.gov · as of
CE to renewNot confirmed; ask the Board.Not confirmedSource: tn.gov · as of

License types in Tennessee

  • No state journeyman license
  • Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE): projects under $25,000 where the state does permits and inspections
  • Electrical Contractor (CE) and High Voltage Electrical Contractor (CE-A,H), Board contractor classifications
  • Nashville (Metro): Master Electrician and Journeyman Electrician licenses
  • Chattanooga: Journeyman Electrician license
  • Other cities: check the local permit office
Source: provexam.com · as of · LLE scope: tn.gov · Nashville: nashville.gov · Chattanooga: chattanooga.gov

Local electrician licenses (by city)

Tennessee has no state journeyman license, so the larger cities license electricians themselves and the state LLE applies only where the state handles permits. We checked Nashville and Chattanooga below (Memphis and Knoxville are not covered yet); anywhere else, ask the local permit office.

Nashville (Metro Nashville and Davidson County)

Office: Metro Nashville Department of Codes Administration
Licenses journeymen?Yes. Metro licenses Journeyman Electricians, Master Electricians, Equipment Installers and Low Voltage Installers
ExperienceJourneyman: completed an electrical construction apprenticeship, or regularly employed as a journeyman under an electrical contractor or master electrician. Master: 6 years (an electrical engineering degree may be accepted instead). Send employer letters and a character reference
ExamProv (after the Chief Electrical Inspector approves your application). 70% to pass; you may apply to retest after 30 days
FeesNot confirmed
RenewalNot confirmed
CENot confirmed
NotesApplication form dated 2022. Questions: permitissuance@nashville.gov.
Still openLicense and exam fees; Renewal cycle; CE
ContactDepartment of Codes Administration · 615-862-6517 · permitissuance@nashville.gov (source)
Source: nashville.gov · as of

Chattanooga

Office: City of Chattanooga, Land Development Office (Trade Licensing)
Licenses journeymen?Yes. Chattanooga issues a Journeyman Electrician license (apply in the city's OpenGov portal under Trade Licensing)
Experience3 years or 6,000 documented hours of electrical experience with an electrical contractor
ExamCity of Chattanooga (testing information sent after the clerks review your application)
FeesJourneyman electrician license: $55
RenewalEvery 2 years. Licenses expire every 2 years on even-numbered years; the city emails you before it expires
CENot confirmed
Still openExam format; CE
ContactLand Development Office, Trade Licensing · (423) 643-5884 (source)
Source: chattanooga.gov · as of

Not listed? Ask your city or county permit office whether it licenses electricians or accepts the state LLE.

Reciprocity (licensed in another state?)

No statewide journeyman reciprocity, because Tennessee issues no journeyman license. Each city that licenses electricians decides what it accepts; Nashville asks whether you hold a master electrician license in another city or state.Source: nashville.gov · as of

What we couldn't confirm yet

We only publish what we can tie to an official source. These items aren't published anywhere we could verify, so ask the office listed:

  • Electrical contractor (CE) license: the initial license fee, the renewal cycle and any CE. (The Board's renewal booklet confirms the $200 renewal fee, a $20-a-month late fee, and that your financial statement must support your monetary limit.)
    Ask: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors · (615) 741-8307 (contact source, as of )
  • Memphis/Shelby County and Knoxville local electrician licenses (their documents blocked our checks), and Nashville's license fees and renewal rules.
    Ask: Your city or county permit office (contact source, as of )

FAQ

Does Tennessee have a state journeyman electrician license?

No. Tennessee has no state journeyman license; the state issues a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license for jobs under $25,000 where the state handles permits, and cities such as Nashville and Chattanooga license electricians.

What do you need for a Tennessee LLE license?

You need a photo ID, your Social Security number and a passing LLE trade exam from Prov, and the initial application fee is $50. Check first that your local government accepts the LLE.

Is the Tennessee LLE exam open book?

Yes. The Prov LLE exam is open book with 40 questions in 120 minutes and a 73% passing score.

How do you get a journeyman electrician license in Chattanooga?

Chattanooga requires 3 years or 6,000 documented hours of electrical experience with an electrical contractor, and the license fee is $55.

Already licensed? See Tennessee electrician license renewal & CE requirements.

Other states

Compare every state side by side: license requirements by state · renewal & CE by state.