Common Questions About Licensing and Real Estate Careers in Tennessee

• Your Pre-Licensing Education. Complete 90 hours of approved Tennessee coursework. Our coursework includes interactive classes with a wide variety of package options to choose from.
• Pass the Course Exam. Finish all the course materials, and pass the course final exam.
• Pass the Tennessee Real Estate Affiliate Broker Exam. The Tennessee Affiliate Broker real estate licensing exam is administered by PSI, and you can schedule the exam right from their website. Check out the Tennessee Real Estate Candidate Handbook for more information. On your exam day, you’ll need to answer several questions truthfully:
  • Do you now hold a real estate or timeshare license in Tennessee or any other state?
  • Have you ever been refused a license or had a license revoked, suspended, reprimanded, or fined by any federal, state, or local government?
  • Have you ever been refused or had a real estate or timeshare salesperson license revoked, suspended, reprimanded, or fined?
  • Have you ever had a complaint filed against you with any regulatory agency or with any court?
  • 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 years?

  Your answer to these questions can affect your ability to become licensed in Tennessee.

• Submit Your Fingerprints For a Background Check. Get a criminal history background review by completing the fingerprinting process with IndentoGO®. For more information about the process, check out Tennessee’s Electronic Fingerprint Submission instructions.
• Find a Sponsoring Broker. Next, you’ll need a sponsoring broker. This is the final requirement before you can apply for your real estate Affiliate Broker license.
• Acquire Errors and Omissions Insurance. Tennessee requires all affiliate brokers and brokers to acquire this type of insurance, protecting you and your affiliate broker against negligence claims.
• Submit Required Documents to the State. You’ll need to submit these documents and completed forms to the State before being approved for licensure:
  • PSI Examination application
  • Proof of high school graduation
  • Certificate of completion from your pre-licensing education provider
  • Proof of Errors and Omissions insurance policy
  • Eligibility verification form.
• Complete the Application. Finally, you’ll need to apply for your Affiliate Broker license with the Tennessee Real Estate Commission. To do so, you’ll start by creating an account with Tennessee’s Online Portal.

The time it takes you to get your license depends on a few factors, but generally it takes candidates a couple months.

First, you must take and pass 90 course hours from an approved education provider to get a Real Estate Affiliate Broker license in Tennessee. If you treat your education like a 40-hour workweek, you can finish your education in just over two weeks. If you treat it like a part-time job, it will take you a little more than a month.

Then, you need to schedule and pass your licensing exam. The exam appointment availability will depend on whether you schedule an in-person or remote examination. PSI has a 1–2 business day processing period for them to ensure you’re eligible to take the exam.

Submitting the other forms and completing the application can add on some additional time.

• Your Pre-Licensing education in Tennessee costs about $400.
• Additional costs include the initial license fee of $91
• The examination fee of $63
• Errors and Omissions insurance which is around $10–$30 per month
• That brings the total to around $575.

The State of Tennessee says you must be at least 18 years of age to get your Tennessee Real Estate Affiliate Broker license.

Yes, someone who has committed a felony or misdemeanor may be able to get licensed in Tennessee. If you have, you’ll have to submit documentation to the Commission. If the crimes involved theft of money, service, or property, at least two years must have passed.

You may petition the Commission before taking your pre-licensing course or exam to see if you will be eligible for a license. You’ll have to complete and submit the Application For Decision Regarding Prior Criminal Conviction(s) and/or Disciplinary Sanction(s) form.

The examination fee for the Tennessee Affiliate Broker Exam is $63.

Tennessee does not have reciprocity with any state. So, if you’re a nonresident candidate, you’ll need to take and pass the Tennessee State Law portion of the exam. Plus, you’ll need to provide proof of 90 hours of real estate education as detailed in the link below.

You’ll need to complete and submit the Commission’s Education and Examination Valuation Worksheet and Preliminary Application for nonresidents and resident candidates that are currently licensed in another jurisdiction. You’ll need to send this worksheet to the Tennessee Real Estate Commission with a complete certified license history.

