- TN-CMCA is the Tennessee Plumbing (CMC-A) Contractor Examination, regulated by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors.
- Prov has administered the open-book, computer-based exam since July 1, 2026: 100 questions, 5 hours, 73% to pass.
- Board preapproval ($50) and 3+ years of plumbing experience (or a related engineering degree) are required before you can even schedule.
- Drain, Waste, and Vent Systems (20%) and Isometrics (18%) are the two heaviest-weighted domains out of 12.
What Is a TN-CMCA?
The TN-CMCA is the Tennessee Plumbing (CMC-A) Contractor Examination - the trade competency exam that the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors requires candidates to pass before they can hold a Plumbing (CMC-A) contractor classification in the state. It isn't a general "handyman" quiz or a national certification with its own branding; it is a state-specific licensing exam tied directly to Tennessee's contractor licensing statute, and passing it is one part of a larger licensing application, not the entire process.
Since July 1, 2026, the exam has been administered by Prov, the testing vendor the Board contracts with for scheduling and delivery. The current Prov candidate bulletin is dated July 13, 2026, and it lays out everything from allowed references to scoring rules. If you're building a study plan, start by reading our What Is TN-CMCA? overview and the companion piece on TN-CMCA Meaning so there's no confusion with similarly abbreviated credentials in other states or industries - this exam is Tennessee-specific and plumbing-specific.
Who Takes the TN-CMCA Exam?
Candidates are typically working plumbers who want to operate as a licensed contractor in Tennessee - bidding jobs, pulling permits, and running crews under their own license number rather than someone else's. That includes:
- Journeyman plumbers moving into business ownership or a supervisory/contractor role
- Foremen and lead installers who need a CMC-A license to take on residential or commercial plumbing contracts
- Career-changers entering plumbing through a mechanical or plumbing engineering degree path who meet the education alternative to field experience
Because the license sits at the contractor level, employers hiring for CMC-A-credentialed roles are usually plumbing companies, mechanical contractors, and construction firms that need a licensed individual of record to legally contract plumbing work in Tennessee. If you're evaluating whether this path fits your goals, our breakdown on TN-CMCA Jobs and the ROI discussion in Is the TN-CMCA Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 go deeper into where this license actually opens doors.
Exam Format, Scoring, and Fees
The TN-CMCA is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam made up of 100 questions, with a 5-hour time limit. You need a 73% score to pass. It's an open-book exam, meaning you're allowed to bring approved reference materials into the session - but that only helps if you already know where to look, because 100 questions in 5 hours leaves little room for flipping through unfamiliar code books cold.
The Prov fee to sit for the exam is $53 per attempt. You can test at a physical Prov test center or remotely through Examroom, giving some flexibility on scheduling and location.
Approved references for the open-book portion include:
- 2021 International Plumbing Code
- 2018 or 2021 International Fuel Gas Code
- Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters, 8th Edition
- OSHA 29 CFR Part 1926
- Plumbing Basics for Contractors, 4th Edition (2021)
Knowing these five references cold - not memorized, but indexed in your head so you can find the right section fast - is arguably more important than knowing the raw code content itself, since the exam rewards efficient lookups under a time crunch. For a deeper walkthrough of exactly what "73%" means in terms of correct answers and how the scoring works, see TN-CMCA Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass.
Key Takeaway
Tab and index your five approved references before test day - the open-book format only saves time if you can locate a code section in seconds, not minutes.
Eligibility and Board Preapproval
You cannot simply register with Prov and take the exam. The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors requires preapproval before scheduling, and that preapproval carries its own $50 fee, separate from the $53 Prov exam fee. To get preapproved, you must document:
- At least three years of plumbing experience, or
- A degree in plumbing or mechanical engineering
Beyond the CMC-A trade exam itself, applicants must also pass the separate Tennessee Business and Law exam and satisfy several non-testing requirements before a license is issued:
- Financial-capacity requirements
- References
- Liability insurance
- Workers' compensation coverage
- A completed contractor license application
This is why so many candidates underestimate the timeline - the trade exam is only one gate among several. For a full checklist of what the Board expects before you're even cleared to schedule, read TN-CMCA Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify. And if you're trying to line up your preapproval, business-and-law prep, and exam date, the scheduling logistics are covered in TN-CMCA Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling.
The 12 Exam Domains
The TN-CMCA exam draws its 100 questions from twelve content domains. Two are confirmed as the heaviest-weighted: Drain, Waste, and Vent Systems at 20% and Isometrics at 18% - together accounting for well over a third of the exam. The remaining domains round out the practical, code, math, and safety knowledge a licensed plumbing contractor needs day to day.
Domain 11: Drain, Waste, and Vent Systems (Largest Domain - 20%)
Covers proper sizing, slope, venting configurations, trap arrangements, and code-compliant DWV layouts.
