Tennessee real estate licensing
Tennessee Real Estate Broker License requirements
A practical, source-checked guide to qualifying, passing the exam, applying, and keeping this license active.
By Gabriel Giner, Editor · Verified · RE License Guide Editorial Desk
- Required education
- 120 classroom hours including 30-hour Office/Broker Management
- Exam fee
- $63
- Published fees
- $63
- Typical timeline
- 36 months as affiliate is the longest step
What to know first
A Tennessee broker license is a separate TREC application, not an add-on to your affiliate license. TREC's Broker page requires, before the exam, an active license that meets one of these: (1) 24 months actively licensed if licensed as an affiliate broker on or before May 12, 1988; (2) 36 months actively licensed if licensed as an affiliate broker after May 12, 1988; or (3) 24 months actively licensed if the candidate has a baccalaureate degree with a major in real estate. You also need 120 classroom hours of approved real estate education, thirty (30) of which must be an Office/Broker Management course at a TREC-approved school. Submit the Broker Examination application; TREC reviews your education and experience, which takes approximately four (4) weeks, before you may reserve a PSI exam. Bulletin 511 states the same 36/24-month split and the same 120-hour / 30-hour Office/Broker Management requirement.
Bulletin 511's broker exam: National 75 items (80 points) in 150 minutes; State 50 items (50 points) in 90 minutes. Passing scores: national 60 (75% of 80 points, not of 75 items), state 38 (75%). TREC's PSI page lists broker national-only at $37.00 (150 mins.), matching the bulletin rather than the affiliate exam's 160 minutes. The full exam is $63 and state-only is $26. Per TREC's Broker page, if you do not file the application within one (1) year after the date you passed the examination, you must retake it. The CORE fee is $91. E&O is still required. IdentoGO fingerprinting (28TZ99) applies if you are not currently an active Tennessee affiliate (the bulletin says prints are NOT required of affiliates who test and upgrade).
After issuance, TREC's Broker page says brokers licensed after January 1, 2001 must complete 120 additional Commission-approved hours before the fourth anniversary of the broker license, or TREC will not renew. Brokers licensed after January 1, 2005 then move to 16 hours of CE (6-hour CORE + 10 elective) each two-year period after completing those 120 hours. The bulletin instead gives a three-year deadline for this post-broker education for original brokers (T.C.A. §62-13-303(h)), while TREC's Broker page currently says the fourth anniversary. Because the two sources differ, confirm your deadline with TREC. This post-broker education is separate from the 30-hour Course for New Affiliates and from Virginia's 180 hours.
Your path to the license
Follow these steps in order. Deadlines and affiliation requirements can make a passed exam unusable if they are missed.
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Log 36 months as an active affiliate broker (post-1988 rule) or a qualifying 24-month path
24 months only if licensed on or before May 12, 1988 or with a baccalaureate major in real estate. TREC reviews this before PSI.
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Complete 120 hours including 30-hour Office/Broker Management; submit the Broker Examination application
Wait about four weeks for TREC eligibility. You cannot book the exam directly the way affiliates do.
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Pass the PSI broker exam ($63): 75 items/80 points in 150 min (pass 60) and 50 items in 90 min (pass 38)
The cut is 75% (60 of 80 points and 38 of 50), not the affiliate 70%. Apply at CORE within one year, $91, with E&O.
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Complete 120 additional hours before the fourth anniversary (TREC Broker page) if licensed as broker after January 1, 2001
The bulletin cites a three-year statutory deadline. Then complete 16-hour CE (6 CORE + 10 elective) each two-year cycle. If you miss the additional 120 hours, TREC will not renew.
How long the 120-hour course takes
Coursework is usually the longest step you control. Weeks below are classroom or online hours only; add application processing, fingerprint clearance, and exam scheduling from the roadmap above.
- Part-time
- 12 weeksabout 10 hrs/week
- Steady
- 6 weeksabout 20 hrs/week
- Full-time
- 3 weeksabout 40 hrs/week
Overall estimate from our source review: 36 months as affiliate is the longest step. TREC's eligibility review takes about four weeks. You have one year from passing to apply. Then you complete 120 post-broker hours before the fourth anniversary (TREC Broker page).
Education and eligibility
- Minimum age
- 18 years old
- Identification
- A Social Security number is required. An ITIN is not confirmed as a substitute.
