State Requirements

Business Rules

• Applicants who are required to take an exam must submit a fingerprint-based criminal background check and AND a signed FINGERPRINT POLICY AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM before your application can be reviewed. Policy is found on the Tennessee Dept. of Commerce & Insurance website at  https://www.tn.gov/commerce/insurance/agent-producer-resources/licensing-packets-instructions-forms.html.  Click on Fingerprinting Information. The acknowledgement form (last page of policy)can be emailed to the Agent Licensing Section at ce.agent.licensing@tn.gov.

• Applicant must be at least eighteen (18) years old or older as determined from the applicant's date of birth.

• Applicant's name, birth date, license number, state of residence, and Tax ID must match current Producer Database (PDB) record for resident state.

• Applicant's residence address must be in the state of Tennessee.

• Applicant must provide a valid country code, mailing address, business email, and resident phone number.

• Insurance Producers applicants can reapply through Resident License (RL) Application after one year following license expiration date. From the expiration date to one year after the expiration date the applicant will late renew through Resident License Renewal (RLR) Application. Exception: If the license is inactive prior to the expiration date, applicants are not eligible for renewal or late renewal. Applicants with an "inactive" status reason may reapply at any time through the (RL) application.

• Applicants reapplying must not have any of the following status reasons: revoked, suspended, never relicense, denial - original license, denied for cause, or disciplinary term.

• Variable contracts applicants must be pre-licensed for the life line of authority (LOA) prior to applying for variable contracts.

• Surplus lines agent applicants must have an active Insurance Producer license in Tennessee prior to applying for surplus lines agent. 

• Surplus Lines Agents may reapply 31 days after their expiration date. They have a 30-day grace period to renew, but no late renewal period. Exception: If the license is inactive prior to the expiration date, applicants are not eligible for renewal or late renewal. Applicants with an "inactive" status reason may reapply at any time through the (RL) application. 

• Automobile Club Agent applicants cannot submit applications directly. An Authorized Representative of the Automobile Club must certify and apply/submit the application from the affiliated company with which the agent has an established relationship. All applications will defer to the state for review and confirmation of the applicant's relationship with the Automobile Club 

• Automobile Club Agent applicants must complete a Relationship Form and any other additional licensing documents  to submit with their initial application via the NIPR Attachment Warehouse. A personnel selection report/criminal background check is only needed if applicant does not currently hold an Insurance Producer license with a tested line.  

• If applicant responds "yes" to one of the background questions please submit supporting documents electronically via NIPR's Attachments Warehouse. The documents may also be submitted to the state via mail, email, or fax.