Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0680-01-.16 – Appendix a of Rule 0680-01-.12 (Classifications System)

Outline of Classifications BC – Building Construction

A. Residential-“Residential building contractors” are those whose services are limited to construction, remodeling, repair, or improvement of one (1), two (2), three (3), or four (4) family unit residences not exceeding three (3) stories in height and accessory use structures in connection therewith.
1. 1. Limited Residential (r)-A limited residential contractor is authorized to bid on and contract for the construction, remodel, repair, or improvement of a single family dwelling the total cost of which does not exceed one hundred twenty five thousand dollars ($125,000.00).
  1. B. Commercial-A commercial building contractor is authorized to bid on and contract for the construction, erection, alteration, repair or demolition of any building or structure for use and occupancy by the general public, including residential construction with more than four (4) units or greater than three (3) stories in height.
    1. 1. Small Commercial (b)-A small commercial building contractor is authorized to bid on and contract for the construction, erection, alteration, repair or demolition of any building or structure for use and occupancy by the general public the total cost of which does not exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000.00).
      1. C. Industrial-A contractor under this classification is authorized to bid on and contract for the erection, alteration, repair and demolition of buildings or structures used for industrial production and service, such as manufacturing plants. Building Categories
        1. Each building category may apply to any major construction classification.
        2. Pursuant to T.C.A. § 62-6-113, a contractor may not be licensed in six (6) or more categories under any one (1) major classification without successfully passing the written or oral examination, or both, for the major classification.
        1. Acoustical Treatments
        2. Carpentry, Framing and Millwork, etc.
        3. Drywall
        4. Floor Covering
        5. Foundations
        6. Glass, Window and Door Construction
        7. Institutional and Recreational Equipment
        8. Lathe, Plaster, Stucco, and Aluminum Siding
        9. Masonry – under one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00), materials and labor
        10. Ornamental and Miscellaneous Metal
        11. Painting, Interior Decorating
        12. Roof Decks
        13. Site and Subdivision Development
        14. Special Coatings and Waterproofing
        15. Tile, Terrazzo and Marble
        16. Insulation
        17. Elevators, Escalators, and Dumbwaiters
        18. Erection and Fabrication of Structural Steel
        19. Concrete
        20. Sheet Metal
        21. Roofing – includes gutters and vinyl siding
        22. Conveyors
        23. Sandblasting
        24. Golf Courses
        25. Tennis Courts
        26. Swimming Pools
        27. Outdoor Advertising
        28. Excavation
        29. Landscaping
        30. Fencing
        31. Demolition
        32. Millwright
        33. Irrigation
        34. Scaffolding HC – Heavy Construction
        A. Marine (Wharves, Docks, Harbor Improvements and Terminals)
        B. Tunnel and Shaft
        C. Energy and Power Plants
        D. Dams, Dikes, Levees and Canals
        E. Mining Surface and Underground
        F. Oil Field Construction
        G. Oil Refineries
        H. Storm Damage Cleanup
        I. Landfill Construction Heavy Construction Categories (Apply to All Areas)
        1. Structural Steel Erection
        2. Tower and Stack Construction
        3. Foundation Construction, Pile Driving, Foundation Drilling, and Stabilization
        4. Demolition and Movement of Structures
        5. Clearing, Grubbing, Snagging and Rip Rap
        6. Slipform Concrete Structures
        7. Rigging and Crane Rigging
        8. Welding HRA – Highway, Railroad and Airport Construction
        A. Grading and Drainage-Includes grading, drainage pipe and structures, clearing and grubbing.
        B. Base and Paving
        1. Base Construction
        2. Hot and Cold Mix Asphalt
        3. Surface Treatment Asphalt
        4. Concrete Paving
        C. Bridges and Culverts
        1. Painting
        2. Repair
        3. Demolition
        4. Bridge Deck Overlay (Sealant)
        5. Gunite
        6. Cofferdam
        7. Steel Erection
        D. Railroad Construction and Related Items
        E. Miscellaneous and Specialty Items
        1. Traffic Safety
        (a) Pavement Markers
        (b) Signing
        (c) Guardrail and Fencing
        (d) Attenuators, signalization and roadway lighting
        2. Landscaping-Includes seeding, sodding, planting, and chemical weed and brush control.
        3. Pavement Rehabilitation-Includes pressure grouting, grinding and grooving, concrete joints, and underdrains.
        4. Well Drilling
        5. Miscellaneous Concrete-Includes sidewalks, driveways, curb and gutter, and box culverts. MU – Municipal and Utility Construction Municipal and Utility Construction includes all supervision, labor, material and equipment to complete underground piping, water and sewer plants and sewer disposal, grading and drainage, and paving (unless restricted to specific areas named).
        A. Underground Piping-Furnish supervision, labor, material and equipment to complete all underground piping for municipal and utility construction (unless restricted to specific areas names).
        1. Gas Distribution and Transmission Lines
        2. Sewer Lines, Storm Drains, Rehabilitation and Structures
        3. Waterlines
        4. Underground Conduit
        B. Water and Sewer Systems*-*Classification BC-B is necessary in order to construct water and sewer plants.
        C. Grading and Drainage-Includes grading, drainage pipe and structures, clearing and grubbing.
        D. Base and Paving
        1. Base Construction
        2. Hot and Cold Mix Asphalt
        3. Surface Treatment Asphalt
        4. Concrete Pavement
        5. Miscellaneous Concrete (includes sidewalks, driveways, curb and gutter, and box culverts) MC (CMC) – Mechanical Contracting (the classification CMC is noted on licenses issued after 1992 and represents that the licensee has passed the Board licensing exam and that no county or municipality shall require such state licensee or its employees to pass any county or municipal test or examination pursuant to T.C.A. § 62-6-111(i)(2)(C)).