- Residency and identification
- TREC's Broker page: 36 months actively licensed if affiliated after May 12, 1988; 24 months if on or before that date; or 24 months with a baccalaureate degree with a major in real estate. TREC reviews this before granting exam eligibility (about 4 weeks). Confirm in writing with TREC whether any out-of-state experience counts. The same two-year criminal-wait rule applies as for affiliates (Rule 1260-01-.01(4)).
- Qualifying education
- TREC's Broker page and bulletin 511: 120 classroom hours of approved real estate education, 30 of which must be Office/Broker Management at a TREC-approved school. Submit the Broker Examination application (form at the back of the bulletin) plus the Office/Broker Management certificate to [email protected], then wait approximately four weeks. After licensure, TREC's Broker page says brokers licensed after January 1, 2001 must complete 120 additional Commission-approved hours before the fourth anniversary or TREC will not renew. The bulletin cites T.C.A. §62-13-303(h) as requiring 120 hours within three years of issuance. The two sources give different deadlines, so confirm yours with TREC. Brokers licensed after January 1, 2005 then complete 16-hour CE (6 CORE + 10 elective) after finishing the additional 120 hours. While you are completing those 120 hours, CE is not required for renewal (TREC broker-renewal support article).
- Education or filing deadline
- TREC eligibility comes first, then PSI. Apply at CORE within one year of passing (TREC Broker page and bulletin). Complete the additional 120 hours before the fourth anniversary (Broker page) or within three years (the bulletin's statute citation). Then complete 16-hour CE each two-year cycle.
- Character review
- Same TREC character review as affiliate applicants, plus Principal-Broker fitness if you will qualify a firm.
- Background process
- IdentoGO 28TZ99 if you are not currently an active Tennessee affiliate. Per the bulletin, current Tennessee affiliates who upgrade do not need new prints.
- Experience
- TREC's Broker page: 36 months actively licensed if licensed as an affiliate after May 12, 1988; 24 months if licensed on or before May 12, 1988; or 24 months with a baccalaureate major in real estate. TREC reviews this before granting exam eligibility. The 90 affiliate hours do not substitute for the 120.
- Broker affiliation
- A Tennessee broker may serve as Principal Broker of a firm and hold affiliate brokers. Firm licensure is a separate TREC license ($90). Changing or upgrading a firm's Principal Broker costs $25. E&O remains required. TREC's CE FAQs describe additional CORE obligations for Principal Brokers with at least one affiliate; check the current FAQ for details.
Documents to prepare
- Evidence of 36 (or 24) months of active affiliate licensure meeting the May 12, 1988 split
- 120-hour education including 30-hour Office/Broker Management
- TREC Broker Examination application and eligibility approval (about 4 weeks)
- Passing PSI broker scores: national 75 items/80 points in 150 min (pass 60) and state 50 items in 90 min (pass 38)
- E&O; IdentoGO only if not a current TN affiliate
- CORE application within one year of passing, $91
The licensing exam
TREC reviews the Broker Examination application (about four weeks) before PSI will let you reserve. Fees: $63 / $26 / $37 (150-minute national-only exam on TREC's PSI page). National: 75 items carrying 80 points in 150 minutes; pass 60 of 80 points (75%). That is not 56 of 75 items and not the affiliate cut of 56 of 80 at 70%. Some national broker items are worth two points. State: 50 items in 90 minutes, pass 38 (75%). State outline, broker item counts compared with affiliate: Commission 6 (affiliate 4); licensing 5 (affiliate 4); advertising 7 (same); broker/affiliate relationships 6 (affiliate 5), including the broker's supervisory responsibility; documents 6 (affiliate 4); trust/escrow 7 (affiliate 4); consumer protection 3 (same); agency 7 (affiliate 6); special practice 3 (same). Apply at CORE within one year of passing.