- Master trap arm distances and venting requirements from the 2021 IPC
Domain 9: Isometrics (Second-Largest Domain - 18%)
Tests your ability to read and interpret isometric plumbing drawings, a skill directly tied to real jobsite blueprint reading.
- Practice converting plan views into isometric sketches and back
The other ten domains - General Knowledge, Plumbing Math, Code Requirements, Fixtures and Fittings, Water Heaters, Storm Drainage, Fuel Gas Systems, OSHA Safety, Water Supply and Distribution, and Tools and Installation Practices - fill out the remaining question pool. Fuel Gas Systems pulls from the International Fuel Gas Code references, OSHA Safety draws on 29 CFR Part 1926, and Plumbing Math leans on the Mathematics for Plumbers and Pipefitters text. For a domain-by-domain breakdown with study focus for each of the twelve areas, see TN-CMCA Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 12 Content Areas.
Key Takeaway
Because DWV and Isometrics together make up 38% of the exam, prioritize venting rules and isometric drawing practice above all other domains.
Costs and Licensing Timeline
The TN-CMCA path involves several distinct fees, and it's easy to lose track of which one covers what. Here's how the pieces fit together:
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board preapproval | $50 | Required before scheduling; reviews experience/degree documentation |
| Prov exam attempt | $53 | Per attempt, test center or remote Examroom |
| Initial contractor application | $250 | Filed after passing trade exam and Tennessee Business and Law |
| License renewal | $200 | Every two years |
Passing scores on the TN-CMCA trade exam are typically valid for two years, so there's a real deadline pressure to complete the Business and Law exam and finish your full application before that window closes. For the complete fee breakdown including how these costs stack against the value of the license, read TN-CMCA Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. If you're weighing the long-term earning picture against these costs, TN-CMCA Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis is worth a read before you commit to the process.
Building a Study Schedule Around the Domains
Given that the exam is weighted heavily toward Drain, Waste, and Vent Systems and Isometrics, a generic "study everything equally" plan wastes time. A more efficient approach is to sequence your prep by weight and difficulty rather than by domain order:
DWV and Isometrics Foundations
- Work through IPC venting and drainage sections
- Practice reading and sketching isometric drawings daily
Code Requirements and Water Supply/Distribution
- Review IPC sections on supply sizing and distribution
- Run timed practice questions to simulate the 5-hour format
Fuel Gas, OSHA Safety, and Water Heaters
- Cross-reference the Fuel Gas Code and 29 CFR Part 1926
- Focus on installation clearances and safety shutoffs
Full-Length Practice and Reference Tabbing
- Take full 100-question timed practice sets
- Finalize tabs in your five approved open-book references
Short, focused practice sessions on the two highest-weighted domains early, followed by timed full-length runs later, tends to build both accuracy and speed. Working through realistic TN-CMCA practice tests in the final two weeks is one of the best ways to gauge whether your pacing will actually hold up across all 100 questions in five hours. For a more complete prep framework, see TN-CMCA Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and if you're still unsure how demanding this exam really is compared to your current skill level, How Hard Is the TN-CMCA Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down the difficulty realistically.
After You Pass: License and Career
Passing the TN-CMCA trade exam is a milestone, not the finish line. You'll still need to pass the Tennessee Business and Law exam, submit financial-capacity and reference documentation, and provide proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation before the Board issues your CMC-A contractor license. Once issued, the license must be renewed every two years for $200, so budgeting for that recurring cost is part of running a licensed plumbing contracting business in Tennessee.
From there, many licensees use the credential to bid larger contracts, take on permitted work independently, or move into supervisory roles within larger mechanical contracting firms. Before you start the process, it's worth reviewing TN-CMCA Certification for a full-picture view of how the trade exam, business and law exam, and application fit together, and checking the TN-CMCA Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows page for context on how candidates typically perform. You can also run a quick self-check using free-style TN-CMCA practice questions to see which of the twelve domains need the most attention before you spend money on preapproval and the exam fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
TN-CMCA stands for the Tennessee Plumbing (CMC-A) Contractor Examination, the trade competency exam required for the CMC-A plumbing contractor classification under the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. See What Does TN-CMCA Stand For? for more detail.
Prov has administered TN-CMCA exam appointments since July 1, 2026, offering both test-center and remote Examroom delivery options under the current bulletin dated July 13, 2026.
The exam has 100 multiple-choice questions with a 5-hour time limit. It's open-book, and you need a 73% score to pass.
Yes. Board preapproval requires documentation of at least three years of plumbing experience, or a degree in plumbing or mechanical engineering, plus a separate $50 preapproval fee before you can schedule.
Passing scores are typically valid for two years, so it's important to complete the Tennessee Business and Law exam and full contractor application within that window.