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How to Get Your Tennessee Insurance License in 2026

A complete step-by-step guide to becoming a licensed insurance producer in Tennessee. Good news up front: Tennessee does not require pre-licensing education — the state eliminated the requirement in March 2023 — so you can go straight to exam prep and be licensed in about a month.

Quick summaryTotal time: 3–5 weeks. Total cost: roughly $220–$260 all-in for P&C. No pre-licensing education required — exam, fingerprints, and a NIPR application are the whole process.

Tennessee insurance license — quick facts

State regulatorTennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI)
Exam vendorPearson VUE (test centers + OnVUE online proctoring)
Pre-licensing educationNot required (eliminated March 21, 2023)
Exam fee (resident)$55 per exam; Property + Casualty on one reservation: $80
Exam format (per exam)68 scoreable + 9 pretest questions, 1 hr 45 min; Property and Casualty tested separately
Passing scoreScaled score of 70 (0–100 scale), set by TDCI
License application fee$50 filing fee via NIPR (+ ~$5.60 transaction fee); 48-hr wait after exam
FingerprintingRequired — IdentoGO, ~$35–$42, after passing the exam
License term2 years — expires last day of birth month; renewal $60
CE requirement24 hrs per biennium incl. 3 hrs ethics (T.C.A. § 56-6-107)

The six steps

  1. 1

    Skip pre-licensing education — Tennessee doesn't require it

    Tennessee eliminated mandatory pre-licensing education effective March 21, 2023 (2023 Tenn. Pub. Acts, ch. 57). That makes it one of the newest exam-only states — you can go straight to focused exam prep. Our $49.99 Tennessee course gets you exam-ready in 2-4 weeks, and unprepared candidates fail at a meaningful rate, so don't walk in cold.

  2. 2

    Schedule your Pearson VUE exam(s)

    Tennessee contracts with Pearson VUE. Register at pearsonvue.com/us/en/tn/insurance.html, then choose a test center or OnVUE online proctoring. Heads up: unlike most states, Tennessee administers Property and Casualty as two separate exams — $55 each, but scheduling both on a single reservation drops the total to $80 versus $110 booked separately.

  3. 3

    Pass the exam

    Each Tennessee major-lines exam has 68 scoreable questions (50 general knowledge + 18 Tennessee-specific) plus 9 unscored pretest questions, with 1 hour 45 minutes per exam. You need a scaled score of 70 to pass — TDCI sets 70 as the passing standard on a 0–100 scaled-score scale, and your result is reported as pass/fail (failing candidates also receive a numeric diagnostic score). If you fail, you can rebook after 24 hours, paying the exam fee again each time.

  4. 4

    Get fingerprinted through IdentoGO

    After passing, Tennessee requires a fingerprint-based background check through IdentoGO (identogo.com — select Department of Commerce and Insurance, then Insurance Producers). The fee runs roughly $35-$42. TDCI recommends completing fingerprinting at least two business days before you submit your license application.

  5. 5

    Submit your license application through NIPR

    Apply online at nipr.com. Tennessee charges a $50 filing fee plus a small NIPR transaction fee (about $5.60). One quirk: you must wait 48 hours after taking the exam before filing electronically. Electronic applications process quickly; paper applications take about 15 days.

  6. 6

    Get appointed by an insurance carrier

    A producer license alone doesn't authorize you to sell — Tennessee law says you can't engage in the business of insurance until you're contracted by a licensed insurer. The carrier files the appointment with TDCI; if you're joining an agency, they'll typically handle this for you.

What's on the Tennessee P&C exams

Unlike most states, Tennessee splits Property and Casualty into two separate exams. Each has 68 scoreable questions (50 general knowledge + 18 Tennessee-specific) plus 9 unscored pretest questions and a 1 hour 45 minute time limit. Question counts below are from the official Pearson VUE content outlines (effective October 15, 2025):

Property exam

  • Types of policies (HO forms, dwelling, commercial, inland marine, flood) — 22 questions
  • Insurance terms and related concepts — 15 questions
  • Policy provisions and contract law — 13 questions
  • Tennessee laws common to all lines (T.C.A. Title 56, ch. 6) — 14 questions
  • Tennessee laws pertinent to property insurance only — 4 questions

Casualty exam

  • Types of policies, bonds, and related terms (CGL, auto, workers comp, umbrella) — 23 questions
  • Insurance terms and related concepts — 15 questions
  • Policy provisions — 12 questions
  • Tennessee laws common to all lines — 14 questions
  • Tennessee laws pertinent to casualty insurance only — 4 questions

On both exams, the 18 Tennessee-specific questions lean heavily on producer licensing rules, unfair trade practices, and cancellation/nonrenewal law — the sections most self-taught candidates skip. Try our free Tennessee practice exam to see where you stand before booking with Pearson VUE.