PSI, after TREC approves exam eligibility (about 4 weeks). test-takers.psiexams.com/tnre; (855) 340-3710; bulletin 511 Updated 7/1/2025. $63 full / $26 state / $37 national (150-minute national-only exam per TREC's PSI page). · Fee: $63
| Part | Questions | Minutes | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker National | 75 | 150 | 75% |
| Broker Tennessee State | 50 | 90 | 75% |
Scoring details from the candidate handbook
- Broker National: 75 items carrying 80 points, 150 minutes (bulletin 511 table; national-only time also on TREC's PSI page). National broker exams include questions scored up to two points. Pass 60 of 80 points (75%), not 56 of 75 items and not the affiliate 56 of 80 at 70%. Full sitting $63; national-only $37
- Broker Tennessee State: 50 items (50 points), 90 minutes; pass 38 (75%). Commission 6, licensing 5, advertising 7, broker/affiliate 6 (supervisory responsibility), documents 6, trust/escrow 7, consumer protection 3, agency 7, special 3. State-only $26. Out-of-state candidates using Worksheet A take the Tennessee-law section at 70%; this in-state broker exam requires 38 of 50 (75%)
Same $63 / $26 / $37 fees. Apply at CORE within one year of passing (TREC Broker page), not within six months as some blogs say. After the second fail, wait 30 days. Do not book the affiliate exam (80 questions, 160 minutes).
What to study
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120-hour Tennessee broker prelicensing including 30-hour Office/Broker Management
TREC-approved school
TREC eligibility comes before PSI. This is not the affiliate 90 hours or Virginia's 180.
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PSI bulletin 511 broker exam (75 items/80 points in 150 min, pass 60; 50 items in 90 min, pass 38)
PSI / TREC
The cut is 75% of 80 points. The 50-item state exam has more supervisory-responsibility and trust items.
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Post-broker 120-hour education and TREC CORE (6 hours)
TREC-approved providers / CE Broker
The additional 120 hours are original-broker education, not CE. CORE is the named course each two-year cycle after that.
Application costs
These are commission or testing-vendor amounts we can cite. School tuition and optional preparation products are private-market prices.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | $91 |
| Examination | $63 |
| Initial license | $91 |
| Renewal (every 2 years) | $75 |
TREC Fees page: Broker – Upgrade from Affiliate $91. Same $75 two-year renewal as affiliates. PSI $63 / $26 / $37. Tuition for the additional 120 post-broker hours is extra. E&O is a separate policy premium. IdentoGO applies only if you are not a current TN affiliate. Late fees are $50/$100 per month. Check CORE for current amounts.
Published state fees
$245
Application, exam, initial-license, and fingerprint amounts cited above. Excludes school tuition.
| Commission | Tennessee Real Estate Commission (Department of Commerce and Insurance) TREC (615) 741-2273 or (800) 342-4031. Department main (615) 741-2241. [email protected]. PSI examinations (855) 340-3710. IdentoGO (855) 266-2937. T.C.A. Title 62, Chapter 13 (including §62-13-303 for hours and fingerprints, and §62-13-303(h) for post-broker education). Rule 1260-05-.03 (90-hour split). Rule 1260-01-.01(4) (two-year wait after probation, parole, conviction or incarceration for felonies and theft misdemeanors). Sources: TREC's Affiliate Broker, Broker, PSI & Exam Information, and Fees pages, and PSI's Tennessee Real Estate Commission Candidate Information Bulletin at test-takers.psiexams.com/tnre (bulletin 511, Updated 7/1/2025; PDF dated 8/26/2026), which TREC's own PSI page links. Applications go through CORE at core.tn.gov. CE Broker is the official CE tracker. |
|---|---|
| Pre-licensing | 120 classroom hours including 30-hour Office/Broker Management TREC's Broker page and bulletin 511: 120 classroom hours of approved real estate education, 30 of which must be Office/Broker Management at a TREC-approved school. Submit the Broker Examination application (form at the back of the bulletin) plus the Office/Broker Management certificate to [email protected], then wait approximately four weeks. After licensure, TREC's Broker page says brokers licensed after January 1, 2001 must complete 120 additional Commission-approved hours before the fourth anniversary or TREC will not renew. The bulletin cites T.C.A. §62-13-303(h) as requiring 120 hours within three years of issuance. The two sources give different deadlines, so confirm yours with TREC. Brokers licensed after January 1, 2005 then complete 16-hour CE (6 CORE + 10 elective) after finishing the additional 120 hours. While you are completing those 120 hours, CE is not required for renewal (TREC broker-renewal support article). TREC eligibility comes first, then PSI. Apply at CORE within one year of passing (TREC Broker page and bulletin). Complete the additional 120 hours before the fourth anniversary (Broker page) or within three years (the bulletin's statute citation). Then complete 16-hour CE each two-year cycle. |
