⚠️ Important: This comparison is based on published state licensing requirements and may not reflect recent changes. Reciprocity and transfer rules change frequently and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis by state licensing boards. This tool is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Always contact Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Electrical directly to confirm current transfer requirements before submitting any applications or fees.

Transfer Your Electrician License: North Carolina → Tennessee

Everything you need to know about transferring your electrician license from North Carolina to Tennessee

Reciprocity Available

Tennessee may accept out-of-state licenses by endorsement. Applicants must hold a valid journeyman or master license from another state and may need to pass the state exam.

Requirements Comparison

Requirement	North Carolina (NC)	Tennessee (TN)
Education Requirements●	No formal education requirement. Experience hours must include primary experience (hands-on electrical work). Limited: 3,000 hours (2,000 primary). Intermediate: 5,750 hours (5,000 primary). Unlimited: 5 years with 4 years primary plus two electrician experience vouchers.	High school diploma or GED
Exam Requirements●	Provider: PSI (855-746-8173); scheduling at https://test-takers.psiexams.com/ncbeec; NEC: 2020 NEC; the Examinations page lists '2020 Edition' as the study material and the site confirms all Board examinations continue to be based on the 2020 NEC until further notice.; Journeyman exam: not required; Master exam: not required	Provider: PSI; NEC: 2020 NEC; Journeyman exam: required; Master exam: required
Experience Requirements●	apprentice: null; journeyman: null; master: null	apprentice: No prior experience required; must be enrolled in an apprenticeship program; journeyman: Completion of 8,000 hours of apprenticeship (4 years); master: Typically 2-4 years of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician
Fees	exam fee: $125.00; renewal fee: Limited: $100/year; Intermediate: $150/year; Unlimited: $200/year; Special Restricted: $100/year; total initial fees: $225-$325; confidence: high	apprentice registration fee: $25–$50; journeyman license fee: $75; master license fee: $100; exam fee: $85; renewal fee: $50.00 per two-year renewal cycle for LLE; total initial fees: $160; confidence: high; sources: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/fire/codes-enforcement/electrical.html
Renewal / CE Requirements●	Period: 1 year — 'All licenses issued by the Board will expire one (1) year after the date of issuance.'; CE hours: 8; Fee: $100-$200	Period: 2 years (biennial); CE hours: 8; Fee: $50

Data verified as of 2026-04-03. Requirements may have changed since verification.

Key Differences

Tennessee accepts out-of-state electrician licenses via reciprocity/endorsement.
Education differs: North Carolina requires "No formal education requirement. Experience hours must include primary experience (hands-on electrical work). Limited: 3,000 hours (2,000 primary). Intermediate: 5,750 hours (5,000 primary). Unlimited: 5 years with 4 years primary plus two electrician experience vouchers." while Tennessee requires "High school diploma or GED".
Experience differs: North Carolina — apprentice: null; journeyman: null; master: null; Tennessee — apprentice: No prior experience required; must be enrolled in an apprenticeship program; journeyman: Completion of 8,000 hours of apprenticeship (4 years); master: Typically 2-4 years of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician.
Renewal differs: North Carolina — Period: 1 year — 'All licenses issued by the Board will expire one (1) year after the date of issuance.'; CE hours: 8; Fee: $100-$200; Tennessee — Period: 2 years (biennial); CE hours: 8; Fee: $50.

Next Steps

1
Contact the destination state board to confirm current transfer/reciprocity requirements. Visit Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Electrical →
2
Request credential verification from NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC) — this often takes 4–8 weeks. Visit North Carolina board →
3
Gather required documentation (education transcripts, experience logs, exam scores).
4
Submit your application to Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Electrical.

These steps are general guidance based on common transfer processes. Your state may have a different process. Always follow the instructions provided by your state licensing board.

