Tennessee LLE License & Practice Test Guide (2026)

Tennessee has no statewide journeyman or master electrician license. Instead, the state offers the Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) permit through the Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) for smaller projects, and the electrical contractor (CE classification) license through the Board for Licensing Contractors for larger work. Some jurisdictions, such as Memphis and Shelby County, issue their own local licenses. See our Tennessee state exam prep page for practice questions aligned to the Tennessee Prov exam.

This guide covers every requirement, fee, and step for 2026.

Disclaimer: Requirements and fees change. Always verify current details directly with the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance and your local jurisdiction before applying.

Overview: Tennessee Electrical Licensing

Tennessee's electrical credentials break down into three tracks:

1. Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE): A state permit for electrical projects under $25,000 [Source: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/news/2016/1/4/consumer-affairs-offers-tips-on-selecting-contractors.html], administered by TDCI. The LLE is valid in areas where the state Division of Fire Prevention handles permits and inspections; check local acceptance first, because some cities and counties run their own programs.
2. Electrical contractor (CE classification): Issued by the Board for Licensing Contractors, required for electrical projects of $25,000 or more.
3. Local licenses: Jurisdictions such as Memphis and Shelby County issue their own electrician licenses with their own requirements.

Exams are based on the NEC, and Tennessee's largest markets, Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, offer strong demand for licensed electricians, driven by continued commercial and residential growth.

Types of Tennessee Electrician Credentials

Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) Requirements

To qualify for a Tennessee LLE permit:

Work Experience: Documented electrical experience. Verify the current experience requirement with TDCI before applying.

Age: Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Application: Submit a completed application with experience documentation and applicable fees to TDCI.

Examination: Pass the LLE exam administered by Prov: 40 questions, 2 hours, 73% to pass, per the current Prov candidate bulletin. [Source: https://tnboi.provexam.com/TNContractor]

Scope check: Before relying on the LLE, confirm that the jurisdiction where you plan to work uses state inspections rather than its own local licensing program.

The Prov Exam: Format & Preparation

Tennessee's LLE exam is administered by Prov at testing centers across the state, including locations in the Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga areas.

Exam Details:

• Administrator: Prov
• Format: Multiple-choice, open book
• Code Reference: NEC 2017 is the edition on the Prov reference list for the LLE exam (bring a tabbed, highlighted copy) [Source: https://tnboi.provexam.com/TNContractor]
• Passing Score: 73% (Prov candidate bulletin, July 2026 edition) [Source: https://tnboi.provexam.com/TNContractor]
• Scheduling: Schedule through Prov at provexam.com after your application is approved

The open-book format means you can bring your NEC codebook, but finding answers quickly under time pressure is the real challenge. Most candidates who fail do so because they're unfamiliar with the NEC's layout, not because they don't know the material.

Preparation Tips:

• Study NEC Articles 100, 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 310, 410, 430, and 700
• Practice time management, aim to answer each question in under 90 seconds
• Use tabbed and highlighted code books; learn table locations (Tables 310.16, 220.12, etc.)
• Take timed practice exams under realistic conditions

Our practice questions are built on the NEC 2023 codebase; core exam concepts (grounding, conductor sizing, box fill, services) carry across editions, but always drill table lookups in the 2017 codebook you will carry into the TN exam.

Step-by-Step Application Process (LLE)

1. Document your electrical experience (verify the current requirement with TDCI)
2. Confirm the LLE applies where you plan to work (state-inspected areas)
3. Submit your application with experience verification and payment
4. Schedule your exam through Prov at provexam.com after approval
5. Pass the Prov LLE exam at the score in the current candidate bulletin
6. Receive your LLE permit and keep it current with renewals

Fees

All fees should be verified before submitting:

Fees are subject to change. Always confirm current amounts before paying.

License Renewal & Continuing Education

Renewal cycles and any continuing education requirements depend on the credential. Verify the current requirements with TDCI for the LLE permit and with the Board for Licensing Contractors for the CE contractor license before your renewal date.

Electrical Contractor License (CE Classification)

For electrical projects of $25,000 or more, Tennessee requires an electrical contractor license with the CE classification from the Board for Licensing Contractors. Requirements include:

• Passing the required trade exam (administered by Prov) and business and law exam
• Financial statement and net worth requirements
• Application, fees, and insurance

Verify exact requirements with the Board for Licensing Contractors at tn.gov/commerce, as contractor requirements differ substantially from the LLE permit.

Local Licensing

Some Tennessee jurisdictions run their own electrician licensing programs instead of relying on the state's LLE system. Memphis and Shelby County are the most notable, issuing their own electrician licenses through the local code enforcement office. Before applying for any credential, contact the building or codes department where you plan to work to confirm which license it requires.

Reciprocity & Endorsement

There is no statewide journeyman license, so there is no journeyman reciprocity. The Board for Licensing Contractors has trade exam reciprocity arrangements with some states for contractor licensing. Contact the board to determine whether your out-of-state credential qualifies and what documentation is required.

Tennessee Electrical Market Outlook

Tennessee's construction sector has sustained significant growth, driven by major industrial investments in Middle and East Tennessee and continued residential growth in the Nashville metropolitan area. Licensed electricians in Tennessee benefit from:

• Strong residential housing demand in Nashville suburbs
• Major industrial and manufacturing expansions statewide
• Commercial development in Memphis and Knoxville markets
• Infrastructure work along the I-40 and I-65 corridors

Holding the right credential for your project size and jurisdiction is the baseline requirement to access this market legally.

Official Resources

• Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance: tn.gov/commerce
• Board for Licensing Contractors: tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors
• Prov (exam scheduling): provexam.com
• NEC 2017 Codebook (the edition on the Prov LLE reference list): Available at NFPA.org or major electrical supply houses

Ready to Pass the Tennessee Exam?

GetLicenseReady's practice questions mirror the Tennessee Prov exam format (40 questions, 2 hours, 73% to pass), covering the articles and calculation types you'll face on test day.

Related reading: How Long Does It Take to Get an Electrician License? | Journeyman vs. Master Electrician: What's the Difference? | How to Pass the Electrician Exam on Your First Try

Practice and Free Tools for the Tennessee Exam

The LLE exam is 40 questions in 2 hours with a 73 percent pass mark, so there is no room to lose time hunting through the code book on a calculation.

• Full-length Tennessee exam simulator, timed to the real question count and pass mark, with a score report against the actual passing score. The first 10 questions are free.
• Tennessee practice questions, every answer citing its exact NEC article.
• Tennessee exam facts page, format, fees, vendor, and the NEC edition tested, with the date each was last verified.

Free NEC calculators, no account required:

• Box fill calculator, All five counting rules from 314.16(B).
• Voltage drop calculator, The formula and the 3 percent recommendation.
• Conduit fill calculator, Chapter 9 Tables 1, 4, and 5.

All eleven are on the free electrician tools page, each with the method, a worked example, and the code sections it comes from.