Tennessee Contractor License Renewal (BLC)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

In Tennessee you need a contractor license from the Board for Licensing Contractors before bidding or contracting on a project of $25,000 or more as a prime contractor (certain subcontractors need one too, such as electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and roofing subcontractors when their part is $25,000 or more). The license belongs to the business, lasts two years, and renewing it means uploading a current certificate of insurance and a financial statement, not just paying the fee.

At a glance

Renews every: 2 years: a contractor license expires on the last day of the 24th month after it was issued or last renewed
Renewal opens: The board sends a renewal notice 90 days before expiration, and the renewal option shows up in your CORE account then
Deadline: The board needs the renewal at least 30 days before the expiration date so the license doesn't expire while it's being processed. On the expiration date the license is invalid unless renewed
Fee: $200 renewal fee. Renewing late adds a $20 late fee for each month, for up to 12 months
Insurance: Upload a certificate of insurance for general liability with the Board as certificate holder. Minimum coverage depends on your monetary limit: $100,000 up to a $500,000 limit, $500,000 up to $1,500,000, and $1,000,000 above that
Workers' comp: Proof of current workers' compensation coverage, or of your exemption registration, unless you claim the handyman exemption
Financial statement: Dated within 12 months, in the licensed name: one you prepare yourself if your monetary limit is $1,500,000 or less, a compilation by a licensed public accountant or CPA above that. Since July 1, 2026, a surety bond of at least 50% of your monetary limit can stand in for it
Continuing education: Residential contractors (BC-A, BC-A/r and BC-A,b(sm)) first licensed on or after January 1, 2009 need 8 hours of Board-approved residential CE in the two years before expiration, completed by one qualifying agent. No carryover
Renew: Online through your CORE account, uploading the documents with the application, or on the board's paper renewal form by mail. Corporations and LLCs also need proof of active status with the Secretary of State
Late window: After the expiration date you can still renew for up to 12 months, with the late fee. After 12 months you must apply for a new license and meet every requirement for initial licensure

Home improvement licenses, Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) and Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) licenses from the same board run on shorter rules: a 3-month grace period with a $10 monthly late fee, after which you apply again.

The board asks insurers to tell it 10 days before a policy is cancelled, and a cancellation makes the license invalid. Keep the certificate on file current, not just the one you upload at renewal.

Questions about your renewal: Contractors.Home-Improvement@tn.gov or (615) 741-8307.

How to renew

Find the expiration date on your license or the state's license lookup: the last day of the 24th month after it was issued or last renewed.
Ask your insurance agent for a general liability certificate naming the Board for Licensing Contractors as certificate holder, with coverage that meets your monetary limit's minimum, and get your workers' comp certificate or exemption registration.
Prepare a financial statement dated within the last 12 months, and, if your residential license owes CE (first licensed on or after January 1, 2009), the certificate for your 8 hours.
Renew in CORE once the option appears 90 days out, uploading everything with the application, and submit at least 30 days before expiration.
Don't bid or contract until the board shows the license as active: an expired license is invalid.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

120 days outFind the expiration date. If your residential license owes CE (first licensed on or after January 1, 2009), book the 8 hours with a Board-approved provider.
90 days outWatch for the renewal notice: the renewal option appears in your CORE account now.
60 days outCollect a general liability COI naming the Board as certificate holder, your workers' comp certificate or exemption, and a financial statement dated within 12 months.
30 days outSubmit the renewal in CORE with every document and the $200 fee: the board asks for it by now so the license doesn't lapse while it's processed.
Expiration dateNot renewed? The license is invalid: stop bidding and contracting. You can still renew for 12 months, with a $20 late fee per month.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

The general liability certificate on file with the board: if the policy is cancelled, the license is invalid
Surety bond, if you use one in place of a financial statement: it must stay in force while you're licensed
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Tennessee contractor license?

Every two years. A contractor license expires on the last day of the 24th month after it was issued or last renewed.

How much does it cost to renew a Tennessee contractor license?

The renewal fee is $200. Renewing late adds a $20 late fee for each month, for up to 12 months.

Do Tennessee contractors need continuing education to renew?

Residential contractors (BC-A, BC-A/r and BC-A,b(sm)) first licensed on or after January 1, 2009 need 8 hours of Board-approved residential CE in the two years before expiration, completed by one qualifying agent.

What happens if my Tennessee contractor license expires?

On the expiration date the license is invalid unless renewed. You can still renew for up to 12 months, with the late fee. After 12 months you must apply for a new license and meet every requirement for initial licensure.

