Contractor License from Tennessee to Pennsylvania: Does It Transfer? (2026)
There is no Pennsylvania license to transfer into: Pennsylvania issues no contractor license or trade license and requires only a state registration. Register with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General rather than applying for reciprocity.
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Verdict
No state license to transfer
There is nothing at state level to transfer your Tennessee license into: Pennsylvania issues no contractor license or trade license and requires only a registration. Register with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and work from its rules; your Tennessee license and experience may help there, but no state agreement applies to general contracting.
What changes, Tennessee → Pennsylvania
| Tennessee (current) | Pennsylvania (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $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.) | 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.) |
| Processing time | No processing-time estimate is published; applications are acted on at the Board's scheduled meetings | 2–3 weeks (Registration certificate arrives by mail within 2 to 3 weeks unless the application is incomplete.) |
| Licensing authority | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce and Insurance) | Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Home Improvement Contractor Registration (HICPA) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Pennsylvania sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Register with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General: Pennsylvania issues no contractor license or trade license, so there is no license to transfer by reciprocity.
- Check the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (linked on this page) for its current registration requirements and fee — rules change.
- Register as a Home Improvement Contractor with the PA Office of Attorney General if performing $5,000 or more of home improvements per year.
- Carry commercial general liability insurance of at least $50,000 personal-injury and $50,000 property-damage coverage.
- Display the assigned PA contractor number (PA#) on all advertisements, contracts, estimates and proposals.
- Pay the 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.)) and allow 2–3 weeks (Registration certificate arrives by mail within 2 to 3 weeks unless the application is incomplete.).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Pennsylvania accept a Tennessee contractor license?
There is no Pennsylvania license to transfer into: Pennsylvania issues no contractor license or trade license and requires only a state registration. Register with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General rather than applying for reciprocity.
What applies in Pennsylvania without a state general contractor license?
Pennsylvania's contractor registration with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — there is no state general contractor license or exam to transfer into. Trade licenses Pennsylvania does issue are a separate question for the checker.
What fees apply in Pennsylvania, and how long does processing take?
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.). Registration processing: 2–3 weeks (Registration certificate arrives by mail within 2 to 3 weeks unless the application is incomplete.)
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
Not for general contracting: Pennsylvania issues no state general contractor license, so there is no state GC exam for NASCLA to replace.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 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)
- 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)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]