How to Get a License

Tennessee Real Estate Commission

The 1973 Tennessee Real Estate Brokers Act, Rules, and Regulations, along with the Tennessee Timeshare Act, govern whether or not a candidate will be issued a license. Successful completion of the examination does not guarantee the issuance of any license.
On the examination day candidates must answer a series of qualifying questions, listed below.
A "yes" answer to any of questions 1 through 5 may decrease a candidate's ability to become licensed in the state of Tennessee.
After candidates have completed the pre-licensing requirements, the commission will review the information provided and make a decision on their qualifications.

The Tennessee Real Estate Commission does not allow anyone on parole or probation to be scheduled for examination unless two (2) years have passed from the date of expiration of probation, conviction, or release from incarceration, whichever is later.

QUALIFYING QUESTIONS

  1. Do you now hold or have you ever held a real estate or timeshare license in Tennessee or any other state? If you hold or have held a license in another state(s), you must obtain a license certification from each state in which you are or were licensed. This application will not be processed until the certification(s) is received.
  2. Have you ever been refused a license or had a license revoked, suspended, reprimanded, or fined by any federal, state, or local government? (Do not include motor vehicle license.) If you voluntarily surrendered a license at a time that disciplinary action was pending against you or you were under investigation by a licensing body, governmental agency or professional organization you must provide information regarding the license surrender.
  3. Have you ever been refused or had a real estate or timeshare salesperson license revoked, suspended, reprimanded, or fined?
  4. Have you ever had a complaint filed against you with any regulatory agency or with any court?
  5. Have you been convicted of or pled nolo contendere or guilty to any felony or a misdemeanor involving the theft of services, money or property within the last ten (10) years?​
    • NOTE: Reckless Driving and/or DUI are misdemeanors and must be disclosed.
    • If you answer "yes" to question 5, the Commission requires you to submit a certified copy of your conviction record in addition to an affidavit providing details of each charge.
    • You may petition the Commission prior to taking or completing pre-license education and/or the licensing examination by submitting the  "Application for Decision Regarding Prior Criminal Conviction(s) and/or Disciplinary Sanctions(s)" which can be downloaded. This form along with all requested documentation will then be reviewed by the Commission and you will be notified of their decision.
  6. Are you at least 18 years of age?

The documentation described in each case above will be required by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission at the time a candidate passes the examination and wishes to apply for a license. The information should not be sent to PSI, nor should it be brought to the examination center.

Commission rule does not allow anyone on parole or probation to be scheduled for an examination. Candidates must be off parole or probation for a minimum of two (2) years. Candidates who violate this policy will not be licensed and will not be entitled to a refund of the examination fee.

All licensees are required to be fingerprinted as of January 1, 2014.  Click here for instructions [pdf].

All licensees are required to submit eligibility verification form for entitlements act attestation. click here for instructions [pdf].

While this information is deemed correct, the laws, policies and regulations do change and such changes might not be reflected on this website.

Affiliate broker candidates must complete sixty (60) hours of real estate education in real estate principles/fundamentals before they take the examination. Proof that the education described above has been completed will be forwarded by the school where the education was completed to PSI. You may not register for the examination until the school has provided that information to  PSI [pdf]. The school will also provide you a certificate or letter of course completion that you must submit to TREC with your application for licensure. Affiliate brokers licensed after 12/31/04 must have completed the 30-hour "Course for New Affiliates" prior to their license being issued and a letter or certificate of completion of the "Course for New Affiliates" must also be submitted with the license application.

