Tennessee Electrical License Renewal: Deadlines, Fees and CE

The Electrical Contractor (Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors) renews every 2 years and has a renewal fee of about $200. The Limited Licensed Electrician (Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors) renews every 2 years and has a renewal fee of about $50. Fees change, so check the official site for the exact amount.

Full rule details

Verified dataLast checked Oct 17, 2026, next review due July 2027

Informational: verify with the issuing board.

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Electrical Contractor

CE · State license · Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors

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Renew on the official site (615) 741-2241

Renewal cycle: Every 2 years
Continuing education: Not required
Deadline rule: Biennial. Renewal option appears in CORE within 90 days of expiration; board asks that renewals be submitted at least 30 days before the expiration date (exact expiration date is printed on each license and is not fixed to a calendar date on the board's pages).

Show fees, grace period, bond and insurance

Grace period: 12 months after expiration to renew late; contracting while expired is not permitted.

Fees, approximate

Renewal fee: About $200
Late fee: About $20 per month late renewal penalty, up to 12 months (on top of about $200 renewal).
Reinstatement: Expired 12 months or more: must submit a new application and meet all initial licensure requirements; initial/reinstatement fee about $250.

Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Why approximate?

Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.

Bond: Not required
Insurance: General liability insurance is required based on the monetary limit: at least $100,000 for limits up to $500,000, at least $500,000 for limits of $500,001 to $1,500,000, and at least $1,000,000 for limits above $1,500,000 (Rule 0680-06-.02). Workers' compensation coverage or an exemption registration is also required. Renewal also needs a financial statement (CPA-compiled if the limit is above $1.5 million, a self-prepared balance sheet if below) and, for corporations and LLCs, proof of active status with the Secretary of State. From July 1, 2026 a Board-approved Contractors' Surety Bond of at least 50% of the requested monetary limit may be used instead of a CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement.
Reciprocity: Tennessee does not accept other states' licenses, but has a trade exam waiver agreement for Board contractor classifications with Alabama (general, electrical, residential, HVAC), Arkansas (commercial/residential building), Louisiana (residential, commercial, electrical, mechanical), Mississippi (residential, commercial, electrical, mechanical unlimited), North Carolina (residential/commercial building, electrical), Ohio (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), South Carolina (commercial only) and West Virginia (building, electrical, mechanical, masonry). The other state completes the License Verification form. The NASCLA National Commercial exam is also accepted. The Business and Law exam is still required.

Notes

CE (full electrical) and sub-classes CE-A..CE-L. License required when electrical portion is $25,000 or more.

HighLast checked Oct 17, 2026

Sources (5)

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Limited Licensed Electrician

LLE · State license · Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors

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Renew on the official site (615) 741-2241

Renewal cycle: Every 2 years
Continuing education: Not required
Deadline rule: Expires every two years on the last day of the month the license was issued (Rule 0680-03-.05). The renewal option appears in CORE within 90 days of expiration; renew at least 30 days early to avoid working on an expired license.

Show fees, grace period, bond and insurance

Grace period: 3 months after expiration.

Fees, approximate

Renewal fee: About $50
Late fee: About $10 per month late renewal penalty, up to 3 months.
Reinstatement: Show the details (amounts are approximate)
Expired more than 3 months: apply again and meet all initial requirements. Reinstatement fee about $80 (about $50 application plus about $30 late penalty).

Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Why approximate?

Boards change fees often and some charge extra processing fees. We show a recent amount so you can plan.

Bond: Not required
Insurance: Not required
Reciprocity: Licenses from other states are not accepted, and Tennessee's trade exam waiver agreements apply only to Board contractor licenses, not to this license.

Notes

Required only for electricians working in a municipality that uses the Division of Fire Prevention for permits or inspections, and covers work under $25,000 per project. Local governments may have their own rules.

HighLast checked Oct 17, 2026

Sources (4)

How to renew

1Check your Electrical Contractor deadline: Biennial. Renewal option appears in CORE within 90 days of expiration; board asks that renewals be submitted at least 30 days before the expiration date (exact expiration date is printed on each license and is not fixed to a calendar date on the board's pages).
2Confirm your insurance meet the board requirements and are not expiring.
3Renew online at https://access.cloud.commerce.tn.gov/portal/public
4Pay the renewal fee on the official site. Expect about $200, but fees change.
5If you miss the deadline: About $20 per month late renewal penalty, up to 12 months (on top of about $200 renewal).
6Check your Limited Licensed Electrician deadline: Expires every two years on the last day of the month the license was issued (Rule 0680-03-.05). The renewal option appears in CORE within 90 days of expiration; renew at least 30 days early to avoid working on an expired license.
7Pay the renewal fee on the official site. Expect about $50, but fees change.
8If you miss the deadline: About $10 per month late renewal penalty, up to 3 months.

Tennessee Electrical renewal questions

Answers come from the records above. Informational: verify with the issuing board.

When does a Tennessee electrical license expire?

Electrical Contractor: renews every 2 years. Biennial. Renewal option appears in CORE within 90 days of expiration; board asks that renewals be submitted at least 30 days before the expiration date (exact expiration date is printed on each license and is not fixed to a calendar date on the board's pages). Limited Licensed Electrician: renews every 2 years. Expires every two years on the last day of the month the license was issued (Rule 0680-03-.05). The renewal option appears in CORE within 90 days of expiration; renew at least 30 days early to avoid working on an expired license. Check with Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors before you rely on it.

How many CE hours does a Tennessee electrical license need?

Electrical Contractor: no CE required. Limited Licensed Electrician: no CE required. Check with Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors before you rely on it.

Is there a grace period for a Tennessee electrical license?

12 months after expiration to renew late; contracting while expired is not permitted. Check with Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors before you rely on it.

How much does it cost to renew a Tennessee electrical license?

Electrical Contractor: About $200. Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

What happens if a Tennessee electrical license expires?

About $20 per month late renewal penalty, up to 12 months (on top of about $200 renewal). Fees change. Check the official site for the exact amount.

Does Tennessee accept electrical licenses from other states?

Tennessee does not accept other states' licenses, but has a trade exam waiver agreement for Board contractor classifications with Alabama (general, electrical, residential, HVAC), Arkansas (commercial/residential building), Louisiana (residential, commercial, electrical, mechanical), Mississippi (residential, commercial, electrical, mechanical unlimited), North Carolina (residential/commercial building, electrical), Ohio (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), South Carolina (commercial only) and West Virginia (building, electrical, mechanical, masonry). The other state completes the License Verification form. The NASCLA National Commercial exam is also accepted. The Business and Law exam is still required. Check with Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors before you rely on it.

Sources

Spot something out of date?

Informational only. Check it with the issuing board. Licensing rules, deadlines and CE requirements change, fee amounts are approximate, and this page can be out of date. It is not legal advice, and we are not affiliated with any state board. Read the disclaimer.

This information is here to help you plan, not to replace the board. Fee amounts are approximate and may be out of date. Deadlines and continuing education rules change too, sometimes without much notice. Always confirm with your licensing board and its official site before you rely on a date or an amount. This is not legal advice.

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