| Sponsoring broker | A Tennessee broker may serve as Principal Broker of a firm and hold affiliate brokers. Firm licensure is a separate TREC license ($90). Changing or upgrading a firm's Principal Broker costs $25. E&O remains required. TREC's CE FAQs describe additional CORE obligations for Principal Brokers with at least one affiliate; check the current FAQ for details. |
| Fingerprints | IdentoGO 28TZ99 / ORI TN920784Z if you are not currently an active Tennessee affiliate. Per the bulletin, fingerprints are NOT required of affiliate brokers who test and upgrade to broker. If you are an active affiliate who already submitted prints, check TREC's current reuse rule rather than assuming a five-year-old receipt still works. TREC's Fees page lists no IdentoGO fee. |
| CE / renewal | Complete the additional 120 hours before the fourth anniversary if licensed as broker after January 1, 2001 (TREC Broker page); the bulletin cites three years under §62-13-303(h). If you do not finish them, TREC will not renew your license. During those years, CE is not required for renewal (TREC support article), and a $50/month fee accrues if you use the extra year after year three (same article). After that (and for brokers licensed after January 1, 2005): 16 hours per two-year period, including the 6-hour TREC CORE and 10 elective hours, through CE Broker. Brokers licensed in TN before 2005 may be CE-exempt until they expire and reinstate (TREC CE FAQs). Same $50/month, then $100/month, as affiliates (TREC Fees page). After one year, retest and reapply. Check CORE for current amounts. |
| Recovery fund | The same Education and Recovery Account applies. Brokers and firms are covered by TREC's consumer-protection scheme. It does not replace the E&O policy TREC still requires. |
Mistakes that delay applicants
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Booking PSI before TREC eligibility
Unlike the affiliate exam, the broker exam requires TREC approval first, and the review takes about four weeks.
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Sitting the affiliate exam (80 questions, 160 minutes, 70%)
The broker national exam is 75 items carrying 80 points in 150 minutes at 75% (60 of 80 points). The state exam is 50 items in 90 minutes, pass 38.
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Skipping Office/Broker Management within the 120 hours
Thirty of the 120 hours must be that named course at a TREC-approved school.
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Using a six-month apply window from an old blog
TREC's Broker page and bulletin 511: one year from passing, or retake.
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Putting off the additional 120 hours until year four
TREC's Broker page: TREC will not renew a post-2001 broker who skipped the additional 120 hours. The bulletin cites a three-year statutory deadline, so do not assume you have until the later date.
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Treating NAR ethics as TREC CORE
TREC's Education page: Code of Ethics is a local-board requirement, not a TREC one. TREC CORE is the named 6-hour renewal course.
Reciprocity and recognition
| Partner / path | Accepted exam | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| No formal bilateral reciprocity is published for this credential. | ||
The same bulletin out-of-state path applies: Worksheet A requires 120 hours, including 30 hours of office/brokerage management accepted by your resident state, plus the Tennessee-law section. TREC staff enter out-of-state candidates into PSI. A Virginia broker certificate is not a Tennessee broker license. Follow TREC's current instructions rather than a third-party reciprocity chart.
Renewal and staying active
Complete the additional 120 hours before the fourth anniversary if licensed as broker after January 1, 2001 (TREC Broker page); the bulletin cites three years under §62-13-303(h). If you do not finish them, TREC will not renew your license. During those years, CE is not required for renewal (TREC support article), and a $50/month fee accrues if you use the extra year after year three (same article). After that (and for brokers licensed after January 1, 2005): 16 hours per two-year period, including the 6-hour TREC CORE and 10 elective hours, through CE Broker. Brokers licensed in TN before 2005 may be CE-exempt until they expire and reinstate (TREC CE FAQs).
Late renewal: Same $50/month, then $100/month, as affiliates (TREC Fees page). After one year, retest and reapply. Check CORE for current amounts.
The upgrade fee is $91, not a second $75. Firm $90. Check TREC's Fees page for current amounts.
