Plumbing License in Tennessee: Fees, Requirements & Startup Costs
Quick answer: The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors regulates plumbing contracting. A business taking plumbing contracts of $25,000 or more needs an entity contractor license with CMC-A classification. An individual Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) can cover smaller work only in applicable state-inspected municipalities. The initial contractor application is $250 and CMC-A exam preapproval is $50; the initial LLP application is $75. Exams are separate.
Separate the contractor and limited plumber paths
CMC-A is the plumbing classification on Tennessee’s contractor license for the business entity. It applies when a plumbing contract is $25,000 or more. The company uses a qualifying agent, an owner, officer, or full-time employee who takes the required exams. The official guidance does not identify a separate state individual contractor license or fee for this person. Plan the application around the size and type of projects the company expects to sign.
LLP is an individual license for projects below $25,000 in municipalities that use state fire prevention permitting or inspection. It is not an entity contractor license for larger work. Local plumber licensing may also apply. Before selling small jobs in a new municipality, ask its permit office whether LLP is accepted and whether another credential is necessary.
Licensing in Tennessee
Jurisdiction: state
Authority: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors
A Tennessee contractor license with CMC-A plumbing classification is required for plumbing contracts of $25,000 or more. Below $25,000, LLP applies only where the municipality uses state fire prevention permitting/inspection; local licensing can also apply.
Contractor license — CMC-A (Plumbing)
BUSINESS Entity license for plumbing contracting at $25,000 or more; qualifying agent must take Business and Law and preapproved CMC-A trade exams.
| Fee | Amount | Period (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial contractor license | $250 OFFICIAL FEE Source — www.tn.gov | 2 |
| Contractor license renewal | $200 OFFICIAL FEE Source — www.tn.gov | 2 |
| Board preapproval request for CMC-A exam | $50 OFFICIAL FEE Source — www.tn.gov | — |
| Prov CMC-A trade exam, per attempt | $53 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.tn.gov | — |
| Prov Tennessee Business and Law exam, per attempt | $53 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.tn.gov | — |
Qualifying Agent (CMC-A)
INDIVIDUAL Owner, full-time employee, or officer passing the exams for the contractor entity; no separate state individual contractor license identified.
Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP)
INDIVIDUAL Individual plumbing license for projects under $25,000 in applicable state-inspected municipalities; local license may also be required.
| Fee | Amount | Period (years) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial LLP license | $75 OFFICIAL FEE Source — www.tn.gov | 2 |
| LLP license renewal | $50 OFFICIAL FEE Source — www.tn.gov | 2 |
| Prov LLP exam, per attempt | $53 VERIFIED DATA Source — www.tn.gov | — |
Exam: Provider: Prov · Fee: 53 · Source
Experience: CMC-A exam preapproval requires at least three years of plumbing experience or a plumbing or mechanical engineering degree. Contractor applicants also document experience and provide a reference.
Bond: Applies To: Optional contractor surety bond in lieu of reviewed/audited financial statement: at least 50% of requested monetary limit; no fixed mandatory bond. · Source
Insurance: Requirement: Contractor general liability coverage based on monetary limit; workers' compensation coverage or proof of exemption. · Source
Renewal and CE: Renewal period: 2 years · Continuing education: 0 hours · Source
Local note: Check municipality and county permits and plumber licensing for sub-$25,000 work; LLP does not automatically authorize work in every locality.
Data notes
Contractor and Limited Licensed Plumber licenses cover different project sizes. CMC-A exam preapproval costs $50, and Prov charges $53 per exam.
Verified: 2026-09-24
Obtain CMC-A exam preapproval
The CMC-A applicant must obtain Board preapproval for the trade exam. The researched path requires at least three years of plumbing experience or a plumbing or mechanical engineering degree. The $50 preapproval request is separate from the contractor application. After preapproval, the qualifying agent takes the CMC-A trade exam and Tennessee Business and Law exam. The Board exam page names Prov as the exam vendor, and Prov’s candidate bulletin listed $53 per examination attempt, so both tests need their own budget entries.
An LLP applicant takes the LLP exam, also charged $53 per attempt. The current researched application does not establish a fixed LLP experience duration or mandatory classroom coursework. For the entity contractor path, document construction experience and supply a reference so the Board can assess the proposed monetary limit. The contractor affidavit asks about convictions and complaints; disclosing a conviction may require an interview.
Insure the requested monetary limit
The Board’s contractor instructions call for general liability coverage tied to the requested monetary limit, along with workers’ compensation coverage or proof of exemption. Obtain quotes for the limit the plumbing business intends to request. The Board also describes a surety bond alternative to a reviewed or audited financial statement. If the business takes that option, the bond must be at least 50% of its requested monetary limit. The record does not describe a fixed bond mandatory for all applicants.