Why Tennessee's process is different

Two things set Tennessee apart. First, it's one of the newest exam-only states — pre-licensing education was mandatory until March 2023, so plenty of older guides (and even some course providers) still tell you to buy a 20-40 hour course you don't need. Second, Tennessee tests Property and Casualty separately rather than as one combined exam, which changes your scheduling math: putting both exams on one reservation costs $80 combined, versus $110 if you book them separately. Also note the 48-hour waiting period between taking your exam and filing your NIPR application — build it into your timeline.

CE requirements after licensing

Tennessee producer licenses run on a biennial cycle tied to your birth month: your license expires on the last day of your birth month every two years, and renewal costs $60. Each cycle you need 24 hours of TDCI-approved continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics, completed before your expiration date (T.C.A. § 56-6-107) — if your CE isn't on file by the last day of your birth month, your license goes inactive immediately. A repeated course only counts again after two years, and producers continuously licensed since January 1, 1994 are exempt.

Cost breakdown

  • Exam-prep course: $49.99 with Elite Training Academy (lifetime access, 500+ practice questions)
  • Pearson VUE exams: $80 for the combined Property + Casualty reservation (or $55 each, $110 total, booked separately)
  • IdentoGO fingerprinting: ~$35-$42
  • TDCI license application: $50 filing fee plus ~$5.60 NIPR transaction fee
  • Biennial renewal: $60 + CE course costs ($30-$200 depending on provider)

All-in, plan on roughly $220-$260 to go from zero to a licensed P&C producer — hundreds less than in states that still mandate pre-licensing coursework. A single-line license (Life only, for example) comes in around $190-$200.

Ready to start studying?

Start your Tennessee insurance license exam prep for $49.99 with lifetime access and 500+ practice questions per course — built around the official Pearson VUE content outlines.

See Tennessee exam prep courses →

Free quiz, no signup

Would you pass the Tennessee Property & Casualty exam today?

10 questions from our Tennessee Property & Casualty question bank, graded instantly. Want the longer version? Take the 20-question practice exam.

  1. 1. In a liability policy, when must the insured have an insurable interest?

  2. 2. Concealment in an insurance application means:

  3. 3. An 'additional insured' under a CGL typically is:

  4. 4. A Commercial Package Policy (CPP) combines what, at minimum, under one policy number?

  5. 5. The HO-2 Broad Form covers the dwelling and personal property on what basis?

  6. 6. The CGL's 'damage to your work' exclusion eliminates coverage for:

  7. 7. WC premium is rated on:

  8. 8. Which of the following is NOT one of the four essential elements of a valid contract?

  9. 9. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is administered by which federal agency?

  10. 10. A commercial lines insured decides mid-term to cancel its policy because it found cheaper coverage elsewhere. Which cancellation method will the insurer typically apply when calculating the unearned premium refund, and why?

Tennessee licensing requirements at a glance

Quoted from NIPR, "Tennessee resident licensing requirements, individual", read 2026-09-16. Confirm with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance before you apply.

State examInsurance Producer exams are required for Life, Accident & Health, Property, Casualty, Personal Lines and Title, and not required for Variable Contracts, Credit Products, Crop, Travel, Accident & Baggage, Bail Bondsman, Legal or Title Practice Attorney. Public Adjuster requires an exam. Surplus Lines Agent and Automobile Club Agent do not.
Background checkApplicants who must sit an exam submit a fingerprint-based criminal background check through IdentoGO and a signed Fingerprint Policy and Acknowledgement Form before the application is reviewed (Pearson VUE Tennessee handbook 124300, July 2025). The form is on the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance website.
How to applyApply electronically through NIPR's Resident License application.
Application feeInsurance Producer: $50 (amendment $50)Surplus Lines Agent: $120 (amendment $120)Automobile Club Agent: $20 (amendment $20)

Source: Tennessee resident licensing requirements, individual (NIPR, read 2026-09-16).

