Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors · checked 2026-10-21
Tennessee HVAC License Requirements
HVAC projects of $25,000 or more need a state contractor license with the CMC or CMC-C classification, as prime or subcontractor. The state pages read describe no separate state HVAC credential below that amount. Contractor license, HVAC (CMC or CMC-C classification): the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- 1CMC-C · Contractor license, HVAC (CMC or CMC-C classification) time not stated
License levels in Tennessee
Tennessee has one credential on this path: the Contractor license, HVAC (CMC or CMC-C classification).
| Level | Experience | Classroom | Time from start | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMC-C Contractor license, HVAC (CMC or CMC-C classification) | none stated | — | time not stated | Yes (PSI) | Not printed |
Contractor license, HVAC (CMC or CMC-C classification) (CMC-C)
Required for HVAC projects of $25,000 or more, as a prime contractor or subcontractor. Contractor exams are given only by PSI; no exam prep class is required. Source: TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Other licenses regulated.
Exam
1 of the 1 level listed here requires an exam: Contractor license, HVAC (CMC or CMC-C classification). The source does not print a pass mark. Testing vendor named: PSI.
Fees
The Tennessee source read prints no dollar amounts for this license. The page read prints no fee amounts.
When a license is needed: The state contractor license applies to projects of $25,000 or more, counting materials and labor; projects cannot be split into phases to stay under the threshold. (TN, Who needs a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license?)
Reciprocity
The Tennessee sources read for this trade name no reciprocity agreement and no route for out-of-state licensees.
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee's source states no minimum time for the contractor license, hvac (cmc or cmc-c classification), so it is not ranked against the other states on this site.
Same trade elsewhere: California · Texas · Florida · Ohio · Georgia. All states side by side: HVAC license requirements by state.
Other trades in Tennessee
- Electrician: Contractor license, electrical (CE): the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- Plumber: Contractor license, plumbing classification: the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
- General contractor: Contractor license, building classification (BC-A, BC, BC-B): the source states no minimum time, plus an exam.
All covered trades on one page: Tennessee trade licenses.
Background reading: From apprentice to master: how long each state takes · How trade license exams work.
Questions
Who issues the hvac license in Tennessee?
Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, Department of Commerce and Insurance. HVAC projects of $25,000 or more need a state contractor license with the CMC or CMC-C classification, as prime or subcontractor. The state pages read describe no separate state HVAC credential below that amount.
How long does it take to qualify for the Contractor license, HVAC (CMC or CMC-C classification) in Tennessee?
The source read (TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Other licenses regulated) states no minimum time for the Contractor license, HVAC (CMC or CMC-C classification). Required for HVAC projects of $25,000 or more, as a prime contractor or subcontractor. Contractor exams are given only by PSI; no exam prep class is required.
Does Tennessee have hvac license reciprocity?
The Tennessee sources read name no reciprocity agreement for this trade.
Sources and last checked
| What | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, Department of Commerce and Insurance | 2026-10-21 |
| CMC-C requirements | TN Board for Licensing Contractors, Other licenses regulated | 2026-10-21 |
| Law cited | Board for Licensing Contractors, Other licenses regulated (statute not read) | 2026-10-21 |
This page summarises what the Tennessee source said on 2026-10-21. It is general information, not legal advice; the board's own page and the statute are the authority and can change. Confirm with Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors before applying. The free official route is the board itself: its page, application forms and staff answer eligibility questions.