Electrician licenses in
Tennessee
Tennessee licenses some electricians statewide and leaves the rest to cities and counties.
Official search run by Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance) at search.cloud.commerce.tn.gov.
What the license should say
In Tennessee you'll see one of these on an electrician's card, bid or truck:
- Contractor license, Electrical (CE) classification
- Business entity licensed for electrical projects of $25,000 or more, with a qualifying agent who passed the exams.
- Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE)
- Individual licensed by exam for projects under $25,000 in areas that use the state Division of Fire Prevention for permits and inspections.
Hiring a company, not a person?
A state contractor license with the CE classification is required for electrical projects of $25,000 or more; smaller jobs need an LLE in state-inspected areas or a local license where the city or county licenses electricians.
Doing it yourself
A residential property owner may buy an individual-use electrical permit and do wiring on a single residence for their own use and not for resale or rent without a contractor or LLE license, under Rule 0680-01-.22 (State Fire Marshal electrical permit FAQ).
Before you hire
- Contractor licensing in Tennessee (small-job limits, bonds, permits)
- How to check a license in Tennessee, step by step
- Before-you-hire checklist (one page, free PDF)
- File a complaint about an electrician (opens official site)
Keep this handy
We'll email you the one-page before-you-hire checklist, plus occasional tips on hiring safely.