Tennessee Insurance License Requirements and Renewal Guide
Complete 2026 guide for new and renewing Tennessee insurance agents
Tennessee Insurance License Types
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance issues producer credentials categorized by specific lines of authority. Independent insurance professionals and agencies operating in the Volunteer State commonly maintain one or more of the following license categories:
| License Type | Lines of Authority and Coverage Scope |
|---|---|
| Property and Casualty Producer | Personal and commercial lines coverage including automobile, homeowners, commercial property, general liability, and surety bonds. |
| Life Producer | Individual and group life insurance products, annuities, and endowments. |
| Accident and Health Producer | Major medical plans, Medicare supplements, disability income, dental, and vision insurance. |
| Personal Lines Producer | Personal automobile and residential property policies without commercial writing authority. |
| Surplus Lines Agent | Placing specialty and nonadmitted coverage for unique or complex commercial risks not available in the admitted market. Requires an active underlying producer license. |
How to Get a Tennessee Insurance License
Step 1: Complete Exam Preparation
Tennessee does not mandate a formal classroom prelicensing curriculum prior to taking the state exam. However, completing an exam prep course through recognized education providers is strongly recommended to ensure a passing score on the rigorous state examination.
Step 2: Pass the State Licensing Exam
Tennessee insurance licensing examinations are administered exclusively through Pearson VUE. The examination tests national insurance principles alongside Tennessee specific insurance statutes and administrative regulations. A passing score of 70 percent or higher is required to move forward.
Step 3: Complete Fingerprinting and Submit Application
Following a passing examination score, submit your official producer application online via NIPR. The initial state licensing application fee is $50 per line of authority. Resident applicants must also complete a state and FBI criminal background check with digital electronic fingerprinting through IdentoGO by IDEMIA, which typically costs around $37 to $45.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance typically approves complete electronic applications within a few business days once Pearson VUE exam scores and IdentoGO background clearances are successfully verified. Complete your digital fingerprinting session immediately upon passing your examination to prevent unnecessary processing holds.
Tennessee License Renewal and CE Requirements
Individual producer licenses in Tennessee are renewed every 2 years, expiring exactly on the last day of the producer’s birth month. Licensees born in even numbered years renew in even numbered years, while those born in odd numbered years renew in odd numbered years. Completing your required continuing education well ahead of the deadline ensures uninterrupted authority to bind coverage.
Standard Renewal Guidelines
- State Renewal Fee: $60 for major lines individual resident and nonresident producers.
- Submission Portal: Electronic renewal through NIPR or State Based Systems.
- Continuing Education Term: Resident producers must complete 24 hours of approved CE each cycle, strictly including 3 hours of approved ethics training. Multiline producers satisfy their full requirement across their active lines. Up to 12 excess CE hours may be carried forward to the next renewal cycle.
Continuing Education Overview
Producers licensed outside Tennessee who plan to transact business in the state must obtain a nonresident license. Under standard reciprocity rules, no examination is required provided you maintain an active resident license in good standing in your home state. The nonresident application fee is subject to retaliatory rules but generally starts at $50, with a $60 renewal fee every two years. Continuing education is fully satisfied by fulfilling your home state CE requirements.
Tennessee Agency Entity Licensing
Corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships operating as insurance agencies in Tennessee must maintain an agency business entity license in addition to individual agent credentials.
- Initial Application Fee: $50 per entity.
- Renewal Fee: $60 per biennial cycle.
- Designated Producer: The entity must appoint at least one active, licensed individual as the Designated Responsible Licensed Producer.
- Compliance: Agency authority remains valid as long as the designated producer maintains active individual licensing and the entity completes its biennial renewal on time.