Tennessee Insurance License: Requirements, Fees, and Renewal
Complete 2026 guide for new and renewing Tennessee insurance agents
Whether you are earning your initial Tennessee insurance producer license or managing ongoing renewal compliance for an established agency, this comprehensive guide covers the essential regulatory rules. Below you will find licensing requirements, continuing education guidelines, examination steps, and biennial renewal schedules current for 2026.
Insurance producer licensing is administered by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Insurance Division. Pre-licensing courses and licensing examinations are delivered through authorized educational providers, while applications and biennial renewals are processed online via NIPR and SBS.
Tennessee Insurance License Types
Tennessee 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 & Coverage Scope |
|---|---|
| Property & 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 & 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 Producer | Placing specialty and non-admitted coverage for unique or complex commercial risks not available in the admitted market. |
| Public Adjuster | Investigating, negotiating, and resolving property claims on behalf of insured policyholders. |
How to Get a Tennessee Insurance License
Step 1: Complete Exam Preparation
Tennessee does not mandate a formal classroom pre-licensing curriculum prior to taking the state exam, but completing an exam prep course through recognized providers such as Kaplan, ExamFX, or AD Banker is strongly recommended. Study packages generally range between $150 and $400 depending on study format.
Step 2: Pass the State Licensing Exam
Tennessee insurance licensing examinations are administered through Pearson VUE. The examination tests national insurance principles alongside Tennessee-specific insurance statutes and administrative regulations. A passing score of 70% or higher is required.
Step 3: Complete Fingerprinting and Submit Application
Following a passing examination score, submit your official producer application online via NIPR. The state licensing application fee is $60 per line of authority. Resident applicants must also complete a state and FBI criminal background check with digital electronic fingerprinting through IdentoGO by IDEMIA (typically costing $35 to $45).
Tennessee License Renewal and CE Requirements
Individual producer licenses in Tennessee are renewed every 2 years, expiring on the last day of the producer’s birth month (in even-numbered years for even birth years, odd-numbered years for odd birth 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 individual resident and non-resident producers
- Submission Portal: Electronic renewal through NIPR or SBS
- Continuing Education Term: Resident producers must complete 24 hours of approved CE each cycle, strictly including 3 hours of approved ethics training; multi-line producers satisfy their full requirement across their active lines
Continuing Education Overview
Tennessee CE requirements
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$60
This is the current standard resident individual producer renewal fee/rule. Fees can differ by line of authority, license class, appointment status, transaction method, or business-entity license.
Non-Resident Tennessee Licensing
Producers licensed outside Tennessee who plan to transact business in the state must obtain a non-resident license. Under standard reciprocity rules, no examination is required provided you maintain an active resident license in good standing in your home state.
- Application Fee: $60 per line of authority
- Renewal Term: $60 every 2 years
- Continuing Education: Fully satisfied by fulfilling your home state CE requirements
- Application Method: Direct electronic filing via NIPR[cite: 5]
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 and Renewal Fee: $60 per biennial cycle[cite: 5]
- Designated Producer: The entity must appoint at least one active, licensed individual as the Designated Responsible Licensed Producer (DRLP)
- Compliance: Agency authority remains valid as long as the designated producer maintains active individual licensing
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