Tennessee regulates HVAC at the contractor level for projects of $25,000 and up, under the CMC-C or full CMC classification. Here are the experience, exam, financial, EPA 608, and fee requirements, step by step.
2026 exam-provider update: Tennessee changed testing vendors. Prov began administering the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors' exams on July 1, 2026, replacing PSI. Applicants already scheduled with PSI for a date after July 1 could keep that appointment, and PSI continued administering previously scheduled exams through September 2026. All new exam scheduling now goes through Prov. Exam fees are set by the Board and the testing vendor and change, verify current amounts with the Board or Prov before you schedule.
How to Get an HVAC License in Tennessee (2026 CMC-C Guide)
Government and exam fees in this guide are set by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors and by Prov, the state's testing vendor, and are subject to change. Verify current amounts with the board or Prov before you apply. This guide covers the licensing process, it is not exam preparation.
If you do heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or refrigeration work in Tennessee, the credential you need is decided by one number: the dollar value of the project. There is no statewide "journeyman HVAC" license in Tennessee. Instead, the state regulates HVAC at the contractor level through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (TBLC), and the cutoff that triggers a required license is $25,000. Here's exactly how it works.
The $25,000 rule and the CMC classifications
Tennessee requires a contractor's license before you bid or offer a price on any HVAC project of $25,000 or more (materials and labor combined) as the prime contractor. Below that amount, the state contractor license generally isn't required, but local rules and federal refrigerant certification still apply (more below).
For HVAC work at or above $25,000, two TBLC classifications apply:
- CMC-C, Mechanical (HVAC/Refrigeration) Contractor: the focused HVAC and refrigeration classification. It does not require board pre-approval before you test.
- CMC, Full Mechanical Contractor: a broader classification covering HVAC, refrigeration, and plumbing. It does require board pre-approval before examination and demands training across mechanical and plumbing systems.
If you only do HVAC/refrigeration, CMC-C is usually the right fit. If you also do plumbing and gas piping, the full CMC may make more sense. This same $25,000 framework governs the Tennessee electrician license and the Tennessee plumbing license, Tennessee is consistent across the trades.
Requirements for a Tennessee HVAC contractor license
To qualify for a CMC-C or CMC license through the TBLC, you'll generally need:
- At least three years of verifiable HVAC experience in installation, maintenance, or repair.
- Two Prov exams: the statewide Business and Law exam and the mechanical/HVAC trade exam. Tennessee's contractor exams require a 73% passing score. (For the full CMC, the general mechanical trade exam is a longer 120-question exam reflecting the broader scope; CMC-C focuses on HVAC and refrigeration.)
- A Reviewed or Audited financial statement prepared by a licensed CPA or LPA, in the exact name and mode of operation to be licensed.
- General liability insurance and, if you employ workers, workers' compensation.
- For the full CMC only: board pre-approval before you can sit for the exam.
EPA 608: the federal piece you can't skip
Separate from any Tennessee license, federal law requires EPA Section 608 certification for anyone who handles refrigerant. EPA 608 is a federal certification, not a state license, and it doesn't expire. You need it regardless of your project size, even on work under the $25,000 state threshold. We break down the difference in EPA 608 certification vs. an HVAC license.
The monetary limit, how your financials cap your jobs
Like every Tennessee contractor license, your CMC-C or CMC carries a monetary limit: the largest single project (including your cost of land and profit) you're allowed to take on. That limit is driven by the reviewed or audited financial statement you submit, which reflects your working capital and net worth. Build the financial statement too small and you cap the size of jobs you can legally bid, so size it to the work you actually want.
Fees and timeline
- Application fee: the TBLC contractor application fee is $250.
- Prov exam fees: the Business and Law exam and the HVAC/mechanical trade exam each carry their own Prov fee, verify the current amounts on Prov's site, since the board and vendor adjust them periodically.
