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How to become a plumber in Tennessee

The license steps in Tennessee, from apprentice to master or contractor, taken from the official licensing pages – plus pay, apprenticeships and where to apply.

The short answer

Tennessee has no state apprentice or journeyman/master ladder: for jobs under $25,000 in areas without local plumbing licensing you need a state Limited Licensed Plumber license (age 18, one year of experience, open-book trade exam), and for jobs of $25,000 or more a state contractor license with a plumbing (CMC) classification; elsewhere local plumbing licenses apply.

Note: in Tennessee, licensing is split between the state and local governments. Check the local rules where you will work too.

The steps in Tennessee

  1. 1

    Start as an apprentice

    The official pages we checked do not set out a separate apprentice registration in Tennessee. Most plumbers still start in an apprenticeship – see below. Ask the licensing office for the current rule.

  2. 2

    Earn your journeyman (first independent) license

    The state Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) license covers jobs under $25,000 and requires proof of one year of experience, age 18 or older, and passing a 40-question open-book trade exam given by Prov.

  3. 3

    Master or contractor license

    Plumbing jobs of $25,000 or more require a Tennessee contractor license with a plumbing classification, which means passing the Business and Law exam and a plumbing trade exam.

  4. 4

    Keep your license current

    The Limited Licensed Plumber license is issued for two years.

Who licenses plumbers in Tennessee

Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (Department of Commerce & Insurance). License types we found: Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP), Contractor license with CMC-A or CMC classification (projects $25,000 or more).

Official application page

Finding an apprenticeship

Most plumbers learn the trade through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus classroom instruction, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Apprenticeships are paid jobs with progressive wage increases, classroom instruction and a portable, nationally recognized credential; programs are approved by the Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. Search programs at apprenticeship.gov, or ask local plumbing contractors and union locals.

Pay and job outlook

$63,800

Median yearly pay for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, May 2025 (BLS).

7%

Projected job growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 42,000 openings a year (BLS).

4-5 years

Typical apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training a year (BLS).

National figures from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook; pay varies by state and city.

Already a plumber in Tennessee?

91 plumbing businesses are listed on Plumbers Pages so far. Add your business free, or see plumbers in Tennessee.

Sources

Requirements come from Tennessee’s official licensing pages and statutes, checked October 2026. Rules change – confirm with the licensing office before you apply.

  1. tn.gov/content/dam/tn/commerce/documents/regboards/contractors/forms/Con
  2. tn.gov/content/dam/tn/commerce/documents/regboards/contractors/forms/Con
  3. tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractor.html
  4. tn.gov/commerce/regboards/llp/llp-plumbing-law-defined.html
  5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
  6. U.S. Department of Labor – Apprenticeship.gov for career seekers

General information, not legal advice. All states · How we write our guides

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