Contractor License Renewal in Tennessee (2026)

Contractor license renewal in Tennessee is handled by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance), which requires General Contractors to renew every 24 months. Below are the renewal deadline rule, continuing-education (CE) hours, fees, and a direct link to the official renewal page — last verified 2026-06-01. This is an unofficial guide; always confirm the details with the board before you file.

Tennessee Contractor renewal at a glance

Renewal cycle	24 months
Deadline rule	License renews biennially (every 2 years) by the license expiration date. Renewal becomes available in the CORE account once within 90 days of expiration; the board recommends submitting at least 30 days before expiration. A $20/month late fee accrues after expiration. A license expired more than 12 months cannot be renewed and must be reinstated through a new application.
CE hours required	None required
Renewal fee	$200.00
Online renewal	Yes
Governing body	Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance)

Go to the official Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance) renewal page →

Last verified 2026-06-01 from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance). automated research workflow (official tennessee contractor board), confidence high.

Continuing-education requirements for Contractors in Tennessee

No continuing education is required for general/commercial (BC) contractor renewal. CE applies only to Residential classifications: per Tenn. Code Ann. 62-6-112(g), contractors holding a Residential (BC-A or BC-A/r) classification who were first licensed after January 1, 2009 must show proof of 8 RCE (residential continuing education) hours from a board-approved provider as a condition of renewal. Separately, every contractor must attach a current financial statement at each renewal (CPA-compiled if the monetary limit exceeds $1,500,000), plus proof of workers' comp and general liability insurance.

Need approved hours? Compare Tennessee Contractor CE courses (some links are affiliate links).

How to renew your Contractor license in Tennessee

Confirm your renewal deadline and current status on the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance) portal.
Submit the renewal application and pay the current fee online.
Keep proof of CE and your renewal confirmation for your records.

Good to know: Tennessee licenses general/building contractors at the state level via the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (a "Contractor" license, e.g., BC = building/commercial, BC-A = residential) for any project $25,000 or more (including labor and materials), and HVAC/mechanical/electrical/plumbing/roofing $25,000+; the state also licenses Home Improvement Contractors, Limited Licensed Electricians, and Limited Licensed Plumbers. Renewal fee $200 and monthly late fee $20 are verified directly from the official Contractor's License Renewal form (IN-0438, Rev. 10/2025). Online renewal is via the CORE portal (core.tn.gov). Each renewal also requires a current financial statement supporting the monetary limit and a Certificate of Insurance — failure to attach these prevents renewal. Note ce_hours_required is set to 0 because the standard general/commercial contractor renewal has no CE requirement; residential-classification holders (post-Jan 1, 2009) must complete 8 RCE hours.

Contractor license renewal in Tennessee: frequently asked questions

How often do I renew my Contractor license in Tennessee?

Tennessee Contractor licenses renew every 24 months. License renews biennially (every 2 years) by the license expiration date. Renewal becomes available in the CORE account once within 90 days of expiration; the board recommends submitting at least 30 days before expiration. A $20/month late fee accrues after expiration. A license expired more than 12 months cannot be renewed and must be reinstated through a new application.

How many CE hours are required to renew an Contractor license in Tennessee?

Tennessee does not require continuing-education hours to renew a standard Contractor license. No continuing education is required for general/commercial (BC) contractor renewal. CE applies only to Residential classifications: per Tenn. Code Ann. 62-6-112(g), contractors holding a Residential (BC-A or BC-A/r) classification who were first licensed after January 1, 2009 must show proof of 8 RCE (residential continuing education) hours from a board-approved provider as a condition of renewal. Separately, every contractor must attach a current financial statement at each renewal (CPA-compiled if the monetary limit exceeds $1,500,000), plus proof of workers' comp and general liability insurance. Confirm the current rule with the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance).

Can I renew my Tennessee Contractor license online?

Yes — Tennessee offers online renewal through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance). Use the official link on this page.

What happens if I let my Tennessee Contractor license expire?

Practicing on an expired license is generally prohibited and can carry penalties. A late fee of about $20 may apply. Contact the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance) promptly if your license has lapsed.

Renew the same license in another state

All states: General Contractor renewal