A Tennessee LLE (Limited Licensed Electrician) license lets you do electrical jobs under $25,000 where the state handles electrical permits. To get one, pass Prov's 40-question LLE exam on the 2017 NEC ($53), then file the $50 application in CORE, Tennessee's online licensing system. There's no experience requirement, no business and law exam and no continuing education. The Board for Licensing Contractors issues it, and it isn't accepted in the cities and counties that run their own electrical permits.
| Quick look | Tennessee LLE license |
|---|---|
| Who issues it | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors |
| Job limit | Under $25,000 per project, labor and materials included (LLE application packet) |
| Experience | None required (LLE application packet) |
| Exam | 40 questions, 2 hours, 73% to pass, open book, 2017 NEC (Prov bulletin) |
| Cost to get it | $103: $53 exam plus $50 application |
| Renewal | Every 2 years, $50, no continuing education (LLE packet, renewal page) |
| Where it doesn't work | Cities and counties that run their own permits, including Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis (full list below) |
Studying for the LLE exam? JCR's $495 Tennessee self-study package is built on the 2017 NEC, the edition on Prov's LLE exam. You get video lessons, digital practice exams and JCR's workbook. Videos and practice exams open right after you order, and the workbook ships the same business day.
What the LLE lets you do
The LLE is a license for you as an electrician, not for a company. Per the state's application packet:
- Jobs under $25,000. The total includes labor and materials.
- No splitting jobs. You can't break a project into phases to stay under the limit.
- Not a contractor. You can't call yourself a contractor or advertise as an electrical contractor.
- Not a journeyman or master license. The packet says the LLE exam isn't comparable to those exams.
Jobs of $25,000 or more need a state contractor's license with the CE (electrical contractor) classification, which the state accepts statewide. JCR's Tennessee license guide covers the CE route.
Where the LLE isn't accepted
The LLE only works where the state's Division of Fire Prevention issues electrical permits. These cities and counties run their own permits and don't accept it:
| Region | Cities and counties where the LLE isn't accepted |
|---|---|
| East Tennessee | Athens, Bristol, Cleveland, Elizabethton, all of Hamilton County (including Chattanooga), Johnson City, Kingsport, Knoxville, Maryville, Morristown and Oak Ridge |
| Middle Tennessee | Clarksville, Cookeville, Franklin, Gallatin, Hendersonville, McMinnville, Mt. Juliet, Murfreesboro, Nashville/Davidson County, Smyrna and Spring Hill |
| West Tennessee | Jackson and all of Shelby County (including Memphis, Bartlett, Collierville and Germantown) |
Source: Tennessee State Fire Marshal's Office, exempt jurisdictions list (updated May 22, 2026).
Most city entries apply inside city limits only. In these places, follow the local license rules. Some issue their own journeyman or master licenses. Working in Shelby County? See JCR's Memphis/Shelby County license guide. Anywhere else, the state's LLE page says to check with your local government first.
How to get a Tennessee LLE license
- Book the LLE exam with Prov. You don't need Board approval first. The exam costs $53, and you can test at a Prov center or at home with a live online proctor.
- Pass the exam. Bring the 2017 NEC, Ugly's Electrical References (2020) and OSHA 29 CFR 1926, the open-book references in Prov's bulletin. If you fail, you can retest after 1 day. See the topic breakdown in JCR's Tennessee exam guide.
- Apply in CORE. File the Initial Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) Application in CORE with the $50 fee, your exam score, a copy of your photo ID and proof of U.S. citizenship or qualified alien status. Paper applications take 2 weeks or more.
The state's LLE page and packet still name PSI and list older exam details. Prov's bulletin covers the current exam, so go by Prov.
Renewing your LLE
- Every 2 years. Your license expires on the last day of the month it was issued (Rule 0680-03-.05).
- Renew in CORE for $50. The option shows up 90 days before expiration.
- No continuing education. The LLE renewal asks only for the application and fee.
- Late renewal. You get a 3-month grace period with a $10-per-month late fee. After 3 months, you file a new application ($80, including a $30 penalty), and the Board can require you to pass the exam again (renewal page, Rule 0680-03-.05).
Tennessee LLE questions
Do I need experience to get a Tennessee LLE?
No. The state's application packet says no experience and no preapproval are needed to take the LLE exam. You pass the exam, then apply.
Is the Tennessee LLE a journeyman license?
No. The LLE is its own license for jobs under $25,000. Tennessee's packet says the LLE exam is not comparable to a journeyman or master exam.
Can I use my LLE in Nashville, Knoxville or Memphis?
No. Those areas run their own electrical permits and don't accept the state LLE. Follow their local license rules there, or get a statewide CE contractor license.
Does the Tennessee LLE need continuing education?
No. The application packet says there are no continuing education requirements. You renew every 2 years in CORE for $50.
Can I transfer an out-of-state license to a Tennessee LLE?
No. Tennessee has no out-of-state reciprocal agreements for the LLE. Every applicant passes the LLE exam.
Pass the LLE exam the first time
JCR's Tennessee package teaches the 2017 NEC lookups and calculations the LLE exam tests. Try the free 2017 NEC practice test to see where you stand. Then give it 6–8 weeks, about an hour a night.
More Tennessee guides
Sources JCR checked
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors: Limited Licensed Electrician
- TN Board: LLE application packet
- Prov: Tennessee candidate bulletin (accessed October 21, 2026)
- TN State Fire Marshal: exempt jurisdictions (May 22, 2026)
- TN Board: license renewal
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-03-.05
JCR checked these facts against the state's pages and Prov's bulletin on October 21, 2026.