Tennessee FAQs

Requirements to Obtain an Affiliate Broker License:

1. Be at least 18 years old.
2. Be a resident of Tennessee for at least 45 days prior to obtaining a license.
3. Have graduated from high school or obtained the equivalent of a high school degree (GED).
4. Have successfully completed the 60-hour Real Estate Principles licensing course before registering for the PSI Affiliate Broker Real Estate Exam.
5. Have successfully passed both the Tennessee and National portions of the PSI Affiliate Broker Real Estate Exam.
6. Have successfully completed the 30-hour Course for New Affiliates before applying for licensure.
7. Have completed, signed and submitted the licensing application provided by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission along with the required fee.

Educational Requirements to Obtain a Broker's License:

1. Be at least 18 years old.
2. Have graduated from high school or obtained the equivalent of a high school degree (GED).
3. Must have an active license that meets one of the following criteria:
   • Twenty-four months actively licensed, if licensed as an affiliate broker on or before May 12, 1988.
   • Thirty-six months actively licensed, if licensed as an affiliate broker after May 12, 1988.
   • Twenty-four months actively licensed, if the candidate has a baccalaureate degree with a major in real estate.
4. Have successfully completed 120-hours in approved real estate education, including 30 hours in "Office/Broker Management" class taken at a school approved by TREC.
5. Have completed, signed and submitted the licensing application provided by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission along with the required fee. TREC will notify the candidate when they can make an examination appointment.
6. Have successfully passed both the Tennessee and National portions of the PSI Broker Real Estate Exam.

Brokers licensed after January 1, 2001 must complete one hundred-twenty (120) additional hours of Commission approved education before the third anniversary of their broker license. Failure to comply with the post-broker education requirement will result in non-issuance of a license renewal. Brokers licensed after January 1, 2005 must complete continuing education requirements after completing the 120- hour post license requirement.

• Complete 16 hours of Tennessee Real Estate Commission approved continuing education during every two year renewal cycle.
  • Must include the 6 hour Tennessee required Core Course.

1. Complete 16 hours of Tennessee Real Estate Commission approved continuing education during every two year renewal cycle.
   • Must include the 6 hour Tennessee required Core Course.

All information provided is subject to change.  If you have specific questions, please visit the Tennessee Real Estate Commission website.

1.  Complete the Tennessee 60-Hour Real Estate Principles Course

Affiliate Broker applicants must successfully complete the required 60-hour Real Estate Principles Course before they register to take the state licensing examination. 

It’s easy to fulfill this requirement with Kaplan’s Tennessee 60-Hour Affiliate Broker Licensing with Master Exam Prep Package. Or, upgrade to the Tennessee 90-Hour Affiliate Broker Licensing with Master Exam Prep Package to fulfill all of your requirements. It contains the Tennessee 60-Hour Real Estate Principles course, the Tennessee 30-Hour Course for New Affiliate, and the Tennessee Guide to Passing the PSI Exam QBank.

2.  Register and take the Tennessee Affiliate Broker Licensing Exam

Register and pass the Affiliate Broker’s exam with the exam provider, PSI Exams. To schedule your exam, visit the PSI website at www.psiexams.com.

3.  Complete the Tennessee 30-Hour Course for New Affiliates

Successfully complete the Tennessee 30-Hour Course for New Affiliates. 

4.  Apply for Your License

You will need to submit an application with picture (the testing center will provide this upon successful completion of the Tennessee Affiliate Broker Licensing Exam) to the Tennessee Real Estate Commission.

• Along with the application and picture, you must include the following:
• Proof of completion of your pre-license education
• Proof of High School graduation
• Proof of errors and omissions insurance coverage
• Payment of all fees

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• For questions about course content or curriculum, please email our instructors at reschools.instructor@brightwood.edu.

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In general, online access to study materials for courses shall be granted for a period of up to 6 months from the date of purchase. Online access may be less than 6 months, if limited by state law or changes made at the discretion of Brightwood Real Estate Education, powered by Kaplan.

View our Terms and Conditions policy.

Our full return policy can be found here.