Tennessee Licensing Board

Board: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Electrical
Website: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/fire/codes-enforcement/electrical.html
Phone: (615) 741-2111

Contact Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Electrical to confirm current transfer requirements →

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GetLicenseMap is a research tool and does not provide legal, financial, or professional licensing advice. Licensing requirements vary by state and change frequently. Verify all information directly with your state licensing board before making licensing decisions.

Requirements Comparison

Requirement	North Carolina (NC)	Tennessee (TN)
Education Requirements●	No formal education requirement. Experience hours must include primary experience (hands-on electrical work). Limited: 3,000 hours (2,000 primary). Intermediate: 5,750 hours (5,000 primary). Unlimited: 5 years with 4 years primary plus two electrician experience vouchers.	High school diploma or GED
Exam Requirements●	Provider: PSI (855-746-8173); scheduling at https://test-takers.psiexams.com/ncbeec; NEC: 2020 NEC; the Examinations page lists '2020 Edition' as the study material and the site confirms all Board examinations continue to be based on the 2020 NEC until further notice.; Journeyman exam: not required; Master exam: not required	Provider: PSI; NEC: 2020 NEC; Journeyman exam: required; Master exam: required
Experience Requirements●	apprentice: null; journeyman: null; master: null	apprentice: No prior experience required; must be enrolled in an apprenticeship program; journeyman: Completion of 8,000 hours of apprenticeship (4 years); master: Typically 2-4 years of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician
Fees	exam fee: $125.00; renewal fee: Limited: $100/year; Intermediate: $150/year; Unlimited: $200/year; Special Restricted: $100/year; total initial fees: $225-$325; confidence: high	apprentice registration fee: $25–$50; journeyman license fee: $75; master license fee: $100; exam fee: $85; renewal fee: $50.00 per two-year renewal cycle for LLE; total initial fees: $160; confidence: high; sources: https://www.tn.gov/commerce/fire/codes-enforcement/electrical.html
Renewal / CE Requirements●	Period: 1 year — 'All licenses issued by the Board will expire one (1) year after the date of issuance.'; CE hours: 8; Fee: $100-$200	Period: 2 years (biennial); CE hours: 8; Fee: $50

Data verified as of 2026-04-03. Requirements may have changed since verification.

Key Differences

Tennessee accepts out-of-state electrician licenses via reciprocity/endorsement.

Education differs: North Carolina requires "No formal education requirement. Experience hours must include primary experience (hands-on electrical work). Limited: 3,000 hours (2,000 primary). Intermediate: 5,750 hours (5,000 primary). Unlimited: 5 years with 4 years primary plus two electrician experience vouchers." while Tennessee requires "High school diploma or GED".

Experience differs: North Carolina — apprentice: null; journeyman: null; master: null; Tennessee — apprentice: No prior experience required; must be enrolled in an apprenticeship program; journeyman: Completion of 8,000 hours of apprenticeship (4 years); master: Typically 2-4 years of experience as a licensed journeyman electrician.

Renewal differs: North Carolina — Period: 1 year — 'All licenses issued by the Board will expire one (1) year after the date of issuance.'; CE hours: 8; Fee: $100-$200; Tennessee — Period: 2 years (biennial); CE hours: 8; Fee: $50.

Next Steps

Contact the destination state board to confirm current transfer/reciprocity requirements. Visit Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Electrical →

Request credential verification from NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC) — this often takes 4–8 weeks. Visit North Carolina board →

Gather required documentation (education transcripts, experience logs, exam scores).

Submit your application to Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Electrical.

These steps are general guidance based on common transfer processes. Your state may have a different process. Always follow the instructions provided by your state licensing board.

Transfer Your Electrician License: North Carolina → Tennessee

Reciprocity Available

Requirements Comparison

Key Differences

Next Steps

Tennessee Licensing Board

Prepare for Your Licensing Exam

Related Pages

Transfer Your Electrician License: North Carolina → Tennessee

Reciprocity Available

Requirements Comparison

Key Differences

Next Steps

Tennessee Licensing Board

Prepare for Your Licensing Exam

Related Pages