How to get a life and health insurance license in Tennessee
Last updated
The steps to become a licensed life or accident and health insurance producer in Tennessee, from the Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI), Pearson VUE and NIPR.
The steps
- Study for the exam. Each exam has 50 general questions and 18 on Tennessee law. No pre-licensing course is required for Life or Accident and Health; TDCI lists one only for title insurance. See the exam guide Coming soon.
- Schedule and pass the exam with Pearson VUE. Book online or call (800) 274-4957. The fee is $55 per exam ($80 for both together online with OnVUE). You can test at a center or online with OnVUE. Pearson sends your score to TDCI electronically.
- Get fingerprinted. TDCI requires a fingerprint-based background check through IdentoGO and asks you to do it at least 2 business days before you apply. NIPR says applicants who take an exam must also send a signed Fingerprint Policy and Acknowledgement form.
- Apply for the license. Wait 48 hours after the exam, then apply online through NIPR with the $50 filing fee. The Pearson VUE handbook says application and filing fees are good for one year from the date TDCI receives them.
- Get appointed. TDCI says the appointing insurer files a notice of appointment within 15 days from the date the agency contract is executed or the first insurance application is submitted.
Costs
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Life exam | $55 | Pearson VUE Tennessee insurance candidate handbook (#124300) |
| Accident and Health exam | $55 | Pearson VUE Tennessee insurance candidate handbook (#124300) |
| Both exams together (online with OnVUE) | $80 | Pearson VUE Tennessee insurance candidate handbook (#124300) |
| License application filing fee | $50 | TDCI insurance producer licensing procedure with exams |
NIPR adds its own transaction fee and IdentoGO charges for fingerprinting; neither amount is published on the pages above, so check them when you pay.
Good to know
- Your exam score is valid for 12 months for applying, according to NIPR.
- License term: 24 months from the last day of your birth month (Tennessee Code 56-6-107). Renewal costs $60.
- Continuing education: 24 credit hours each two-year renewal cycle, 3 of them in ethics. Life producers who sell annuities must first take a one-time 4-hour annuity training course.
- Moving to Tennessee with a license from another state: apply within 90 days of becoming a resident. No exam is required for lines you already held (Tennessee Code 56-6-109).
Ready to practice? Try the free Life practice test Coming soon, the free Accident & Health practice test Coming soon, or the free Tennessee law questions Coming soon.