In Tennessee, Continuing Education (CE) requirements are due every two years by your license expiration date.

The CE requirements in Tennessee are the same for affiliate brokers and brokers. You must complete 16 hours of CE courses, including:

• 10 hours of elective courses
• A 6-hour CORE course

You don’t! Your education provider will report the completion of your CE courses to the TREC.

You can do a LOT with a Broker license in Tennessee, including:

• Help clients sell, lease, and buy properties
• Establish and manage your own real estate brokerage firm
• Supervise and hire other salespersons to work for you
• Become a property manager

One of the biggest advantages you have as a broker is the ability to hire other affiliate brokers to work for you — which can be financially rewarding!

Yes! To start your own business, you’ll need a Broker license. Then, you’ll be able to hire other affiliate brokers to work for you.

To get your Tennessee Broker license, you’ll need to follow the steps below:

• Meet the Experience Requirements. Before you qualify for a Tennessee Broker license, you must have at least three years of experience as a licensed affiliate broker. You can also qualify for a Broker license if you’ve graduated with a degree in real estate and have at least two years of experience as a licensed affiliate broker.
• Complete Your Pre-Licensing Education. Complete 30 hours of approved Tennessee Broker Pre-Licensing coursework. Our coursework includes interactive classes with a wide variety of package options to choose from.
• Pass the Course Exam. Finish all the course materials, and pass the course final exam.
• Pass the Tennessee Real Estate Broker Exam. The Tennessee Broker Real Estate Licensing Exam is administered by PSI, and you can schedule the exam right from their website. Check out the Tennessee Real Estate Candidate Handbook for more information.
• Submit Your Fingerprints For a Background Check. Get a criminal history background review by completing the fingerprinting process with IndentoGO®. For more information about the process, check out Tennessee’s Electronic Fingerprint Submission Instructions.
• Obtain Errors and Omissions Insurance. Because you’ll be operating a business, you’re required to have an active E&O insurance policy. You’ll need to show proof that this policy is in effect.
• Complete the Application. You’ll need to apply for your Broker license with the Tennessee Real Estate Commission. To do so, you’ll start by creating an account with Tennessee’s Online Portal.
• Complete 120 Hours of Post-Licensing Education. Finally, you will take an approved 120-Hr. Post-Licensing course to officially become a real estate broker. You have three years from the date of receiving your Broker license to do so.

Nashville, Tennessee is one of the best cities for real estate brokers to work in, and the salary shows. The average salary for Tennessee brokers is around $102,500 per year, according to Indeed. Some salaries are as high as $194,800.

Yes! Many salespersons choose to only work part time, and for good reason. You can sell properties full time to receive a high salary or sell just a few homes a year for some extra pocket money.

To find a real estate brokerage to work for in Tennessee, you can:

• Search Online. Conduct an online search looking for real estate brokers in your area. In general, brokers are looking for new agents and will be happy to talk to you.
• Talk to Other Agents. Get advice from other agents in your area!
• Consider an Online Brokerage. There are many real estate brokerages today that have a virtual office. You’ll meet with clients over the phone or in public places.
• Learn More Here. Check out our free resources for advice on how to find a real estate broker to work for!

You can start by Googling brokerages in your area. Make a list of brokerages you’d like to work with, and then contact them by phone or email. Check out our tips for choosing the right brokerage for you.

No. An affiliate broker must work under the direction, control, or management of a broker in Tennessee.

Some of the best skills salespersons can have include:

• Communication & Negotiation Skills. Good communication is imperative as a salesperson. You can learn good oral communication skills and negotiation strategies here.
• Market Insight. It’s important to stay up-to-date with industry changes in real estate. You can stay ahead of the competition by investing in professional development courses.
• Tech Savviness. Learning how to be tech-savvy is important to communicating with your clients and marketing your business well.
• Networking. Real estate is a career for social butterflies! Make sure to get out there and attend social events to network.