Do I need to be a TN resident in order to apply for a TN license?
If you are a resident from another state, you may still apply for a Tennessee affiliate broker license if you hold a real estate salesperson license in your own state. However, the firm and principal broker where you are affiliated in your state of residency must also hold an active Tennessee real estate license before you can make your application.
You will need to meet the same requirements as resident candidates for the affiliate broker license. You must pass the Tennessee (state law) portion of the examination with a score of 70% or above, but may not need to take the national, or uniform, portion of the exam if you can show proof that you have passed the national portion of the real estate licensure exam in your own state. You must be able to show that your state uses the uniform national exam rather than having created its own.
The Tennessee Real Estate Commission asks that you submit Worksheet A and a certified license history from every state where you hold, or have ever held, a license. The worksheet will assist you in determining what other requirements you must meet in order to apply for a Tennessee affiliate broker license. You may be able to expedite the Tennessee Real Estate Commission’s evaluation of your request if you also include certificates showing completion of pre-license education and continuing education when you submit your worksheet and certified license history.
You will need to email the completed worksheet, certified license history from all states where you hold, or have held, a real estate license, as well as your course completion certificates, to trec.info@tn.gov. The Tennessee Real Estate Commission will then review your request and notify you of the specific requirements you will need to meet to apply for your Tennessee affiliate broker license.
Related FAQs
Entry-level real estate licensees in Tennessee are considered affiliate brokers. This license is the equivalent of what is known as a real estate sales license in other states.
If you are a resident from another state, you may still apply for a Tennessee affiliate broker license if you hold a real estate salesperson license in your own state.
All applicants for an affiliate broker license are required to submit an eligibility verification form. If you are claiming U.S. citizenship, you have the option of providing your social security number as part of your application in place of one of the following forms of identification with your application.
If you are on parole or probation, the Tennessee Real Estate Commission does not allow you to be scheduled for the state licensing exam until two years have passed from the date of expiration of probation, conviction, or release from incarceration, whichever is latest.
The TREC carefully examines all applications for affiliate brokers. If you have been convicted of, pled no contest to, pled guilty to or been granted first offender treatment upon being charged with any criminal offense other than a traffic violation, you can expect your application to be especially scrutinized.
Military education, training, or experience can be considered as meeting the education requirements, in whole or in part, for an affiliate broker license if the Tennessee Real Estate Commission deems that it is equivalent to that required for licensure.
1) Complete the 90-hour Tennessee Affiliate Broker real estate license course: $149 2) Pass the real estate exam: $39/ attempt 3) Get Fingerprinted: $35 4) Submit your license application: $91 Total Cost: $314
For the quickest service, you should make your application online at the Commission’s website, CORE. Applying via other means, such as email, fax, or postal mail, may cause a delay in review of your application.
Attorneys are not exempt from the requirements for an affiliate broker application. However, if the attorney has satisfactorily completed certain relevant classes, those hours may be used to fulfill the education requirements for the original affiliate broker license.
You will need to take two final course exams from your 60-hour and 30-hour required courses, as well as the state’s affiliate broker licensing exam. The state exam comes with two distinct sections: a national portion and a state portion.
According to TCA 62-13-303, licenses shall only be granted to persons who bear a good reputation for honesty, trustworthiness, integrity, and competence to transact the business of affiliate broker in a manner to safeguard the interest of the public.
Candidates must answer a series of six questions. Answering “yes” to any of the first five questions could lower a candidate’s likelihood of being approved for a license in Tennessee.