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Tennessee guides

Tennessee Limited Licensed Electrician and Plumber Renewal

All Tennessee guides on one page

General contractor guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for general contractors

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet

Tennessee Contractor License Renewal (BLC)

Last reviewed October 2026 · 4 min read

At a glance

Renews every: 2 years: a contractor license expires on the last day of the 24th month after it was issued or last renewed
Renewal opens: The board sends a renewal notice 90 days before expiration, and the renewal option shows up in your CORE account then
Deadline: The board needs the renewal at least 30 days before the expiration date so the license doesn't expire while it's being processed. On the expiration date the license is invalid unless renewed
Fee: $200 renewal fee. Renewing late adds a $20 late fee for each month, for up to 12 months
Insurance: Upload a certificate of insurance for general liability with the Board as certificate holder. Minimum coverage depends on your monetary limit: $100,000 up to a $500,000 limit, $500,000 up to $1,500,000, and $1,000,000 above that
Workers' comp: Proof of current workers' compensation coverage, or of your exemption registration, unless you claim the handyman exemption
Financial statement: Dated within 12 months, in the licensed name: one you prepare yourself if your monetary limit is $1,500,000 or less, a compilation by a licensed public accountant or CPA above that. Since July 1, 2026, a surety bond of at least 50% of your monetary limit can stand in for it
Continuing education: Residential contractors (BC-A, BC-A/r and BC-A,b(sm)) first licensed on or after January 1, 2009 need 8 hours of Board-approved residential CE in the two years before expiration, completed by one qualifying agent. No carryover
Renew: Online through your CORE account, uploading the documents with the application, or on the board's paper renewal form by mail. Corporations and LLCs also need proof of active status with the Secretary of State
Late window: After the expiration date you can still renew for up to 12 months, with the late fee. After 12 months you must apply for a new license and meet every requirement for initial licensure

The board asks insurers to tell it 10 days before a policy is cancelled, and a cancellation makes the license invalid. Keep the certificate on file current, not just the one you upload at renewal.

Questions about your renewal: Contractors.Home-Improvement@tn.gov or (615) 741-8307.

How to renew

Find the expiration date on your license or the state's license lookup: the last day of the 24th month after it was issued or last renewed.
Ask your insurance agent for a general liability certificate naming the Board for Licensing Contractors as certificate holder, with coverage that meets your monetary limit's minimum, and get your workers' comp certificate or exemption registration.
Prepare a financial statement dated within the last 12 months, and, if your residential license owes CE (first licensed on or after January 1, 2009), the certificate for your 8 hours.
Renew in CORE once the option appears 90 days out, uploading everything with the application, and submit at least 30 days before expiration.
Don't bid or contract until the board shows the license as active: an expired license is invalid.

Still tracking this in a spreadsheet? On a paid plan, get emailed 90, 60, 30, 7 and 1 days before it expires, by default.

Start free

Deadline checklist

120 days outFind the expiration date. If your residential license owes CE (first licensed on or after January 1, 2009), book the 8 hours with a Board-approved provider.
90 days outWatch for the renewal notice: the renewal option appears in your CORE account now.
60 days outCollect a general liability COI naming the Board as certificate holder, your workers' comp certificate or exemption, and a financial statement dated within 12 months.
30 days outSubmit the renewal in CORE with every document and the $200 fee: the board asks for it by now so the license doesn't lapse while it's processed.
Expiration dateNot renewed? The license is invalid: stop bidding and contracting. You can still renew for 12 months, with a $20 late fee per month.

Put this renewal in your calendar

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

The license isn't the only thing expiring

Most lapses that cost contractors work aren't the license itself. They're one of these, renewing on a different date:

The general liability certificate on file with the board: if the policy is cancelled, the license is invalid
Surety bond, if you use one in place of a financial statement: it must stay in force while you're licensed
General liability insurance policy
Workers' compensation policy (or exemption)
Certificates of insurance (COIs) you've given to clients and GCs
Commercial auto insurance

LicenseLedger keeps every one of those dates in one place and emails you before each one expires, with reminders far enough ahead to finish CE and paperwork.

Track your renewal dates free

Frequently asked questions

How often do you renew a Tennessee contractor license?

Every two years. A contractor license expires on the last day of the 24th month after it was issued or last renewed.

How much does it cost to renew a Tennessee contractor license?

The renewal fee is $200. Renewing late adds a $20 late fee for each month, for up to 12 months.

Do Tennessee contractors need continuing education to renew?

What happens if my Tennessee contractor license expires?

Official sources

Rules, fees and CE requirements change. Confirm the current requirements with the official source before you renew:

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Other Tennessee guides

Tennessee Limited Licensed Electrician and Plumber Renewal

All Tennessee guides on one page

General contractor guides for other states

Get a reminder before this renewal is due

Add this license, your insurance policies and the COIs you collect from subs to LicenseLedger, and get an email before each one expires. Free for up to 3 records, no credit card required.

Start free

How LicenseLedger works for general contractors

Not ready to sign up? Get the free tracking spreadsheet