Tennessee Contractor License Verification
Verify contractor licenses through the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) — including license class, status, and expiration. Disciplinary records cross-referenced automatically. No manual lookups.
TDCI
Tennessee licensing authority
<10s
Avg verification time
$25K+
Project threshold for state license
299
Disciplinary actions in 2024
One board, a lettered class system
The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, under the Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI), licenses contractors for any project valued at $25,000 or more. Below that threshold, local jurisdictions control licensing — Nashville, Memphis, and other cities may impose their own requirements for smaller jobs.
Tennessee uses a lettered class system. The BC-A class covers residential construction, BC-B covers commercial, and BC-C covers industrial. Each class has unlimited and limited variants — limited licenses cap the single-project value a contractor can bid. Combined classes (BC-AB, BC-BC, BC-Combined) authorize work across categories.
Specialty licenses include Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) and Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP), issued by the same board. Full master electrician and plumber licenses are handled by their respective TDCI boards.
Active isn't enough — check the class and limit.
A Tennessee contractor can hold an active license and still be out of bounds on your project. A BC-b (commercial limited) license caps a single project at $1.5 million. A limited industrial license caps at $500,000. Bidding above the limit exposes both the contractor and the hiring party to compliance risk.
CredentialClear returns the full license class and status from the TDCI registry so you can verify the contractor is both active and appropriately classified for the work before you sign.
Tennessee single-project limits by class
BC-A (Residential — Unlimited)
No project value cap
BC-A(b) (Residential — Limited)
Capped — check license for specific limit
BC-B (Commercial — Unlimited)
No project value cap
BC-b (Commercial — Limited)
Projects under $1,500,000
BC-C (Industrial — Unlimited)
No project value cap
BC-C (Industrial — Limited)
Projects under $500,000
More than the TDCI portal gives you.
The TDCI portal confirms whether a license exists. CredentialClear tells you everything you need to verify a contractor's credentials before you hire.
Live TDCI Data
Results pulled directly from the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance contractor registry — license class, status, and expiration returned in real time.
Violation Cross-Reference
Automatically checked against TDCI disciplinary actions, civil penalties, and license revocations published under T.C.A. § 62-6-139.
Google Reviews
See ratings and review counts alongside license status — without leaving the platform.
License Monitoring
Flag Tennessee contractors for ongoing tracking. Get notified if their TDCI license status changes or expires.
Tennessee contractor license verification — answered.
Does Tennessee require a contractor license?
Yes — Tennessee requires a license from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors for any project with a contract price of $25,000 or more (including labor and materials). Below that threshold, licensing is handled at the local jurisdiction level. The license requirement applies to general contractors and specialty contractors alike.
What contractor license classes does Tennessee use?
Tennessee uses a lettered class system. BC-A covers residential construction (unlimited or limited variants). BC-B covers commercial construction (unlimited, or limited for projects under $1.5M). BC-C covers industrial construction (unlimited or limited for projects under $500K). Combined classes (BC-AB, BC-BC, BC-Combined) authorize work across categories. Specialty licenses include Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) and Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP).
What is the difference between an unlimited and limited Tennessee contractor license?
An unlimited license (e.g., BC-B) authorizes a contractor to bid any size project within that class. A limited license caps the contractor's single-project value — for example, BC-b (commercial limited) covers projects under $1.5M, and BC-C limited covers projects under $500K. Always check both the class and the limit before hiring.
How do I verify a Tennessee contractor license?
Tennessee contractor licenses are issued by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI). CredentialClear searches the TDCI public registry directly — returning license class, status, expiration, and qualifying agent information by contractor name, business name, or license number.
Who licenses electricians and plumbers in Tennessee?
General electricians and plumbers in Tennessee are licensed by their respective state boards under TDCI — the Electrical Contractors Board and the Plumbing Board. Limited Licensed Electricians (LLE) and Limited Licensed Plumbers (LLP) are licensed by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors and are included in CredentialClear results.
Does Tennessee publish contractor disciplinary actions?
Yes. Tennessee law (T.C.A. § 62-6-139) requires the Board for Licensing Contractors to post disciplinary actions publicly. In 2024, the board received 884 complaints and issued 299 disciplinary actions totaling over $990,000 in civil penalties. CredentialClear cross-references contractor names against TDCI enforcement records automatically.