Applicant checklist
- 36 months as an active affiliate (post-1988 rule) or a qualifying 24-month path
- 120 hours including 30-hour Office/Broker Management; TREC Broker Examination application and about 4 weeks for eligibility
- PSI exam, $63: 75 items/80 points in 150 min (pass 60) and 50 items in 90 min (pass 38)
- CORE application within one year, $91, with E&O (IdentoGO only if not a current TN affiliate)
- 120 additional hours before the fourth anniversary (if licensed as broker after January 1, 2001); then 16-hour CE (6 CORE + 10 elective)
How Tennessee is different
Virginia brokers need 180 hours, including a 45-hour brokerage course, and 40 hours per week for 36 of 48 months; they sit a PSI exam of 75 items/80 points in 105 minutes (pass 60) plus 50 items in 55 minutes (pass 38). Georgia's GREC broker license builds on a salesperson license. Kentucky's principal broker license builds on a sales-associate license. North Carolina's broker-in-charge builds on a provisional-broker entry. Tennessee requires 120 hours including 30-hour Office/Broker Management, 36 months as an affiliate (post-1988), and TREC pre-approval. The PSI exam is $63 with a 75% cut (60 of 80 points and 38 of 50). You must apply within one year, and TREC's Broker page requires 120 hours of post-broker education before year four.
Tennessee vs neighboring states
| Jurisdiction | License title | Pre-license hours | Exam vendor | Exam questions | Exam fee | Published state fees | Renewal cycle | Min. age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee (this guide) | Broker | 120 | PSI | 125 | $63 | $245 | 2 yr | 18 |
| Alabama | Broker | 60 | Pearson VUE | 120 | $73 | $243 | 2 yr | 19 |
| Arkansas | Broker | 60 | Pearson VUE | 120 | $75 | $195 | 1 yr | 18 |
| Georgia | Broker | 60 | PSI | Not published | See handbook | $340 | 4 yr | 21 |
| Kentucky | Broker | 336 | PSI | 125 | $100 | $220 | 2 yr | 18 |
| Mississippi | Broker | 120 | PSI | 115 | $75 | $275 | 2 yr | 21 |
| Missouri | Broker | 48 | PSI | 165 | $52 | $242.50 | 2 yr | 18 |
| North Carolina | Broker | 90 | Pearson VUE | Not published | See handbook | See guide | 1 yr | 18 |
| Virginia | Broker | 180 | PSI | 125 | $60 | $659 | 2 yr | 18 |
Hours are the pre-license total printed in each guide; states that count credits or named courses show “See guide.” Published state fees add the application, exam, initial-license, and fingerprint amounts the guide can cite — tuition is not included.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Tennessee issue a salesperson license?
- No. The entry license is affiliate broker. This guide covers the broker license, a separate license requiring 120 hours and 36 months.
- Can I book PSI the day I finish the 120 hours?
- No. Submit the Broker Examination application and wait for TREC eligibility, about four weeks (TREC Broker page and bulletin).
- Is the apply window six months, as older affiliate blogs say?
- No. TREC's Broker page: apply within one year after passing the examination, or retake it. Bulletin 511 uses the same one-year deadline for affiliates.
- Is the national exam still 80 items at 70%?
- No. The broker national exam is 75 items carrying 80 points in 150 minutes. The cut is 60 of 80 points (75%), not 56 of 75 items and not the affiliate 56 of 80 at 70%. The state exam is 50 items in 90 minutes, pass 38 (75%).
- What are the additional 120 post-broker hours?
- TREC's Broker page: brokers licensed after January 1, 2001 must complete 120 additional Commission-approved hours before the fourth anniversary or TREC will not renew. The bulletin cites T.C.A. §62-13-303(h) as requiring them within three years. After you complete them (and for brokers licensed after January 1, 2005), CE is 16 hours including the 6-hour CORE. While you are completing the 120 hours, CE is not required for renewal (TREC support article).
- Do I fingerprint again to upgrade?
- Per the bulletin, fingerprints are NOT required of affiliate brokers who test and upgrade to broker. If you are not currently an active Tennessee affiliate, IdentoGO 28TZ99 still applies, so confirm with TREC.
Primary Sources
Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.
- TREC Broker Licensure (36/24-month split; 120 hours; 30-hour Office/Broker Management; post-120; CORE $91; one-year apply)
- PSI bulletin 511 (broker 75 items/80 points/150 min pass 60 + 50/90 min pass 38; $63; ~4-week TREC eligibility)
- TREC PSI page (broker national-only 150 mins. / $37; two-retakes-or-one-year)
- TREC Fees ($91 upgrade; $75 renewal; late $50/$100 per month)
Verified 2026-09-02 · Next scheduled review 2026-12-01
Update history
- Rewrote the guide text for readability and added state comparison tables. No requirements, fees, or deadlines changed.
- Requirements, fees, and deadlines checked against the primary sources cited on this page.
Spotted something out of date? Send a correction.