Important CMC fact: Full Mechanical CMC is Tennessee's broad mechanical classification. It covers plumbing and gas piping, process piping, HVAC and refrigeration, fire sprinklers and fire protection, mechanical insulation, pollution control, pneumatic tubes, temperature controls, boiler construction and repairs, and fuel gas systems. Passing the exam is only one part of earning the contractor license.
Tennessee organizes mechanical contractor licensing under the CMC family. The full CMC classification sits above the individual specialty categories because it covers the complete mechanical contracting scope recognized by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors.
A full CMC contractor may perform qualifying work involving plumbing and gas piping systems, HVAC and refrigeration, process piping, fire sprinkler and fire protection, boilers, fuel gas, pollution-control systems, pneumatic tube systems, mechanical insulation, and temperature-control systems.
That makes Full CMC especially useful for companies that do not want their Tennessee contractor authority limited to only plumbing, only HVAC, or only sprinkler work.
The trade examination is broad for the same reason. You are studying multiple mechanical disciplines at once. One question can involve ductwork, another refrigerants, another fuel gas, another sprinkler systems, and another electrical concepts. The exam enjoys changing subjects almost as much as a service truck enjoys collecting tools you forgot you owned.
Official trade exam: CMC - Mechanical Contractor / Full Mechanical Contractor.
Testing provider: Prov for newly scheduled Tennessee exams.
Questions: 100.
Time: 2 hours.
Passing score: 73 percent.
Format: open book and computer based.
Exam fee: $53 per attempt.
Pre-approval: required before scheduling.
Additional exam: Tennessee Contractor Business and Law for new contractor applicants.
The Tennessee CMC Full Mechanical Contractor Online Exam Prep Course provides structured preparation across mechanical codes, fuel gas, equipment, refrigeration, duct systems, piping, controls, fire protection, and sprinkler systems.
Full CMC has a unique pre-approval step before the normal trade-exam and contractor-license process.
| Step | Authority / Requirement | What to Verify |
|---|---|---|
| Classification | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors | Confirm that Full Mechanical CMC matches the mechanical work your company intends to perform |
| Exam Pre-Approval | Tennessee Board | Submit the CMC / CMC-A Pre-Approval Request before scheduling |
| Experience Verification | Current CMC pre-approval form | Document at least three years of plumbing work experience or applicable accepted substitute documentation |
| Pre-Approval Fee | Tennessee Board | Current fee is $50 |
| CMC Trade Exam | Prov | 100 questions, 2 hours, open book, 73% passing |
| Business & Law | Prov | 50 questions, 2 hours, open book, 73% passing for new contractor applicants |
| Financial Qualification | Tennessee Board | Monetary limit, financial-statement route, or qualifying surety-bond route |
| Final License | Tennessee Board / CORE | Application, QA, financial documentation, insurance, entity records, examination results, reference, affidavit, and $250 fee |
Tennessee changed examination providers in 2026, so this page separates current Prov information from older PSI-era exam material.
| Verified Point | Authority | Current Result |
|---|---|---|
| Full CMC classification | Tennessee Board | Full mechanical contracting classification |
| Exam pre-approval | Tennessee Board | Required before scheduling CMC with Prov |
| Pre-approval experience | Current Tennessee CMC / CMC-A form | At least three years of plumbing work experience unless qualifying substitute documentation applies |
| CMC examination | Prov Candidate Information Bulletin | 100 questions, 2 hours, open book |
| Passing standard | Prov | 73% |
| Exam fee | Prov | $53 per attempt |
| Primary CMC references | Prov | 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, HVAC Basics for Contractors 4th Edition |
| Alternate-reference transition | Prov | Designated prior PSI references remain permitted through January 1, 2027 |
| Initial contractor fee | Tennessee Board | $250 |
| Renewal fee | Tennessee Board | $200 |
The current Prov CMC examination contains 13 subject areas totaling 100 questions.
Air Distribution and Vents is the largest category with 18 questions. That makes airflow, ductwork, ventilation, exhaust, venting, and related mechanical-system knowledge the single biggest study target.
Equipment, Refrigerants and Oils, and Sprinkler Systems contain 10 questions each. Together, those three areas add another 30 questions.
Fuel Gas Systems, Safety, and Piping contain 8 questions each. General Knowledge has 6, while Code Requirements and Load Calculations contain 5 each. Controls, Electrical Concepts, and Fire Protection contain 4 questions each.
The important lesson is simple: Full CMC is not an HVAC-only exam. It deliberately reaches across mechanical specialties, which is exactly what the license allows you to do.
Study by the official Prov weighting and by mechanical system. With 100 questions in two hours, you average only about 72 seconds per question. That is fast for an open-book contractor exam.
Air Distribution and Vents: study ducts, ventilation, exhaust, airflow, combustion air, vent systems, clearances, air movement, and IMC navigation.
Equipment: review heating and cooling equipment, appliances, installation, access, clearances, controls, and service concepts.