        A. Plumbing and Gas Piping
        B. Process Piping
        C. HVAC, Refrigeration, Gas Piping
        D. Sprinklers & Fire Protection
        E. Insulation of Mechanical Work
        F. Pollution Control
        G. Pneumatic Tube Systems
        H. Temperature Controls (Pneumatic/Electric)
        I. Boiler Construction & Repairs
        J. Fuel Gas Piping and Systems LMC – Licensed Masonry Contractor E (CE) – Electrical Contracting (the classification CE is noted on licenses issued after 1992 and represents that the licensee has passed the Board licensing exam and that no county or municipality shall require such state licensee or its employees to pass any county or municipal test or examination pursuant to T.C.A. § 62-6-111(i)(2)(C)).
        A. Electrical Transmission Lines
        B. Electrical Work for Buildings and Structures
        C. Underground Electrical Conduit Installation
        D. Sound and Intercom Systems, Fire Detection Systems, Signal and Burglar Alarm Systems and Security Systems up to seventy (70) volts do not require examination-*Please note that a separate license, issued by the Tennessee Alarm Systems Contractors Board, is also required for alarm systems.
        E. Electrical Signs
        F. Data Communication Systems (e.g. fiber optics & cabling)
        G. Cable T.V.
        H. Substations
        I. Building Automation Controls
        J. Fire Detection Systems, Signal and Burglar Alarm Systems and Security Systems with conduit and wiring above seventy (70) volts require an electrical exam.
        K. Roadway Lighting, Attenuators and Signalization – requires electrical examination.
        L. Electric Meter Installation S – Specialty The Board will utilize the system of classifications set forth in Appendix A. The Board reserves the right to depart from the classification system in appropriate individual cases. S – Specialty/Environmental work falling within the definition of contracting pursuant to T.C.A. § 62-6-102.
        A. Asbestos Material Handling/Removing
        B. Underground Storage Tank
        C. Lead-Based Paint Abatement
        D. Hazardous Waste Removal
        E. Air, Water or Soil Remediation
        F. Mold Remediation In each of the above environmental classifications, the following requirements apply:
        1. In order to be eligible for licensure in this specialty classification, the applicant shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the Board that the designated employee(s) shall have completed all training courses as required by the applicant state and federal agencies. In the event training courses are unavailable, the applicant’s education, training, experience and equipment will be determined and considered in order to qualify the applicant for licensure.
        2. A contractor holding a license in this specialty classification shall, as a condition for renewal of such license, keep abreast of all applicable state and federal requirements to ensure “state of the art” handling and removing of above materials by requiring its designated employee(s) to do so.
        3. A contractor shall, whenever work in this specialty classification is in progress, have physically on the job site the designated employee(s) directly responsible for the work.
        4. A contractor shall notify the Board of any citation lodged against it, or any of its employees, relative to work in a specialty classification within ten (10) days of receipt of the citation. S – Specialty/Medical Gas Piping installation, maintenance and repair work falling within the regulation of medical gas piping pursuant to T.C.A. § 68-11-253.
        A. Medical Gas Piping Installer Certification Requirements.
        1. The minimum qualifications for Board certification are the qualifications for certification established by the American Medical Gas Institute (AMGI) or the Piping Industry Progress and Education Trust Fund (PIPE). A minimum of thirty-two (32) hours of training, with eight (8) of such hours in brazing, shall be required for Board certification. The Board shall from time to time revise minimum qualifications for Board certification to include the most current edition of NFPA 99C “Standard on Gas and Vacuum Systems.”
        (a) The minimum of thirty-two (32) hours of training for Board certification as a medical gas installer shall include training in the following areas from the most current edition of NFPA 99C, Gas and Vacuum Systems:
        (1) Medical Gas Systems.
        (2) Gas Distribution Systems.
        (3) Installation of Pressurized Gas Systems.
        (4) Vacuum Piping.
        (5) Brazing Techniques for Medical Gas Systems.
        (6) Requirements for Levels of Patient Care.
        2. The Board may designate and approve independent examining agencies, as necessary, to provide the training and examinations necessary for Board certification required by T.C.A. § 68-11-253. The Board will review an examining agency’s curriculum prior to its designation to determine compliance with the minimum qualifications listed above in A.1.(a).
        3. The designated examining agency may charge reasonable fees for training and examination as determined appropriate by the Board.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 62-6-108 and 62-6-112. Administrative History: Original rule filed July 22, 1974; effective August 21, 1974. Repeal and new rule filed January 20, 1977; effective February 19, 1977. Amendment filed May 19, 1980; effective July 3, 1980. Amendment filed September 16, 1981; effective November 2, 1981. Amendment filed October 16, 1985; effective November 15, 1985. Amendment filed January 31, 1996; effective April 16, 1996. Amendment filed June 25, 2003; effective September 8, 2003. Amendments filed July 25, 2011; effective October 23, 2011. Repeal and new rule filed October 9, 2012; effective January 7, 2013. Amendment filed November 22, 2013; effective February 20, 2014. Amendments filed June 8, 2017; to have been effective September 6, 2017. However, the Government Operations Committee filed a 45-day stay of the effective date of the rules on August 17, 2017; new effective date October 21, 2017. Amendments filed August 20, 2025; effective November 18, 2025.