Both formats are delivered online via the Internet but there are distinct differences with unique advantages designed with the highest level of convenience and success in mind. This page provides details on all of our course delivery formats.

We have a team of seasoned real estate professionals who develop our materials as well as teach our courses. Meet our lead instructors.

All Brightwood College and Brightwood Career Institute, powered by Kaplan Real Estate Education licensing, postlicensing and continuing education courses are submitted and approved by that state's governing body.

Each state has a different governing body that regulates real estate professionals with requirements that vary by state. To find the requirements for your state, go to your state's landing page and select 'State Requirements' from the top navigation.

Each state handles reciprocity differently. We encourage individuals who are licensed in a state and desire to become licensed in additional states to contact the target state regulator body for details. After obtaining the requirements necessary to be licensed in that state, our customer service team can assist you with matching courses to state reciprocity rules. 

What is the difference between a sales person and a broker? A real estate salesperson or broker is a professional licensed by their state to help consumers with real estate matters.  A salesperson must work under a managing or principal broker, this is the broker who is in charge of the brokerage firm.  Some states only license brokers, in that case, new brokers may be called broker associates and are required to work under a managing or principal broker. Much like a salesperson. 

A managing, principal or employing broker is a licensed broker who is in charge of a brokerage firm and the salespersons or broker associates of the firm. Typically to become a managing broker at least two years of active license experience and further course work and sometimes license exams are required.

No matter if you are a real estate salesperson, broker associate or managing broker the job is the same work with buyers, sellers, tenants and landlords to help them reach an agreement.

This video provides a simple five-question test to determine if you fit the profile.

An appraiser gives an opinion of the quality, value, or utility of a specific property. An appraisal is usually required whenever real estate is sold, mortgaged, taxed, insured, or developed. A typical appraisal might include physically inspecting the property, measuring the improvements and collecting the associated costs, preparing a site drawing, writing the physical description of the property, researching official records and deeds, finding similar properties to compare, and writing a final appraisal report.

• Make a list of brokerage firms you want to talk with. If you don't know where to start, browse real estate ads to see if some firms seem more interesting than others.
• Visit your local Chamber of Commerce or Board of REALTORS^® to find out which firms are best represented. Pay attention to television and radio advertising, billboards, and the “For Sale” signs you see in yards.
• Make appointments with the managing or principle broker of each real estate firm on your list. Larger firms may have recruiting managers.

• Ask the broker for an itemized list of startup expenses. Are you required to join local, regional, and national professional organizations? Are there recurring monthly or quarterly expenses for membership?
• Find out if advertising expenses are paid by the agency. How about “For Sale” signs and other signs? Do they provide them to agents free of charge?
• Who pays for long distance telephone calls to clients? How about photocopies, stamps, and other office-related expenses?
• Does the firm provide in-office computers and printers for real estate agent use, or are you expected to bring your own?
• Ask if the firm carries errors and omissions insurance for agents. If so, find out what's covered. Discuss the policy with an insurance carrier to make sure it's adequate.

According to Salary.com, most real estate agents earn on average between $36,566 and $47,610 annually. How much agents make depends on the number of transactions they complete, the commission paid to the brokerage, and their split with the sponsoring broker. If you are talking with a franchised agency, be sure to ask what percentage of each sales commission is deducted and sent to the franchising company. Top producers earn a lot more than the average real estate agent. Each real estate office sets its own standards for top producers, but it's probably safe to say that a top producer would need to sell at least one home a month to qualify. Mega-stars earn $200,000 and up per year. Very few real estate professionals earn a salary versus commission.

On September 3, 2015, Kaplan concluded a previously announced agreement to sell its nationally accredited schools, including Kaplan Real Estate Education, to Education Corporation of America (ECA).  This close secures the goals of both ECA and Kaplan, as each business is strengthened. This partnership continues to be a great fit and is immediately scalable while maintaining strong, career-focused education for our students.

Going forward, your Kaplan Real Estate Education courses will be offered by Brightwood College, or Brightwood Career Institute, both are divisions of ECA. You will still receive the same high-quality education you’ve come to expect from Kaplan, written and led by the same industry-leading authors and instructors.

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