Electrician License from Ohio to Tennessee: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) — state CE/LLE only; journeyman/master are local ↗
No — Tennessee has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Ohio electrical license holders. You must apply to the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) — state CE/LLE only; journeyman/master are local as a new applicant and meet Tennessee's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
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Verdict
Full re-application
There is nothing to transfer into Tennessee, and it has nothing to do with Ohio: Tennessee issues no statewide electrician license. Licensing is handled by city and county building departments, so your Ohio license is neither accepted nor rejected at the state level — it is simply not the right unit. Identify the Tennessee jurisdiction where you will work and apply to that local authority; the requirements and fees are set there, not by a state board.
What changes, Ohio → Tennessee
| Ohio (current) | Tennessee (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | No statewide journeyman/master license exists, so there is no state journeyman fee. The OCILB commercial Electrical Contractor reciprocity application (a different, contractor-level credential) is a $25.00 non-refundable fee per trade; annual license fee applies on issuance. Municipal journeyman/master fees vary by city and are not published statewide | No statewide journeyman/master license fee exists; local authorities set their own fees. The state LLE and CE contractor fees are separate credentials not equivalent to a journeyman license. |
| Processing time | Not applicable at the state level for journeyman/master (municipal); OCILB does not publish a processing time for the contractor reciprocity application | No statewide journeyman license, so no state processing time; local code authorities vary. |
| Licensing authority | Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) — Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance (issues the commercial Electrical Contractor license only; no state journeyman/master license) | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) — state CE/LLE only; journeyman/master are local |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Tennessee sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review Tennessee's initial-licensure requirements on the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) — state CE/LLE only; journeyman/master are local website (linked below).
- Expect to meet Tennessee's education/experience requirements and pass its required exams — prior out-of-state licensure may still count toward experience.
- Submit the standard (new applicant) application with fees (No statewide journeyman/master license fee exists; local authorities set their own fees. The state LLE and CE contractor fees are separate credentials not equivalent to a journeyman license.).
- Allow No statewide journeyman license, so no state processing time; local code authorities vary..
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Tennessee accept a Ohio electrician license?
No — Tennessee has no reciprocity or endorsement path for Ohio electrical license holders. You must apply to the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Dept. of Commerce & Insurance) — state CE/LLE only; journeyman/master are local as a new applicant and meet Tennessee's full licensing requirements, including its exams.
Which exam will I take moving from Ohio to Tennessee?
Not applicable — Tennessee issues no statewide journeyman or master electrician license, so there is no state journeyman exam to waive. The state Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) requires passing its exam and is expressly excluded from the Board's trade-exam-waiver reciprocity. Journeyman/master licenses are examined and issued by individual cities and counties.
What does the Ohio-to-Tennessee move cost and how long does it take?
No statewide journeyman/master license fee exists; local authorities set their own fees. The state LLE and CE contractor fees are separate credentials not equivalent to a journeyman license.; processing No statewide journeyman license, so no state processing time; local code authorities vary..
Who do I apply to if Tennessee has no state license?
The city or county building or electrical department covering your jobsite. Tennessee sets electrician licensing locally, so there is no statewide application — confirm the requirements with the specific Tennessee jurisdiction where you will work.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors — Trade Exam Waiver (Reciprocity) with Tennessee ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors — main page ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors — Limited Licensed Electrician application ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- OCILB — Electrical Reciprocity Verification of Licensure (West Virginia, master + contractor electrician) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- OCILB — Contractors and contracting companies (reciprocity applications by state) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]