How to get insurance license in TN

Tennessee License Requirements

To qualify for the Tennessee insurance license exam, you must complete a pre-licensing insurance course that is certified by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Upon passing the pre-licensing course final exam, you will be awarded a Certificate of Course Completion.

Our Tennessee pre-licensing insurance courses cover the various insurance concepts, definitions, insurance laws and agent regulations listed on the Tennessee Examination Content Outline. Courses are presented in a clear and concise format and include instructional videos, interactive illustrations, practice exams, and student support.

National Online Insurance School is certified by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance to offer the following courses:

Upon completing your pre-licensing insurance course, you must register with Pearson Vue to take your state insurance exam. Exam reservations can be made online at the Pearson Vue website or over the phone at (800) 274-4957.

Expected cost

Insurance Exam Fee: $59.00

About the state exam

• You are required to provide a copy of your pre-licensing Certificate of Course Completion and two current forms of identification at the testing center. The name on the identification must exactly match the name on the registration. The primary identification must be government-issued and photo-bearing with a signature, such as a driver's license, passport, etc. The secondary identification must contain a valid signature and must not be expired, such as a Debit (ATM) or Credit card.
• Exam times are typically available in the morning, afternoon and early evening at various locations throughout the state
• You should arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow time for check-in procedures. If you arrive late, you will not be allowed to take your exam and will forfeit your exam fee.
• Applicants with disabilities should make special arrangements before registering for the state exam by contacting the testing administrator at (800) 466-0450
• Passing score is 70%

Review our Insurance License Exam Tips to learn more about the state exam format and the types of questions asked on the exam, as well as additional test-taking tips to help you prepare for your exam day.

Important
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance requires that an applicant who fails his or her state exam must wait 30 days before they are eligible to reschedule. If an applicant has not passed the exam within 6 months of their first attempt, he or she is required to retake a pre-licensing course.

You must schedule an appointment to submit electronic fingerprints to complete a background check. Fingerprints are required by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance to ensure that applicants do not have a disqualifying criminal or social services background that would prevent them from being a licensed insurance agent.

Expected cost

Electronic Fingerprints Fee: $42.00

You can apply for an insurance license through the Vertafore website. Click the button below and follow the steps to complete your application:

1. Click 'Apply for a license' from the menu on the left
2. Click the New Insurance License button within the 'New Insurance Licenses' section
3. Choose 'Resident,' then choose 'Individual,' and click the Continue button
4. Enter your email address
5. Enter your information and choose the state you wish to apply for a license, then click continue
6. Select 'Resident Agent' as your license type and continue
7. Select the types of license(s) you wish to apply for and continue
8. Enter all requested information and submit payment

License qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age
• A resident of the state of Tennessee
• Complete the required pre-licensing course hours for the lines of authority for which you are applying
• Pass the state insurance exam for the lines of authority for which you are applying
• Must not have committed any act that is a ground for denial, suspension, or revocation of license

Expected cost

Application Fee: $50.00

Getting your Tennessee insurance license is the first step to becoming an insurance agent in Tennessee. Whether you’re interested in selling property and casualty insurance, life insurance, health insurance, or any combination of those lines of authority, this article has the information you need to get started.

The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance has a 6-step process on how to become an insurance agent in Tennessee. We’ll walk you through step-by-step; from the license application to insurance test prep, to the Tennessee insurance exam, and beyond.

This guide has everything you need to know to get your TN insurance license quickly and easily.

How to Get Your Tennessee Insurance License

Getting your insurance license in Tennessee is easy! Just follow our step-by-step guide. Be sure to bookmark this page so that you can visit it again throughout this process.

Step 1. Which Insurance Licenses Do You Need?

The first step to getting your insurance license is choosing which licenses you need. The most common licenses new insurance agents get are the property & casualty license (P&C), life and health insurance license (L&H).

The types of insurance products and policies you’ll be selling will determine which licenses you need. Here are some examples of the types of policies you can market with each license:

Most insurance agents and producers choose to get both P&C and L&H licenses, but if you plan on specializing in only one category then you don’t need every license.

Insurance adjusters require a separate license. You can find more information on becoming an insurance adjuster here: Tennessee Insurance Adjuster License

If you plan on specializing as a life insurance agent, then you may also need to hold a certain FINRA securities license.

Step 2. Tennessee Insurance Pre-License Education

After you’ve determined which licenses you need, you must now take your Tennessee insurance pre-license education courses.

Most folks choose to take their insurance pre-license course online. These courses are created specifically to give you the skills you need to pass the test. The types of licenses you choose (also known as “lines of authority”) will determine which courses you take.

