Do you need CMC-A or LLP in Tennessee?
Tennessee uses two different plumbing credentials. CMC-A is the plumbing classification on a full contractor license. LLP is a limited individual license for smaller work in certain jurisdictions.
Tennessee requires a contractor’s license before bidding, offering to engage, negotiating, or contracting on a project of $25,000 or more. Plumbing subcontractors also need the contractor license when their portion reaches $25,000, including materials, equipment, and labor. (Tennessee contractor requirements)
The LLP covers work under $25,000 per project and is only required in a municipality using the Division of Fire Prevention for permits or inspections. Tennessee tells plumbers to ask the local government whether it accepts LLP or requires a local license. (Tennessee LLP requirements)
| If your work looks like this | Start with |
|---|---|
| Prime contract or plumbing subcontract of $25,000 or more | CMC-A contractor classification |
| Plumbing work under $25,000 in an LLP-accepting jurisdiction | LLP |
| Work in a city or county with its own plumbing-license rule | The local permit office’s requirement |
Do not split a larger job into smaller contracts to avoid contractor licensing. Price the full project and the plumbing portion before you decide which credential applies.
How the CMC-A contractor classification works
CMC-A sits on the company’s contractor license; it is not a statewide journeyman or master-plumber card. The applicant company designates a qualifying agent to take the required exam or exams.
All contractor applicants must take Tennessee Business and Law. CMC-A also requires the plumbing trade exam unless a valid trade-exam waiver applies. (Tennessee contractor requirements) Board pre-approval is required before a candidate may take the plumbing CMC-A exam. The Board charges $50 for that pre-approval request. (Tennessee exam information)
The current state pages do not publish a three-year CMC-A experience minimum, so this guide does not repeat the old three-year claim. Use the current pre-approval form and the Board’s response to determine what proof is required for your candidate.
After testing, the company still must satisfy the financial-evidence or surety-bond route, reference, insurance, affidavit, entity-registration, and application requirements. For how the monetary limit affects a broader contractor application, see the Tennessee contractor-license guide.
When the Limited Licensed Plumber credential works
The LLP is the smaller credential, but its scope is narrow. The LLP license is issued to individuals who pass the LLP trade exam. The current state page lists photo identification, a Social Security number, and the Prov-administered trade exam as licensing requirements. (Tennessee LLP requirements)
General maintenance work under $500 is exempt from the LLP license. That exemption does not turn a larger plumbing job into maintenance, and it does not answer local permit requirements.
Before quoting an LLP job:
- Ask the city or county which plumbing credential it accepts.
- Confirm that the entire project remains under $25,000.
- Confirm who may pull the permit and request inspections.
- Keep the local answer with the estimate and job file.
If you are still sorting out the usual education, experience, exam, and local-license layers, the general plumbing-license roadmap provides the wider context.
Applications, fees, and the new surety-bond option
Tennessee’s posted state fees are straightforward. The initial contractor-license fee is $250, while contractor renewal is $200. The LLP initial or reinstatement fee is $75, and LLP renewal is $50. (Tennessee contractor fee schedule) These Board fees do not include exam-provider charges, insurance, entity registration, accounting work, bond premium, or local permits.
The biggest 2026 change is financial qualification. Beginning July 1, 2026, contractors may use a Board-approved surety bond instead of a CPA-reviewed or CPA-audited financial statement. The bond must equal at least 50% of the requested monetary limit. (Tennessee contractor requirements)
Applicants using financial statements still follow the published thresholds: reviewed statements for limits of $3 million or less and audited statements above $3 million. The Board calculates a monetary limit from financial capacity and required experience. General liability insurance is tied to the limit, and workers’ compensation is required unless the applicant supplies proof of exemption.
The bond option changes the financial document route; it does not remove testing, insurance, affidavits, references, or the $250 application fee. Build a complete budget with the contractor-license cost checklist, not just the Board fee.
How CMC-A exams work through Prov
Beginning July 1, 2026, Prov administers new Tennessee contractor trade-exam appointments. (Tennessee exam information)
The contractor exam is open-book. Contractor exam results are typically valid for two years. Board pre-approval is required before a candidate may take the plumbing CMC-A exam. Arrange appointments under Prov’s current instructions, and make sure the approval is in hand before the candidate takes the plumbing trade exam. The working order is:
- Choose the company’s qualifying agent.
- Submit the CMC-A pre-approval request and $50 fee.
- Arrange Business and Law and plumbing trade-exam appointments under Prov’s current instructions.
- Obtain Board pre-approval before the candidate takes the plumbing trade exam.
- Assemble the rest of the contractor application while the exam results remain valid.
The person taking Business and Law does not have to be the person taking the trade exam, and the Board allows up to two people to take each exam for the company. That flexibility helps a company assign the business test and technical test to the right people.
Reciprocity is a trade-exam waiver, not a license transfer
An out-of-state license does not authorize work in Tennessee. The Board says applicants may qualify for a trade-exam waiver through agreements with participating states, but they must still obtain the Tennessee license. (Tennessee contractor reciprocity rules)
For plumbing, the Board’s list specifically names Ohio plumbing and South Carolina commercial plumbing. Other states list broader mechanical classifications, so the classification match matters. Have the participating state complete Tennessee’s license-verification form and return it with the application.
The trade-exam waiver applies only to the contractor-license program; it does not apply to LLP. A waiver also does not remove Tennessee Business and Law, financial qualification or the surety-bond alternative, insurance, entity registration, or the application fee.
Treat reciprocity as one exam decision, not a transferred license.
Tennessee plumbing-license FAQ
When is CMC-A required for Tennessee plumbing work?
Tennessee requires a contractor’s license before bidding, offering to engage, negotiating, or contracting on a project of $25,000 or more. (Tennessee contractor requirements) CMC-A is the plumbing classification.
What does the LLP cover?
The LLP covers work under $25,000 per project and is only required in a municipality using the Division of Fire Prevention for permits or inspections. (Tennessee LLP requirements) Ask the local permit office whether it accepts LLP.
How much are the state application fees?
The initial contractor-license fee is $250, while contractor renewal is $200. The LLP initial or reinstatement fee is $75, and LLP renewal is $50. (Tennessee contractor fee schedule)
Can I use a bond instead of a financial statement?
Beginning July 1, 2026, contractors may use a Board-approved surety bond instead of a CPA-reviewed or CPA-audited financial statement. The bond must equal at least 50% of the requested monetary limit. (Tennessee contractor requirements)
Does reciprocity transfer my out-of-state license?
An out-of-state license does not authorize work in Tennessee. (Tennessee contractor reciprocity rules) A matching agreement may waive the trade exam, but the applicant still needs a Tennessee contractor license, and the waiver does not apply to LLP.