City/county license

Journeyman Electrician License in Tennessee

✓Written by a licensed IBEW journeyman electrician

Last updated: October 24, 2026

Tennessee has no statewide journeyman or master electrician license. The state Board for Licensing Contractors issues an electrical contractor license and a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license for jobs under $25,000. The state says the LLE exam is not comparable to a journeyman or master exam. Local governments may have their own electrician license.

The facts, from the source

Who licenses

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, Department of Commerce & Insurance. It issues the CE electrical contractor license (jobs $25,000 and up) and the Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license (jobs under $25,000, accepted in about 65 counties). The state's LLE application says the LLE exam is not comparable to the journeyman or master exam, and that local government may have its own electrician license, typically referred to as a journeyman or master. (tn.gov)

State LLE license (not a journeyman license)

Exam through PSI: 40 questions, 130 minutes, open book, 72.5% (29 items) to pass. Exam $53 first time, $53 retake, $40 review only, paid to PSI. LLE license $50 (expires every 2 years; renewal $50; reinstatement $80). No preapproval or experience is required to take the exam. The state says there are no out-of-state reciprocal (exam waiver) agreements for the LLE. (test-takers.psiexams.com)

Where the license comes from in Tennessee

In Tennessee, journeyman licensing is handled locally. Examples we verified:

• Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Codes and Building Safety (Mechanical, Plumbing & Electrical Examiners and Appeals Board)

  The board page says it examines applicants for a master electrician's certificate, equipment installer's license and low-voltage wiring installer's license. It mentions no journeyman electrician exam and publishes no vendor or format.

  nashville.gov

• Memphis/Shelby County, City of Knoxville and City of Chattanooga

  The state's LLE application lists these as exempt jurisdictions that do not accept the state LLE license.

  tn.gov

Requirements differ city to city. Check with the building or licensing department where you’ll work.

Confirm these with the board

• Local journeyman exams, vendors, formats, experience and fees for Nashville, Memphis/Shelby County, Knoxville and Chattanooga: check with the local office
• NEC edition used locally: not confirmed

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, Department of Commerce & Insurance (local jurisdictions license journeymen) ↗

Partly verified October 24, 2026: some items couldn’t be confirmed from official sources and are listed above

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Facts on this page trace to primary sources or first-hand IBEW Local 134 experience — see sources & methodology.