Refrigerants and Oils: review refrigeration principles, refrigerants, oils, compressors, components, system operation, and servicing concepts.
Sprinkler Systems: review sprinkler fundamentals, piping arrangements, system components, water supplies, valves, and fire-protection principles.
Fuel Gas: study gas piping, sizing, materials, combustion air, appliance installation, chimneys, venting, and fuel-gas code navigation.
Piping and Loads: practice mechanical piping, system sizing, load calculations, equipment selection, and related trade math.
The Tennessee CMC Full Mechanical Highlighted & Tabbed Book Package adds organized mechanical, fuel-gas, HVAC, refrigeration, building, and sprinkler references for broader exam preparation.
The fastest approach is to identify the system before you search. A fuel-gas question belongs in a different place than a duct question, refrigeration question, sprinkler question, or basic electrical-controls question.
Tennessee CMC Full Mechanical exam-prep illustration for HVAC, fuel gas, piping, refrigeration, controls, fire protection, and sprinkler systems.
Move from CMC pre-approval through Prov testing, Business and Law, financial qualification, insurance, application, and final contractor licensing.
Choose Full Mechanical when you need broad mechanical authority instead of only a single specialty such as plumbing, HVAC/Refrigeration, or fire sprinklers.
Submit Tennessee's current CMC / CMC-A pre-approval form and the required $50 fee before trying to schedule with Prov.
The current form asks for verification of at least three years of plumbing work experience unless an accepted license or qualifying engineering-degree route applies.
Begin with Prov's current primary references: 2021 IMC, 2021 IFGC, and HVAC Basics for Contractors, 4th Edition. Use additional study references for broader mechanical review.
Prepare for 100 questions, two hours, open-book testing, and a 73 percent passing standard.
New Tennessee contractor applicants also complete the separate 50-question Business and Law examination.
Establish the requested monetary limit and provide the required financial or surety-bond documentation, general liability coverage, and workers' compensation information or qualifying exemption.
Complete the Tennessee CORE application, submit the required supporting documents, pay the current $250 initial fee, and wait for Board approval before contracting where the license is required.
The current Prov CMC outline assigns all 100 questions across the following 13 subject areas.
Study priority: Air Distribution and Vents, Equipment, Refrigerants and Oils, and Sprinkler Systems combine for 48 of the 100 questions. Add Fuel Gas, Safety, and Piping, and those seven areas account for 72 questions.
Separate the books Prov currently lists as primary CMC exam references from extra books that may be useful for broader study. Do not assume every prep-package book is automatically allowed in the testing room.
| Reference | Primary Study Use | 2026 Status |
|---|---|---|
| International Mechanical Code, 2021 | Mechanical systems, ventilation, ducts, exhaust, equipment, refrigeration, chimneys, vents, hydronic piping, and code requirements | Current Prov primary CMC reference |
| International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 | Fuel-gas piping, sizing, combustion air, appliances, venting, chimneys, regulators, materials, and installation | Current Prov primary CMC reference |
| HVAC Basics for Contractors, 4th Edition | HVAC fundamentals, equipment, controls, air distribution, heating, cooling, system components, piping, and contractor trade knowledge | Current Prov primary CMC reference |
| International Building Code, 2021 | Building-system coordination, fire-resistance concepts, mechanical penetrations, occupancies, and broader code context | Useful broader study reference in current 1 Exam Prep CMC packages; verify exam-room authorization before testing |
| Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology, 10th Edition | Refrigeration cycle, refrigerants, oils, equipment, controls, troubleshooting, service, and air-conditioning technology | Additional broader study reference in current 1 Exam Prep CMC packages |
| NFPA 13, 2022 | Sprinkler systems, components, piping, water supplies, installation requirements, and fire-protection concepts | Additional broader study reference in current 1 Exam Prep CMC packages |
| Tennessee Business and Law Study Guide for Contractors, 4th Edition, 2024 | Separate Tennessee Business and Law examination | Current Prov Business and Law reference |
Temporary 2026 reference rule: Prov permits the designated prior PSI-approved references listed in the alternate-reference section of the Candidate Information Bulletin through January 1, 2027. After that transition period, candidates should expect Prov's current reference list to control.
Prov book rules: highlighting and permanent tabs are allowed. Handwritten notes are prohibited. Moveable tabs and Post-it notes are prohibited. Photocopied books and added photocopied documents are prohibited. Unauthorized test-preparation guides and practice exams cannot be used as exam-room references.
Full CMC is Tennessee's broad mechanical classification. It brings the major mechanical specialties together under one contractor classification.
The recognized CMC family includes Plumbing and Gas Piping, Process Piping, HVAC, Refrigeration and Gas Piping, Sprinklers and Fire Protection, Insulation of Mechanical Work, Pollution Control, Pneumatic Tube Systems, Temperature Controls, Boiler Construction and Repairs, and Fuel Gas Piping and Systems.
