Tennessee CMC Mechanical Contractor Exam Prep

Choose your access term

Your access starts when you do: the days begin the first time you open the course, not at checkout (or 14 days after purchase, whichever comes first).

Business & Law is 75% off with this classification. Add it only if you want it, for the same term: $24.75 for 30 days, $32.25 for 60 days, $42.25 for 90 days.

Official sitting

Tennessee CMC Mechanical Contractor exam at a glance

The Tennessee CMC Mechanical Contractor exam has 100 questions and a time limit of 5 hours, and it is open book. That works out to about 3 minutes per question. The passing score is 73%. This Tennessee license also requires the state’s separate Business & Law exam. Figures are from the official candidate bulletin, checked September 19, 2026.

Questions100
Time5 hours
Passing score73%
BookOpen book

Confirm question count, time, open-book rules, and passing score on the live board bulletin before you sit. We do not guarantee a passing result. Source: Prov TNCONT_CIB 2026.08.18; tn.gov/commerce/regboards/contractors/license/exam-info.html, checked September 19, 2026. How we source exam facts

All Tennessee exams ›

What’s included

18,000+ word study guide

Worked calculations, code-section breakdowns, exam traps, a key-terms glossary and a 30/60/90-day plan.

4 full-length practice exams

Original questions weighted to match the topic mix of the real exam.

400 practice questions

Every one with a written explanation and the code section behind the answer.

Same study guide and four exams on every term. You are choosing how long you can log in.

Instant accessSecure checkoutBuilt on current codes
SKU: N/A Category:

What this prep covers

  1. About the Tennessee CMC Mechanical license
  2. How Tennessee licensing works
  3. HVAC fundamentals the exam assumes
  4. The refrigeration cycle
  5. Load calculations (Manual J and the code)
  6. Duct design (Manual D) and air distribution
  7. Combustion, venting, and combustion air
  8. Gas piping and oil
  9. Refrigerant handling and EPA Section 608
  10. Ventilation, IAQ, and controls
  11. Energy code, efficiency, and commissioning
  12. Worked calculations
  13. Sample exam questions, solved
  14. Common mistakes and exam traps
  15. Key codes and tables to tab
  16. Glossary of must-know terms
  17. Your 30 / 60 / 90 day study plan
  18. Exam-day strategy

Tennessee CMC Mechanical Contractor licensing, explained

About the Tennessee CMC Mechanical license

Tennessee licenses mechanical contracting businesses through the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (BLC) — this is a contractor's license tied to a qualifying agent's exam scores, not a personal journeyman card. CMC is the broad Mechanical Contractor classification (full mechanical, HVAC/refrigeration, and gas-piping scope); CMC-C is the narrower HVAC/Refrigeration Contractor classification. A license is required to bid or perform mechanical work on any project valued at $25,000 or more. The trade exam covers system design, load and duct sizing, code administration, and related trade topics; every BLC applicant, regardless of classification, must also separately pass the Business and Law exam. The qualifying agent behind the license may design and install mechanical systems, pull permits, and supervise journeymen and apprentices on the licensed contractor's projects.

Your trade exam is built on the adopted mechanical code . The State Fire Marshal's adopted-codes history lists the 2021 International Mechanical Code and the 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, effective April 17, 2025, not the Uniform Mechanical Code.

Know these scope facts cold: the license is held by the individual; most work requires a permit and inspection (rough-in and final); you must work within the classification you hold; and unlicensed or out-of-scope work is a violation that can cost the license and carry penalties. The mechanical code exists to deliver safe combustion and venting, adequate ventilation, and safe refrigeration — the exam keeps returning to those safety purposes.

How Tennessee licensing works

  • Financial requirements: a reviewed or audited financial statement (GAAP, less than 12 months old) from a licensed accounting professional is required. Your monetary bidding limit is roughly 10 times the lesser of working capital or net worth; an unlimited limit needs $300,000 in both working capital and net worth, plus qualifying experience.
  • EPA certification: handling refrigerant requires federal EPA Section 608 certification (Type I, II, III, or Universal) — separate from the state license but expected on the job. Tennessee does not maintain its own separate "registered technician" credential; workers may perform HVAC work under a licensed contractor's supervision without holding their own license.
  • Application: the trade exam requires pre-approval (a Pre-Approval Request Form plus a $50 fee) before you can schedule it; the initial license application fee is roughly $250, filed through the Board's online portal along with the financial statement and experience references.
  • Exam vendor: Prov now administers Tennessee BLC exams, having taken over from PSI effective July 1, 2026 (candidates already scheduled with PSI could keep those appointments through the transition period).
  • Renewal: licenses renew every two years (roughly $200).

This is the opening of the full study guide. The complete guide continues into code navigation, worked calculations and solved exam questions.

Related Tennessee exams

More Tennessee exam prep

Common questions about this exam

How many questions are on the Tennessee CMC Mechanical Contractor exam?

The Tennessee CMC Mechanical Contractor exam has 100 questions and a time limit of 5 hours, about 3 minutes per question. It is open book. The passing score is 73%. Check the current board bulletin before you book.

Do I also need the Business & Law exam in Tennessee?

Yes. This Tennessee license also requires the state’s separate Business & Law exam. That exam has 50 questions, 2 hours 30 minutes. Tennessee Business & Law prep is 75% off when you add it to this classification for the same term.

How much practice does this prep include?

It includes 4 full-length practice exams and 400 practice questions in total. Every question has a written explanation naming the code section the answer comes from.

How long is the study guide?

The Tennessee CMC Mechanical Contractor guide runs to roughly 18,913 words in 18 sections, starting with “About the Tennessee CMC Mechanical license” and ending with “Exam-day strategy”.

How long do I get access?

Choose 30, 60 or 90 days at checkout. Your days do not start at checkout: they begin the first time you open the course (or 14 days after purchase, whichever comes first). Access works on any device, and you can retake every practice exam as often as you like. Days remaining are shown in your dashboard and you can extend at any time.

Is this an official Tennessee CMC Mechanical Contractor exam?

No. This is independent preparation material. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any state licensing board or exam vendor, and it does not contain real exam questions. Always confirm current requirements with your licensing board.

About this prep

This prep is built specifically for the Tennessee CMC Mechanical Contractor examination and includes a 18,000+-word study guide written for this exam, 4 full-length practice exams and 400 practice questions, each with a written explanation.

How access works

You are paying for access length (30, 60, or 90 days). The study guide and four timed exams are the same on every term. Your days start the first time you open the course, not at checkout (or 14 days after purchase, whichever comes first), and access works on any device for that term.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by any state licensing board or exam vendor. For exam-preparation purposes only.