Real Estate Agent Permit Requirements in Nashville, TN

Complete permit and license guide for starting a real estate agent in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee.

Verified 2026-09-03 4 stops $450–$1,200 est. 4–14 weeks to obtain license and begin practice
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you operate as an LLC, corporation, or have employees. Free from the IRS. Even sole proprietors may benefit from obtaining an EIN to keep business and personal finances separate.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

State of Tennessee

2 stops

  1. Tennessee Real Estate Commission — Affiliate Broker License

    Tennessee's entry-level real estate licence is the affiliate broker licence. TREC requires sixty (60) hours of real estate education in principles/fundamentals before the examination and the 30-hour Course for New Affiliates, proof of high school graduation, an Eligibility for Entitlements Verification form, an electronic fingerprinting receipt with ORI number TN920784Z, a PSI examination application signed by the principal broker you will affiliate with, and - the requirement most summaries drop - proof of an errors and omissions insurance policy. PSI administers the examination: your education provider submits an online application to PSI, which approves eligibility and emails instructions to pay and schedule; retest and out-of-state candidates request eligibility through their CORE account. The application itself is completed online at core.tn.gov, and you must affiliate with a licensed principal broker.

    Official government source

    $91 application fee for the initial affiliate licence. The PSI examination is $63.00 for the full Affiliate Broker exam, $26.00 for the state section only and $37.00 for the national section only. Renewal is $75 every two years. Letting the E&O policy lapse carries a penalty of at least $200. Pre-licensing course tuition is set by private education providers, not by TREC.TREC publishes no overall processing time. A passing score on one section stays valid for two retakes of the failed section or one year, whichever comes first, and an exam appointment can be cancelled or rescheduled without forfeiting the fee if notice is given 2 days before the test date.

  2. Errors & Omissions (E&O) Insurance

    Tennessee requires real estate licensees to carry Errors & Omissions (E&O) insurance as a condition of holding an active license with the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC); it covers claims of negligent acts or omissions in real estate transactions. TREC requires proof of current E&O coverage to activate or reactivate a license, and a retired licensee is the only category exempt while retired. Check TREC's current minimum coverage terms before buying a policy.

    Official government source

    Premium is set by your insurance carrier — TREC does not publish a rate or a state-set priceCoverage must be in force the entire time your license is active; TREC requires proof of a current policy at issuance, renewal, and reactivation

City of Nashville / Davidson County

1 stop

  1. Metro Nashville — No Additional Local License Required for Agents

    Real estate affiliate brokers in Nashville are licensed at the state level through the Tennessee Real Estate Commission. No additional Nashville city-specific license is required for individual affiliate brokers.

    Official government source

    No additional fee for individual agentsN/A

Terminus

Open for business — est. $450–$1,200 · 4–14 weeks to obtain license and begin practice

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