Tennessee insurance exams: published facts

  • LifeLife Agent: 68 scored questions, 105 minutes, administered by Pearson VUE, $55 exam fee. Tennessee does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.
  • HealthAccident and Health Agent: 68 scored questions, 105 minutes, administered by Pearson VUE, $55 exam fee. Tennessee does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.
  • PropertyProperty Agent: 68 scored questions, 105 minutes, administered by Pearson VUE, $55 exam fee. Tennessee does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.
  • CasualtyCasualty Agent: 68 scored questions, 105 minutes, administered by Pearson VUE, $55 exam fee. Tennessee does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.
  • Personal LinesPersonal Lines: 100 scored questions, 120 minutes, administered by Pearson VUE, $55 exam fee. Tennessee does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.
  • Public AdjusterPublic Adjuster: 50 scored questions, 60 minutes, administered by Pearson VUE, $50 exam fee. Tennessee does not publish a passing score for this examination, so treat the candidate handbook as the authority rather than any figure quoted elsewhere.

What the Tennessee Property Producer + Casualty Producer covers

Section weights from Pearson VUE publication #124301, effective 2025-10-15.

I. Types of Policies16.176% (22 of 136)
II. Insurance Terms and Related Concepts11.029% (15 of 136)
III. Policy Provisions and Contract Law18.382% (25 of 136)
IV. Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms16.912% (23 of 136)
V. Insurance Terms and Related Concepts (Casualty emphasis)11.029% (15 of 136)
VI. Tennessee Insurance Code and Department of Commerce and Insurance20.588% (28 of 136)
VII. Tennessee Statutes Pertinent to Property and Casualty5.882% (8 of 136)

Everything for Tennessee in one place

Frequently asked questions

Does Tennessee require pre-licensing education?

No. Tennessee eliminated mandatory pre-licensing education effective March 21, 2023 (2023 Tenn. Pub. Acts, ch. 57, amending T.C.A. § 56-6-105). You can go straight to the Pearson VUE exam. A solid exam-prep course is strongly recommended — the exam covers both general insurance knowledge and Tennessee-specific law from Title 56 — but it's not legally required.

How many questions is the Tennessee insurance exam?

Each Tennessee major-lines exam (Life, Accident & Health, Property, Casualty) has 68 scoreable questions — 50 general knowledge plus 18 Tennessee-specific — along with 9 unscored pretest questions, for 77 total. You get 1 hour 45 minutes per exam. Note that Tennessee tests Property and Casualty as two separate exams.

How much does the Tennessee insurance exam cost?

$55 per exam through Pearson VUE. If you're going for a full P&C license, scheduling the Property and Casualty exams together on one reservation is $80 — cheaper than the $110 you'd pay booking them separately. Fees are nonrefundable, so prep before you book.

What score do you need to pass the Tennessee insurance exam?

A scaled score of 70. The Department of Commerce and Insurance sets 70 as the passing score on a 0–100 scaled-score scale — this is a scaled score, not a raw percentage of questions correct. Passing candidates receive a pass result; failing candidates get a numeric score with section-by-section diagnostics. Aim to score comfortably above 70% on practice exams before booking.

How much does a Tennessee insurance license cost in total?

Roughly $220-$260 all-in for a P&C license: $49.99 for exam prep, $80-$110 for the Property and Casualty exams, $35-$42 for IdentoGO fingerprinting, and $50 for the TDCI filing fee plus about $5.60 in NIPR transaction fees. A single-line license (like Life only) runs closer to $190-$200.

How long does it take to get a Tennessee insurance license?

Typically 3-5 weeks. With no pre-licensing requirement, the timeline is mostly study time: 2-4 weeks of exam prep, then pass the Pearson VUE exam, complete IdentoGO fingerprinting, wait the required 48 hours after your exam, and file through NIPR — electronic applications usually process within days.

Does Tennessee require fingerprinting for an insurance license?

Yes. All new resident producer applicants must complete a fingerprint-based background check through IdentoGO after passing the exam (roughly $35-$42). TDCI recommends getting fingerprinted at least two business days before submitting your license application so the results are on file.

What are Tennessee's continuing education requirements?

Under T.C.A. § 56-6-107, resident producers must complete 24 hours of TDCI-approved continuing education every two years, including 3 hours of ethics, by the last day of their birth month. Licenses renew biennially for a $60 fee. Producers continuously licensed since January 1, 1994 are exempt from CE.

Related guides

Sources cited

This guide is based on TDCI, Pearson VUE, and NIPR published procedures current as of 2026. Fees and procedures change — always verify current requirements at tn.gov/commerce/insurance before relying on any specific number.