Insurance Agent in Tennessee

Requirements, salary data, licensing costs, and career ROI for TN. Updated with 2024 BLS OEWS wage data.

Median annual salary

$49,130

trending_down -18.6% vs. national

BLS OEWS 2024, Tennessee.

engineering

8,650

Jobs (TN)

monitoring Stable

+3.7%

10-yr job growth

payments

$105

Licensing fees

schedule

2-4 weeks

Time to complete

route How to become an insurance agent in Tennessee

To become a licensed Insurance Agent in Tennessee, individuals must be at least 18 years old and pass the Tennessee Insurance Producer Licensing Exam. While pre-licensing education is not legally mandated for most lines, it is strongly recommended, with 20 hours per line of authority being typical for major lines and 30 hours required for a title insurance line. After passing the exam, applicants must submit fingerprints for a background check and then apply for the license through the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance via NIPR. The license renews every two years, requiring 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics.

bar_chart Salary percentiles

10th percentile (entry) $31,860

25th percentile $38,390

50th (median) $49,130

75th percentile $75,280

90th (experienced) $104,440

Source: BLS OEWS 2024 for Tennessee. Metro-area wages may differ significantly from the state aggregate.

checklist Tennessee requirements

Licensing body	Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance
State license	Required
Education	While not legally required, pre-licensing education is highly recommended. For a title insurance line of authority, 30 hours of pre-licensing study through an approved provider is required. For other major lines of authority (Life, Accident and Health, Property, Casualty), quality courses typically run around 20 hours per line.
Exam	Tennessee Insurance Producer Licensing Exam ($55)
Application fee	$50
Renewal	Every 2.0 years
Continuing education	24.0 hours per cycle
Notes	Minimum age is 18. Requires fingerprinting and a background check. CE requirements include 3 hours of ethics. Excess CE hours (up to 12) may be carried over to the next renewal cycle as general credits. License renewal is biennial, based on the licensee's birth month and year of first license issuance. Specific training is required for selling annuities (one-time 4-hour course, or 1-hour update for those licensed before Jan 1, 2024), long-term care (initial 8-hour course, then 4 hours every 24 months), and flood insurance (one-time 3-hour course).

Source: Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance

work_outline Job outlook

10-year growth

+3.7%

Average

Annual openings

47,000

Nationwide per year

Total employment

568,800

Nationwide

neurology

AI & tech impact

error High exposure 1.34/1.00

Many tasks in this career are susceptible to AI automation. Long-term career planning should account for potential disruption.

hub

balance Is it worth it?

check_circleTennessee license required — clearer credential signal to employers
warningElevated AI disruption risk

psychology

Wondering if an insurance agent career is the right fit?

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Frequently asked questions

What's required to work as an insurance agent in Tennessee? expand_more

Tennessee requires insurance agents to complete the required education (While not legally required, pre-licensing education is highly recommended. For a title insurance line of authority, 30 hours of pre-licensing study through an approved provider is required. For other major lines of authority (Life, Accident and Health, Property, Casualty), quality courses typically run around 20 hours per line.), pass the Tennessee Insurance Producer Licensing Exam, and submit your application ($50 fee).

Do I need a license to work as an insurance agent in Tennessee? expand_more

A state license is required in Tennessee. Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance handles insurance agent licensing — the Tennessee Insurance Producer Licensing Exam is part of the process.

How much does an insurance agent make in Tennessee? expand_more

In Tennessee, the median pay for insurance agents comes to $49,130/year. — 19% under the $60,370 national average. Entry-level (10th percentile) starts at $31,860, while experienced professionals (90th percentile) earn $104,440.

How expensive is insurance agent licensing in Tennessee? expand_more

Between exam fee ($55) and application fee ($50), expect to invest around varies in total to get started.

How long does it take to become an insurance agent in Tennessee? expand_more

In Tennessee, becoming an insurance agent generally takes 2-4 weeks, accounting for education requirements, hands-on training, and the exam process.

How many CE hours do insurance agents need in Tennessee? expand_more

Tennessee requires 24.0 hours of continuing education every 2.0 years to maintain your insurance agent license.