Full CMC is therefore broader than CMC-A Plumbing, CMC-C HVAC/Refrigeration, or CMC-D Fire Sprinklers alone.
Mechanical subcontractors performing qualifying mechanical work at or above Tennessee's contractor licensing threshold must hold the appropriate contractor license.
Some work can also trigger separate permits, inspections, or specialist licensing. For example, fire-sprinkler work may involve Tennessee fire-prevention firm and responsible-managing-employee requirements in addition to the contractor classification.
Contractor threshold: Tennessee generally requires the appropriate contractor license for mechanical subcontract work of $25,000 or more, including materials, equipment, and labor. Smaller projects may still be regulated by local jurisdictions or other state licensing and permitting programs.
Use the classification that matches the work the company actually intends to contract.
| Classification | Main Scope | Trade Exam | Key Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMC | Full Mechanical | Required | Broad mechanical authority across the recognized CMC categories; Board pre-approval required for exam |
| CMC-A | Plumbing and Gas Piping | Required | Plumbing-focused classification; Board pre-approval required |
| CMC-B | Process Piping | No separate standard exam shown | Board may require full mechanical qualification depending on proposed work and credentials |
| CMC-C | HVAC, Refrigeration and Gas Piping | Required | Narrower than Full CMC and focused on HVAC/Refrigeration systems |
| CMC-D | Sprinklers and Fire Protection | Required | Additional fire-prevention licensing requirements may apply |
| CMC-E through CMC-J | Insulation, pollution control, pneumatic tubes, temperature controls, boilers, and fuel gas | No separate trade exam currently listed for those specialties | Specialty authority is narrower than Full CMC |
2026 surety-bond option: Tennessee now permits the Board's approved Contractors' Surety Bond as an alternative to a CPA-reviewed or audited financial statement. The bond must generally be at least 50 percent of the monetary limit requested.
Renewal: the current Tennessee contractor renewal fee is $200.
Build mechanical-system knowledge and open-book speed together. With only two hours for 100 questions, every week should include timed reference-navigation drills.
Full CMC is difficult because the classification covers several mechanical trades rather than one specialty.
The exam expects knowledge of HVAC, refrigeration, fuel gas, piping, air distribution, equipment, controls, sprinkler systems, fire protection, load calculations, electrical concepts, safety, and mechanical codes.
The biggest challenge may be the clock. One hundred questions in two hours means an average of about 72 seconds per question.
That pace changes how you should use an open-book exam. Your books are there to verify difficult details, not to teach you mechanical contracting from page one while the timer keeps moving.
Strong candidates know enough to answer many questions directly, recognize which reference contains the others, and move on quickly when one question starts eating the schedule.
Pacing tip: 100 questions in 120 minutes gives you an average of 72 seconds per question. Bank the easy answers quickly. Flag deeper code searches and calculations, then return after you have protected the rest of the exam.
Need instructor support? The Tennessee CMC Full Mechanical Live Virtual + Self Study Training adds guided mechanical instruction to independent preparation.
Business and Law: view Tennessee Business and Law Management Exam Prep .
This Tennessee-specific 1 Exam Prep credential image is directly related to the CMC Full Mechanical Contractor examination.
• Tennessee Full Mechanical CMC classification
• 100-question Prov trade examination
• 2-hour testing period
• 73% passing score
• Board pre-approval required before scheduling
• HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, gas piping, and process piping
• Fire protection and sprinkler systems
• Air distribution, equipment, controls, loads, and safety
• Separate Tennessee Business and Law requirement for new contractor applicants
Prepare for the full classification, not just your favorite specialty. Full CMC is intentionally broad. The exam may move from ductwork to refrigerants, then to gas piping, sprinklers, controls, or load calculations before you have time to miss the previous subject.
Tennessee Full Mechanical Licensing
Pre-Approval
CMC Exam Basics
Exam Topics
References and Open-Book Rules
Business and Licensing
1 Exam Prep
This 1 Exam Prep YouTube video focuses on the Tennessee CMC-A Mechanical Plumbing Contractor exam. CMC-A is a narrower classification than Full CMC, but it is highly relevant because Full CMC includes plumbing, gas piping, mechanical-code navigation, and Tennessee's unusual mechanical pre-approval process.
Full CMC study tip: use this related plumbing-focused video for Tennessee mechanical exam strategy and book-navigation habits, but do not stop there. Full CMC also adds major HVAC, refrigeration, air distribution, equipment, controls, fire protection, and sprinkler-system coverage.
Combine current Tennessee Board and Prov information with structured 1 Exam Prep mechanical courses, practice questions, references, live training, Business and Law preparation, and licensing support.
Build faster mechanical-code navigation, stronger HVAC and refrigeration knowledge, better fuel-gas and piping skills, confidence with air distribution, equipment, refrigerants, sprinkler systems, fire protection, controls, load calculations, safety, Business and Law, and Tennessee's unique CMC pre-approval process.
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Tennessee CMC Full Mechanical Exam Prep