Documents required for an affiliate broker’s license:

  • PSI Examination Application- obtained upon completion at testing center (application must be signed by Principal Broker)
  • Proof of High School Graduation
  • Proof of completion of pre-license education (60 hr. & 30 hr.)
  • Proof of errors and omissions insurance policy
  • Payment of all fees due. ($91.00)
  • Eligibility Verification
  • Electronic Fingerprinting

For faster processing please apply online at  core.tn.gov

Affiliate broker or Broker candidates that wish to retest and reapply must complete the following:

  • Contact TREC to be set up with PSI to retake the real estate exam at 1-855-340-3710.
    • Please visit core.tn.gov and register for a new account if you do not have one. Once registered you can add your existing expired license to the account and request to Reapply. Please provide the following information:
      • Name:
      • Date of Birth:
      • Current Address:
      • Previous license number:
      • Email address 
  • Once set up to take the exam the licensee will need to contact PSI at 1-855-340-3710. TREC does not offer exam study material.
    Affiliate brokers licensed before 12/31/04 must complete the 30-hour "Course for New Affiliates" prior to their new license being issued and a letter or certificate of completion of the "Course for New Affiliates" must also be submitted with the license application.
    Documents required for an affiliate broker’s license:
    • PSI Examination Application- obtained upon completion at testing center (application must be signed by Principal Broker)
    • Proof of High School Graduation
    • Proof of completion of pre-license education
    • Proof of errors and omissions insurance policy
    • Eligibility Verification
    • Electronic Fingerprinting
    • Payment of all fees due. ($91.00)

To be eligible for the examination, broker candidates must have held an ACTIVE license that meets one of these criteria:

  • Twenty-four (24) months actively licensed, if licensed as an affiliate broker on or before May 12, 1988
  • Thirty-six (36) months actively licensed, if licensed as an affiliate broker after May 12, 1988
  • Twenty-four (24) months actively licensed, if the candidate has a baccalaureate degree with a major in real estate.

In addition to experience, broker candidates must have successfully completed one hundred twenty (120) classroom hours of approved real estate education, thirty (30) hours of which must be an "Office/Broker Management" course taken at a school approved by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission.


Broker candidates must submit the completed Broker Examination Application [pdf] to the Tennessee Real Estate Commission. Commission approval is necessary before the broker candidate may make an examination appointment. After completing a review of education and experience documentation, the Tennessee Real Estate Commission will inform candidates of eligibility for examination. The approval process takes approximately four (4) weeks to complete. Candidates may make an examination reservation after they have been approved.

Documents required for a broker’s license:

  • PSI Examination Application- obtained upon completion at testing center (application must be signed by Principal Broker)
  • Proof of errors and omissions insurance policy.
  • Payment of all fees due. ($91.00)
  • Eligibility Verification
  • Proof of 30 Hr. Office Broker Management 
  • Fingerprints if not currently an active affiliate with TN 

For faster processing please apply online at  core.tn.gov

POST-LICENSING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

Brokers licensed after January 1, 2001 must complete one hundred-twenty (120) additional hours of Commission approved education before the third anniversary of their broker license. Failure to comply with the post-broker education requirement will result in non-issuance of a license renewal. Brokers licensed after January 1, 2005 must complete continuing education requirements after completing the 120- hour post license requirement. 

Broker candidates that wish to retest and reapply must complete the following:

  • Contact TREC to be set up with PSI to retake the real estate exam.
    • Please visit core.tn.gov and register for a new account if you do not have one. Once registered you can add your existing expired license to the account and request to Reapply. Please provide the following information:​
      • Name:
      • Date of Birth:
      • Current Address:
      • Email address
  • Once set up to take the exam the licensee will need to contact PSI at 1-855-340-3710. TREC does not offer exam study material.

    Documents required for a broker’s license:
    • PSI Examination Application- obtained upon completion at testing center (application must be signed by Principal Broker)
    • Proof of completion of 30 hr office broker management
    • Proof of errors and omissions insurance policy
    • Eligibility Verification
    • Electronic Fingerprinting
    • Payment of all fees due. ($91.00)

POST-LICENSING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

  • Brokers licensed after January 1, 2001 must complete one hundred-twenty (120) additional hours of Commission approved education before the third anniversary of their broker license. Failure to comply with the post-broker education requirement will result in non-issuance of a license renewal.
    Brokers licensed after January 1, 2005 must complete continuing education requirements after completing the 120- hour post license requirement.