Each line of authority in Tennessee requires twenty (20) hours of pre-license education. This means that if you wish to get a Property and Casualty license, you must take forty (40) hours of pre-licensing, and for Life, Accident, and Health you must also take forty (40) hours.

You will receive a certificate upon completion of the course. Keep this certificate, as you will need it when taking your exam.

Step 3. Tennessee Insurance License Exam

The next step after completing all of your pre-license coursework or self-study is to take the insurance exam. You will take one exam for each line of insurance you wish to carry.

Even though each line has its own exam, Tennessee offers “back-to-back” exams for Property and Casualty, as well as Life and Health lines. This means that you will take these exams on the same day, and pay only for one test sitting. This will essentially be half the cost of your exams if you pass them all on the first attempt.

This is a proctored test, which means that you will be in a controlled environment with a person watching over you. For people who haven’t tested in a situation like this should be aware of this fact, and work on taming their nerves prior to sitting for the exam.

The fee for each attempt of the “back-to-back” exams is $59. When you show up you must have a photo ID any other documents that the testing facility has asked you to bring. You must also bring your pre-license certification. If you don’t have this certification at your testing appointment, you will not be allowed to test and your fee will be forfeited.

Each insurance license test is split into two sections: General Knowledge (50 questions) and State Specific (18 questions). Pearson VUE offers specific content outlines for each of the exams here: Pearson VUE Tennessee Insurance Exam Content Outline.

Check out our Insurance Exam Guide. It’s extremely in-depth, and will hopefully help you pass the first time.

Insurance license tests are intentionally difficult, but not impossible by any means. You should study to the point of comfortability with the information before you attempt the test. Failing the exam isn’t the end of the world, but keep in mind that you will need to pay the fee each time you attempt the test.

StateRequirement recommends that you study for one exam at a time, then after passing, starting on your next line. The exams are difficult enough on their own without confusing information from one line to another.

Check out our review of the Kaplan Insurance Course.

You may register to take your exams and find more information on the Pearson VUE Tennessee Insurance page. More information about the insurance exams is provided in the Pearson VUE Tennessee Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook.

Step 4. Fingerprinting And Background Check

The State of Tennessee requires that all insurance license applications provide fingerprints prior to licensing. Giving your fingerprints will initiate a background check. If you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies, this may affect the outcome of your licensing efforts. For more information on this topic, call the Tennessee Department of Insurance at (615) 741-2693 or email the department.

Fingerprinting must be completed through IdentoGo. You will schedule an appointment at one of the locations in Tennessee, and they will electronically record your fingerprint information using LiveScan (as opposed to ink and paper). If you do not have a service code, select “Don’t Know Your Service Code” and then choose the Department of Commerce and Insurance.

The fee for fingerprint services is $42. Your fingerprints will be submitted automatically to the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance. 

Step 5. Tennessee Insurance License Application

After you have completed all of your required pre-licensing education, the next step is to apply for your license. If you have more than one line of authority that you have taken the education for, be sure to apply for all of those lines.

The fee for an online application is $50 plus the $5.60 transaction fee. This fee covers all the lines you are applying for at the time. If you wish to add lines to your license at a later date, the $50 fee will be charged again. If you wait more than 6 months between adding lines, you will need to have your fingerprints taken again.

Apply for your license online with the NIPR Tennessee website.

After you submit your application, be sure to submit the Fingerprint Policy and Acknowledgement Form to the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance.

Step 6. Application Review

Once you have submitted your application and passed your exams, your license application will be reviewed by the state. Your background check will also be reviewed.

If everything is to acceptable standards your license should be issued quickly. If there are any items from your background check that need to be reviewed, it may slow down the process of issuance. If this is the case, the state may contact you to provide context to the issues that they have run into.

The review should take about ten (10) business days to complete. After the review is completed and your license is issued, the insurance department will mail you a hard copy of your license.

If you wish to look up your license status, you may do so with the State Based Systems License Search Tool.

Congratulations!

You’ve done the work, put in the time and effort, and now hold the key to your own success!  We’re proud of you. Take five (5) minutes and celebrate.

After Getting Your Tennessee Insurance License

Once you’ve passed your exams and completed the licensing application, you are now a licensed insurance agent in Tennessee. A common question we hear is, “I have my insurance license, now what?” Here are a few things you can do or need to know:

Tennessee Department of Insurance Contact Information

Mailing Address:
Insurance Division500 James Robertson Parkway

Nashville, Tennessee 37243