Both the contractor and LLP licenses renew every two years. The published fees are $200 for contractor renewal and $50 for LLP renewal. No continuing education hours were identified on the official pages. Keep the renewal date beside insurance and qualifying-agent records so the company can review its status before accepting future work.
Confirm local plumbing authority at the job address
A municipality or county may require local plumber licensing or a permit even for a sub-$25,000 project. Confirm whether its inspections use the state system before relying on LLP. For a larger CMC-A contract, confirm local permit and inspection steps as part of the schedule. The statewide license classification does not establish a universal local permit process.
Use the plumbing business hub for the broader launch, the license guide for credential context, and the startup-cost guide for budgeting. Adjust the calculator for the selected path, insurance, and local costs. The Florida and Georgia pages describe other state systems for expansion planning.
Estimated startup cost: $9,150–$11,500 Estimated startup cost: $9,150–$11,500. Break-even at about 7 jobs per month. Monthly overhead: $1,600–$1,750 · Annual operating: $19,300–$21,000 · Break-even: 7 jobs/month Vehicle operating per month: $760 CALCULATED Phone and admin per month: $150 YOUR INPUT Startup total is the sum of available first-year cost lines. Monthly overhead includes insurance, software, marketing, vehicle operating, phone and admin, and payroll. Break-even jobs = monthly overhead ÷ (average ticket × gross margin).Startup Cost Calculator
Licensing & exam fees $128–$406 OFFICIALLicense details Business formation (state filing) $300 OFFICIAL Insurance (first year) $1,750 MARKET ESTIMATEGeneral liability Vehicle acquisition $0 YOUR INPUTYour existing vehicle; acquisition cost $0 Vehicle price sources
Tools & equipment $50 MARKET ESTIMATE Starter kit items
Software (first year) $590–$2,250 MARKET ESTIMATEPublished monthly list price × 12 Software price sources
Launch marketing $1,500 YOUR INPUTYour input — default: 3 months × $500 Payroll reserve $0 CALCULATEDBLS median wage × 173 hours/month × employees × employer taxes and ECEC benefits × working-capital months Working capital $4,800–$5,250 CALCULATEDMonthly overhead excluding payroll (shown separately) × working-capital months Permits & compliance $0 YOUR INPUTYour input — default $0; local requirements may apply Show formula
Official sources
- www.tn.gov — Initial contractor license
- www.tn.gov — Contractor license renewal
- tn.gov — Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, exam information (Prov)
- www.tn.gov — Initial LLP license
- api.bls.gov — BLS OEWS Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- sos.tn.gov — Tennessee LLC filing fee
Market sources
- www.homedepot.com — RIDGID 31020 14-in straight pipe wrench
- www.homedepot.com — RIDGID 32925 Model 15 tubing cutter
- www.homedepot.com — RIDGID 57043 Power Spin+ drain auger
- www.lowes.com — Werner PD6206 6-ft fiberglass platform ladder
- www.homedepot.com — 3M SecureFit SF400G-LV-4-PS safety glasses
- www.walmart.com — Milwaukee M18 FORCE LOGIC 2922-20 press tool (ONE-KEY)
- www.walmart.com — Milwaukee 2773-22L M18 Force Logic long throw press tool kit 1/2-1 in.
- www.walmart.com — RIDGID K-400 drum drain cleaning machine
- www.homedepot.com — Klein Tools ET16 borescope camera
- www.insureon.com — Insureon
- www.getjobber.com — Jobber
- www.housecallpro.com — Housecall Pro
- quickbooks.intuit.com — QuickBooks Online
- www.ramtrucks.com — 2026 Ram ProMaster cargo van (base)
- www.cars.com — 2026 Ford F-150 XL (base)
- www.cars.com — 2026 Ford Transit-150 cargo van (base, T-150 130in low roof RWD)
- www.coxautoinc.com — Used vehicle average listing price (all segments, not cargo-van specific)
Frequently asked questions
When does a Tennessee plumbing business need CMC-A?
The entity contractor license with CMC-A applies to plumbing contracts of $25,000 or more.
What qualifies a CMC-A applicant for exam preapproval?
At least three years of plumbing experience or a plumbing or mechanical engineering degree under the researched Board path.
Does LLP authorize plumbing work everywhere in Tennessee?
No. LLP covers smaller work in applicable state-inspected municipalities, and local licensing can also apply.
Are CMC-A preapproval and exams included in the contractor application fee?
No. Preapproval and each Prov exam attempt are separate charges.
Is a bond required for every CMC-A contractor?
The official guidance describes a bond option in lieu of a reviewed or audited financial statement, not a fixed universal bond.
Last updated: October 21, 2026