 

Designated Agent License Application [pdf]

  • All applicants must have completed the required approved 8 hour pre license course and the certificate of completion must accompany this application. 
  • The applicant must be at least 18 years of age.
  •  The applicant must provide proof which the Commission determines satisfactory, that they have a high school degree or a general educational development certificate (GED).
  • Eligibility Verification 
  • Electronic Fingerprinting​

For faster processing please apply online at core.tn.gov

  • PSI Examination Application- obtained upon completion at testing center (application must be signed by Principal Broker)
  • Candidates must present a completed Timeshare Salesperson Candidate Pre-license Verification form at the examination center. ($91.00)

After testing please visit core.tn.gov and register for a new account if you do not have one. Once registered you can apply for your Initial Timeshare License. Documents required:

For faster processing please apply online at core.tn.gov  

Candidates must contact PSI Customer Service [pdf] to make an examination reservation at 1-855-340-3710. The application for licensure will be issued at the examination center to candidates who pass the examination. ($100.00)

  • PSI Examination Application- obtained upon completion at testing center (application must be signed by Principal Broker)
  • Electronic Fingerprinting

Alternate Procedures for Licensing Real Estate Candidates Currently Licensed in Another Jurisdiction Seeking a Tennessee License

You must pass the Tennessee (state law) portion of the examination for the same type of license you have in your resident state. Please Click Here (Worksheet A) [pdf] to download a worksheet which will assist you in determining your requirements for seeking a Tennessee real estate license. You must send TREC this completed worksheet and a "Certified License History" from all the states where you hold or have held a real estate license to TREC.info@tn.gov. Upon review of your request, TREC will notify you of your examination requirement(s).
 Please Note: The firm and principal broker where you are affiliated must also hold an active Tennessee real estate license.
non-resident firm application may be obtained by Clicking Here [pdf].

Enclosing the following documents with the "Worksheet A" may expedite the evaluation of your request:

  • Certificates showing completion of pre-license education
  • Certificates showing completion of continuing education

Once TREC has received and reviewed the above documents

Documents required for a broker’s license:

  • PSI Examination Application- obtained upon completion at testing center (application must be signed by Principal Broker)
  • Proof of errors and omissions insurance policy.
  • Payment of all fees due. ($91.00)
  • Eligibility Verification
  • Electronic Fingerprinting

If you hold or have held a real estate license in another state and are now resident of Tennessee, you may still qualify under Tennessee statute to have your real estate education, the national portion of the exam and/or your experience (if applying for a broker license) substitute for Tennessee's education, national portion of the examination and/or experience. Please Click Here (Worksheet A) [pdf] to download a worksheet which will assist you in determining your requirements for seeking a Tennessee real estate license. You must send TREC this completed worksheet and a "Certified License History" from all the states where you hold or have held a real estate license to TREC.info@tn.gov. Upon review of your request, TREC will notify you of your examination requirements to obtain a Tennessee real estate license.

Please Note: The firm and principal broker where you are affiliated must also hold an active Tennessee real estate license.

Enclosing the following documents with "Worksheet A" may expedite the evaluation of your request:

  • Certificates showing completion of pre-license education
  • Certificates showing completion of continuing education
  • Electronic Fingerprinting

New firm applications must include the following:

Apply online at core.tn.gov  

Vacation Lodging Service Application [pdf]

Send the completed application to: 
Attn: [TN Department of Real Estate] 
The Department of Commerce & Insurance 
500 James Robertson Parkway 
Nashville, TN 37243

Application for Registration of Timeshare Development [pdf]

Send the completed application to: 
Attn: [TN Department of Real Estate] 
The Department of Commerce & Insurance 
500 James Robertson Parkway 
Nashville, TN 37243

Licensees that have been expired more than 1 (one) year MUST retest and reapply to current requirements. Licensees that have NOT been expired more than 12 months may be able to reinstate with fees.

Please register at core.tn.gov for an account, add your expired license to the account and request reinstatement/reactivation:

  • Full Name
  • Email address
  • Current mailing address
  • Telephone number

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