- Other real costs depend on your business: the CPA-prepared financial statement, your insurance and bond premiums, and any local licensing.
All government and vendor fees above are set by the board or Prov and are subject to change, confirm them before you pay.
Timeline: the board reviews applications monthly. Submit a complete application by the 20th of the month, and approval typically follows within about 4 to 6 weeks. For the testing logistics, see how to schedule a contractor exam with PSI, Prov, or Pearson VUE and contractor exam approval by state.
Step-by-step
- Confirm your project scope. Working at $25,000 and above? You need the state contractor license (CMC-C or CMC).
- Choose your classification. HVAC/refrigeration only → CMC-C. HVAC plus plumbing → CMC (requires pre-approval).
- Log three years of HVAC experience and get EPA 608 certified.
- Pass both Prov exams, Business and Law plus the trade exam, at 73%.
- Prepare a CPA financial statement sized to your target monetary limit.
- Submit your application with experience verification, exam results, financials, and insurance by the 20th.
- Check local requirements for the city and county where you'll work.
What about HVAC work under $25,000?
Tennessee generally does not require the state contractor license for HVAC projects below $25,000. But "no state license" does not mean "no rules." Your city or county may require its own license, registration, or permit for any HVAC work regardless of value, and EPA 608 is still mandatory federally. Always confirm the local requirements before you start, the state-vs-local split trips up a lot of HVAC businesses.
How much does a Tennessee HVAC license cost?
The fixed government and vendor pieces are knowable: a $250 TBLC application plus the two Prov exam fees (all set by the board/Prov and subject to change, verify first). The variable pieces depend on your business: the CPA financial statement, EPA 608 testing, local licensing, and your bond and insurance. For those, see contractor insurance requirements by state and contractor bond requirements by state. We don't publish what it costs to place a qualifying agent, because that depends entirely on your trade, classification, and situation, that's a custom quote.
Can't meet the experience or exam requirement? The qualifier path
Plenty of HVAC companies are ready to bid $25,000-plus work but have no one on staff who holds three years of verifiable experience or the passing exam scores. In Tennessee, the contractor license is held by a qualifying agent, a licensed individual who carries the credential and genuine responsibility for the company's HVAC work.
You cannot legally rent or borrow a license to shortcut this. Tennessee treats license rental as fraud, and the penalties are real, see is it legal to rent a contractor license. The lawful path is to bring a qualifying agent onto your team as a W-2, full-time employee with a real role in the business. The Licensing Company places qualifying agents exactly this way, as full employees, never as a percentage, flat fee, or per-project arrangement.
Learn how the role works in what an HVAC contractor qualifying agent does and our Tennessee qualifying agent guide, see how to hire a qualifying agent, or start with what is a qualifying agent. To map out your options, visit our consultation packages.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tennessee have a journeyman HVAC license? No. Tennessee regulates HVAC at the contractor level (CMC-C or CMC) for projects of $25,000 and up. There is no statewide journeyman HVAC license, though local jurisdictions may have their own requirements.
Do I need a Tennessee HVAC license for small jobs? The state contractor license is required at $25,000 and above. Below that, the state license generally isn't required, but local licensing and federal EPA 608 certification still apply.
What's the difference between CMC and CMC-C? CMC-C is the focused HVAC/refrigeration classification and doesn't require pre-approval to test. The full CMC covers HVAC plus plumbing and requires board pre-approval before examination.
Who can hold the HVAC license for my company? A qualifying agent who meets the experience and exam requirements. If no one in your company qualifies, you can hire a qualifying agent as a W-2 employee.
The Licensing Company helps contractors get and keep their licenses nationwide, including placing qualifying agents as full-time W-2 employees. Tennessee HVAC licensing is administered by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors; EPA 608 is a federal certification. Verify all current fees and requirements with the board, Prov, and the EPA before applying.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, licensing guidance, or an offer of services. Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction. For specific compliance questions, contact The Licensing Company for a confidential consultation.