How to Get a Roofing contractor License in Tennessee (2026)

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Open the official agency page

https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors/license/get/contractor.html

Licensing Requirements

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Open the official agency page

https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors/license/get/contractor.html

The fee for an initial application is $250.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Contractor applicants must take Tennessee Business and Law; a trade exam is required for certain classifications.

Contractor applicants must take Tennessee Business and Law; a trade exam is required for certain classifications.

Contractor applicants are required to take the Tennessee “Business and Law” exam, and a trade exam is required for certain license classifications.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Attach a reference from a past client, employer or code official familiar with the applicant’s construction experience; family members cannot provide it.

Attach a reference from a past client, employer or code official familiar with the applicant’s construction experience; family members cannot provide it.

It must be completed by a past client or employer who can speak to your construction experience, or by a code official who has inspected your work. The reference does not need to be a Tennessee resident, but it cannot be a family member.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

General liability insurance is required according to the monetary limit, and workers’ compensation insurance is required unless exempt.

General liability insurance is required according to the monetary limit, and workers’ compensation insurance is required unless exempt.

General Liability insurance is required based on your monetary limit. Workers’ Compensation insurance is also required, unless proof of exemption is provided.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

$250

250

The fee for an initial application is $250.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

$200

200

Renewal Fee: $200 for a two (2) year period

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

An out-of-state license does not authorize Tennessee work; qualifying applicants may receive a trade-exam waiver through participating-state agreements.

An out-of-state license does not authorize Tennessee work; qualifying applicants may receive a trade-exam waiver through participating-state agreements.

You cannot operate in Tennessee with a license from another state. However, Tennessee has a trade exam waiver agreement with several states.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

A contractor license is required before bidding, negotiating or contracting for $25,000-or-more prime contracts. Roofing subcontractors need a license when their portion is $25,000 or more, including materials, equipment and labor.

A contractor license is required before bidding, negotiating or contracting for $25,000-or-more prime contracts. Roofing subcontractors need a license when their portion is $25,000 or more, including materials, equipment and labor.

A contractor’s license is required before contracting, including bidding, offering to engage, or negotiating a price, for projects of $25,000 or more when acting as a prime contractor, certain subcontractor, or construction manager/consultant. ... Subcontractors must be licensed when contracting directly with a contractor, not the owner, to perform electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, or roofing work when that portion of the project is $25,000 or more, including materials, equipment, and labor.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

2 years

2

Renewal Fee: $200 for a two (2) year period

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Renewal Fee: $200 for a two (2) year period

Renewal Fee: $200 for a two (2) year period Applies to: Contractor licenses

Renewal Fee: $200 for a two (2) year period

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Residential BC-A and BC-A/r contractors first licensed after January 1, 2009 must show eight hours of approved residential continuing education for renewal.

Residential BC-A and BC-A/r contractors first licensed after January 1, 2009 must show eight hours of approved residential continuing education for renewal.

contractors with a Residential (BC-A and BC-A/r) license classification, those first licensed after January 1, 2009, are now required to show proof of eight (8) RCE hours from a Board approved RCE

Last verified Oct 25, 2026