Real Estate Agent License Requirements in Tennessee
- Training hours
- 90 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $154
- Exam
- Tennessee Affiliate Broker Real Estate Examination (National and State portions)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Be at least 18 years old, Proof of high school graduation (or equivalent), plus 60 hours of pre-licensing real estate principles/fundamentals education and the 30-hour Course for New Affiliates (see training)., pass a criminal background check. Per Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-13-303, an applicant must be at least 18 years old. Applicants must submit electronic fingerprints via IdentoGO (TREC service code 28TZ99, ORI# TN920784Z) for Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and FBI background checks, and submit the electronic fingerprinting receipt with the application. A sponsoring Principal Broker is required: the PSI Examination Application obtained at the testing center must be signed by the applicant's Principal Broker. Proof of errors and omissions (E&O) insurance is also required. [1]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 90 hours of training at a state-approved program. 60 hours of real estate education in real estate principles/fundamentals, completed and confirmed by the school directly to PSI before the candidate can register for the exam, plus a separate 30-hour 'Course for New Affiliates' that must be completed before the license is issued (a letter/certificate of completion for the 30-hour course must be submitted with the license application). [1]
- 3
Tennessee Affiliate Broker Real Estate Examination (National and State portions)
Pass the Tennessee Affiliate Broker Real Estate Examination (National and State portions) (fee: $63). $63 for the full exam (both portions); $37 for National Only, $26 for State Only if only one portion needs retaking. A passing score on one section remains valid for 2 retakes of the failed section or 6 months, whichever comes first. The exam fee is valid for one year and is non-refundable/non-transferable. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) with the $91 application fee. [3]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) issues your Affiliate Broker License for Tennessee.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [3] | $91 |
| License fee [3] | None specified |
| Renewal fee [3] | $75 |
| Tennessee Affiliate Broker Real Estate Examination (National and State portions) [2] | $63 |
The $91 Initial Affiliate application fee covers the full initial licensing process; TREC's own fee schedule does not list a further separate license-issuance fee. Renewal is $75 every 2 years for both Affiliate Brokers and Brokers. Late renewal penalties are $50/month for the first 120 days past expiration, rising to $100/month for days 121-365; after 1 year expired, the licensee must retest and reapply (or, after 2 years expired, may instead take an approved 30-hour T.R.A.C.E. course to reinstate).
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years. 16 continuing education hours required per cycle.
Renewal is every 2 years. Active Affiliate Brokers and Brokers must complete 16 hours of continuing education, including the mandatory 6-hour TREC Core Course, before renewing. Reactivating a retired license also requires 16 CE hours completed within the current renewal period. Retired licenses do not require CE but must still be renewed every 2 years by paying the renewal fee.
Reciprocity
No reciprocity or endorsement route was found.
TREC's own Renewal, Reciprocity & Other Resources page states plainly: 'The Tennessee Real Estate Commission does not offer a reciprocal license at this time.' A real estate license from another state cannot be used to 'partner' with a Tennessee licensee to conduct business requiring a Tennessee license — an individual Tennessee license must be obtained. However, an out-of-state licensee may still qualify under Tennessee statute to have their real estate education and/or the National portion of the exam and/or experience substitute for Tennessee's own requirements, by submitting TREC's 'Worksheet A' and a Certified License History from every state where they hold or have held a license, for individualized review by a TREC licensing specialist; this is a substitution/credit mechanism, not a formal reciprocal or endorsement license.
Cost calculator
- $91
- $63
Frequently asked questions
What education is required to get an Affiliate Broker license in Tennessee?
90 hours total: 60 hours of real estate principles/fundamentals before the exam, plus a separate 30-hour 'Course for New Affiliates' completed before the license is issued.
Who administers the Tennessee real estate exam, and what does it cost?
PSI. The full exam (National and State portions) costs $63; retaking just the National portion costs $37, and just the State portion costs $26.
Does Tennessee require a sponsoring broker?
Yes. The PSI Examination Application must be signed by the applicant's Principal Broker before submission with the license application.
Does Tennessee have reciprocity with other states?
No. TREC states it 'does not offer a reciprocal license at this time.' However, out-of-state licensees may request that their education, the National exam portion, and/or experience substitute for Tennessee's requirements via a case-by-case review (Worksheet A plus a Certified License History).
What are the continuing education requirements to renew?
16 hours of CE every 2 years, including the mandatory 6-hour TREC Core Course, alongside a $75 renewal fee.
Sources
- [1] tn.gov/commerce/regboards/trec/license/license-how-to/affiliate-broker.html — accessed 2026-07-12
- [2] tn.gov/commerce/regboards/trec/license/psi.html — accessed 2026-07-12
- [3] tn.gov/commerce/regboards/trec/license/fees.html — accessed 2026-07-12
- [4] tn.gov/commerce/regboards/trec/license/renewal-reciprocity-resources.html — accessed 2026-07-12