Get A Life Insurance License: Tennessee Requirements Guide

If you're looking to get a life insurance license in Tennessee, there are a few key steps you need to follow. First, you'll need to complete a pre-licensing course to prepare for the state licensing exam. This exam will test your knowledge of industry information, insurance products, and state insurance laws, so it's important to be thorough in your studies. After passing the exam, the next step is to get a fingerprint-based background check, which can be done through IdentoGO or the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. With that out of the way, you can submit your license application and pay the associated fee through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). It's also important to remember that insurance continuing education (CE) is required for license renewal, so be sure to stay on top of those credits!

Complete a pre-licensing course

To get a life insurance license in Tennessee, you must complete a pre-licensing course. This step is optional but highly recommended as it can significantly increase your chances of passing the licensing exam on your first attempt. Pre-licensing courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to prepare for the exam.

In Tennessee, you must complete a 20-hour pre-license course specifically on life insurance. This course will cover industry-specific knowledge, insurance products, and state insurance laws. The cost of the pre-licensing course is $149 or more, and it can be taken through an approved provider such as Kaplan Education Company. The course is self-paced and includes study materials like practice exams and flashcards.

When choosing a pre-licensing course, consider factors such as flexibility, price, and the reputation of the course provider. It is important to select a reliable provider to ensure you have sufficient and complete resources for your exam preparation.

By completing a pre-licensing course, you will not only improve your chances of passing the licensing exam but also gain a solid understanding of your duties and responsibilities as a life insurance agent in Tennessee. This knowledge will help you provide effective services to your clients and ensure compliance with the state's insurance regulations.

Once you have completed the pre-licensing course, you will need to present a valid photo ID and an original certificate of completion from the approved prelicensing education provider when you go to take the licensing exam. Your pre-license course certificate will be valid for 12 months, so make sure to plan your exam accordingly.

Pass the state licensing exam

Passing the state licensing exam is a pivotal part of becoming a licensed insurance agent in Tennessee. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to pass the exam.

Exam Basics

The state of Tennessee uses Pearson VUE to administer its insurance agent licensing. You can register and book your licensing examinations through the Pearson VUE website. The test can be carried out online or in person.

Each major insurance line examination is made up of multiple-choice questions and includes both general and state-specific material. The general questions test your federal insurance product and agent knowledge, while the state-specific questions test you on the Tennessee insurance regulations and laws that you will need to know to operate as an insurance agent.

Each licensing examination has multiple versions (known as forms), which are made up of different questions. This means that your exam can be easier or more difficult than another candidate’s, even if you’re being tested on the same line, on the same day.

Preparation

To prepare for your exam, it is recommended that you get a pre-license course. This can help you learn the large amount of content that you will be tested on. It is also a legal requirement in Tennessee.

Kaplan’s course is a popular option, as it offers a variety of helpful features, including online exam simulations, live online training, printable study guides, and end-of-chapter reviews.

It is also important to make enough time to study. It is recommended that you allocate around one to two weeks to prepare for your exam, as this should allow you to go through all of the material at least twice.

Exam Day

To control test anxiety, it is recommended that you establish a consistent pre-test routine. This can help you acclimate to the exam conditions, making you feel less anxious on the day. Getting plenty of sleep and arriving early at the test centre can also help ease anxiety.

Results

You will need to obtain a scaled score of 70 or higher to pass an insurance license exam in Tennessee. If you fail, you will need to wait 10 days before registering for a re-examination. If you fail the same examination more than once, you will be required to wait 30 days between each consequent re-examination attempt.

Get a background check

To get a life insurance license in Tennessee, you must pass a fingerprint-based background check. This is an important step in the process of becoming a life insurance agent in the state. The background check is carried out by IdentoGO, and it costs $42 to cover the cost of comparing your fingerprints against criminal history records.

To set up a fingerprinting appointment, you need to go to the IdentoGO website. If you don't have a service code, select "Don't Know Your Service Code" and then choose the Department of Commerce and Insurance. You will then be prompted to input your zip code so that the platform can find the closest fingerprinting location to you. After finishing the registration, you will receive a confirmation email. If you have any difficulties, you can call (855) 226-2937 to speak to a representative.

It is recommended that you complete fingerprinting at least two business days before applying for a producer license to avoid delays. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance reviews applications in the order they are received, and this process usually takes 10 business days.

At your fingerprinting appointment, you will receive a receipt, which you should keep for your records. After completing your fingerprint-based background check, you must submit your license application within one year of passing the licensing exam. If you fail to do so, you will need to retake the exam.

Submit your license application

Once you have passed your state licensing exam, you are ready to apply for a Tennessee insurance license. The application fee is $50 plus a small transaction charge, and you must apply online through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).

Be aware that if you’ve passed the state exam for multiple insurance lines of authority, you’ll be required to submit an application (and pay a filing fee) for each of these.

Alongside the fingerprinting requirements outlined in the steps above, you’ll also need to read through the Fingerprint-Based Criminal History Record Check Policy and submit the one-page Fingerprint Policy and Acknowledgement Form to the Agent Licensing Section.

This can be done while, or after, you submit your electronic application with NIPR, either by emailing [email protected] or faxing it to (615) 532-2862.

Note: Make sure the names you include on your NIPR application and Fingerprint Policy and Acknowledgement Form match each other.

After satisfying all the other requirements and submitting a license application to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, all that’s left to do is wait. If everything on your application has been filled out correctly, your license should be issued within 15 days—which is the amount of time it typically takes for a license application and background check to be reviewed.

It’s important to be aware that the issuance of your insurance license can take a bit longer than this if there are any items from your background check that need to be looked over. However, the state will likely get in touch with you to give some context if they run into any issues.

In any case, the state will send you an email regarding the status of your license once this review has been completed, so keep an eye out for that!

Plan for continuing education

To get a life insurance license in Tennessee, you must complete 24 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years to renew your license, with three hours focused on ethics/consumer protection-related training. The state requires reporting within 30 days of completion, and there is a $1 per credit hour reporting fee.

It is recommended that you complete the required CE hours at least 90 days before your license is due to expire to avoid delays in the renewal. There is a renewal fee of $50 and a late filing fee of $90.

You can choose from a variety of courses to fulfill your CE requirements. These include:

• Anti-Money Laundering - Ethical Decision Making for Insurance
• Ethical Practices: Avoiding E&O Claims
• Ethics & Insurance: How to Sell Ethically & Comply with the Law
• Front Line Fraud Prevention
• Distribution Planning
• Life/Health/Variable
• Group Benefits & Worksite Insurance
• Health Insurance Policies: Protecting Clients from Health-Related Loss
• Life Insurance Policy Types & Suitability
• Medicare Supplement Insurance: Closing the Gap
• Principles of Life and Health Insurance
• Variable Life & Annuities: Understanding Investment Potential and Risks
• Indexed Product Training
• Annuity Suitability and Best Interest Standard Training
• Annuity Best Interest 4-hour course
• Long-Term Care Certification Training
• Long-Term Care Certificate Refresher
• NFIP Flood Insurance
• Businessowners Policy (BOP)
• Commercial Lines: Property/Auto/Liability
• Personal Lines: Protecting Your Client's Home, Auto, & Critical Risks
• Principles of Property and Casualty Insurance

In addition to the CE requirements, there are also special training requirements for certain types of insurance producers. For example, producers selling annuities must complete a one-time, four-hour Annuity Suitability course before selling, and producers selling flood insurance must complete a one-time, three-hour course on flood insurance.

Frequently asked questions