Contractor License from Pennsylvania to Tennessee: Does It Transfer? (2026)
There is no Pennsylvania state license to carry to Tennessee: Pennsylvania issues no contractor license or trade license, only a state registration. Tennessee does license this work, so ask the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance) whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
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Verdict
No state license to transfer
The issue on this move is the starting point: Pennsylvania issues no contractor license or trade license, so there is no Pennsylvania state license for Tennessee to recognize. Tennessee does license general contractors through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance): ask whether it credits a local license or documented experience, and expect its full application, business/law exam, financial statement and bond otherwise.
What changes, Pennsylvania → Tennessee
| Pennsylvania (current) | Tennessee (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | Registration fee $100 ($100 registration every two years (non-refundable); online card payment adds a $2 processing fee. There is no state contractor license fee; electrical/plumbing licensing is handled at the municipal/local level.) | $250 (Initial contractor license application fee $250. The CPA-prepared reviewed or audited financial statement is a separate professional cost, and some verifying states charge a fee to complete the Board's license-verification form. Beginning July 1, 2026 exams are administered by Prov.) |
| Processing time | 2–3 weeks (Registration certificate arrives by mail within 2 to 3 weeks unless the application is incomplete.) | No processing-time estimate is published; applications are acted on at the Board's scheduled meetings |
| Licensing authority | Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Home Improvement Contractor Registration (HICPA) | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Tennessee sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Tennessee's requirements on the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance) whether it credits a local Pennsylvania license or your documented experience: Pennsylvania issues no statewide contractor license or trade license, so there is no state license to verify.
- Otherwise apply as a new applicant: meet Tennessee's education/experience requirements and pass the exams it requires.
- Submit the application with fees ($250 (Initial contractor license application fee $250. The CPA-prepared reviewed or audited financial statement is a separate professional cost, and some verifying states charge a fee to complete the Board's license-verification form. Beginning July 1, 2026 exams are administered by Prov.)). Processing time: No processing-time estimate is published; applications are acted on at the Board's scheduled meetings.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Tennessee accept a Pennsylvania contractor license?
There is no Pennsylvania state license to carry to Tennessee: Pennsylvania issues no contractor license or trade license, only a state registration. Tennessee does license this work, so ask the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance) whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
Tennessee's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the Pennsylvania-to-Tennessee move cost and how long does it take?
$250 (Initial contractor license application fee $250. The CPA-prepared reviewed or audited financial statement is a separate professional cost, and some verifying states charge a fee to complete the Board's license-verification form. Beginning July 1, 2026 exams are administered by Prov.) Processing time: No processing-time estimate is published; applications are acted on at the Board's scheduled meetings.
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
Possibly, for the trade it covers: Tennessee's board accepts a NASCLA accredited exam in place of its own trade exam (verified 2026-08-07). The business/law exam, bond and application still apply.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors — Trade Exam Waiver (Reciprocity) with Tennessee, Rev. 06/2026 (participating states, scope, TN matching classifications) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors — Get a Contractor License ($250 fee, Business & Law exam, CPA financial statement, $25,000 threshold) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- PA OAG — Home Improvement Contractor Registration System (fee, insurance, PA#, processing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- PA OAG — Home Improvement Contractor FAQ ($5,000 threshold, out-of-state contractors must register) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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