Tennessee Insurance Continuing Education

Getting your Tennessee insurance license was step one. Keeping it active requires ongoing education—and staying compliant isn't optional. The Tennessee Department of Commerce & InsuranceInsurance Agent Producer Resources Licensing Packets Instructions Forms.html Commerce requires all licensed producers to complete continuing education (CE) to maintain their credentials.

Here's everything you need to know about Tennessee's CE requirements and how to handle them efficiently.

Tennessee CE Requirements at a Glance

According to the National Insurance Producer RegistryLicensing Center State Information Tennessee Nipr.com, Tennessee requires:

• 24 hours of continuing education every two years
• 3 hours of ethics training (included in the 24-hour total)
• Biennial renewal based on your birth month

Your license expires on the last day of your birthday month every two years. If your birthday is in March and you were first licensed in an odd year, your license expires every odd-numbered March.

You cannot receive credit for the same course more than once within a renewal period. So if you take a particular CE course in year one, taking it again in year two won't give you additional credit.

What CE Courses Count?

Your 24 CE hours must come from courses approved by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance. These typically cover:

• Insurance concepts and products
• State insurance laws and regulations
• Ethics and market conduct
• Industry updates and best practices
• Specialty topics (long-term care, annuities, flood insurance, etc.)

The 3-hour ethics requirement is mandatory—you cannot skip it or substitute other coursework. Ethics courses cover professional conduct, consumer protection, and regulatory compliance.

Additional Training Requirements

If you sell certain specialized products, Tennessee may require additional training beyond the standard 24 hours:

• Annuities: Specific training requirements before selling annuity products
• Long-term care: Additional education for long-term care insurance sales
• Flood insurance: Training requirements for National Flood Insurance Program participation

Check with your carriers and the Tennessee Department of Insurance if you're unsure whether additional training applies to your product lines.

CE Exemptions

A few Tennessee producers qualify for CE exemptions:

• Grandfathered licensees: If you've held your license continuously since January 1, 1994, you may be exempt from CE requirements
• Limited lines licensees: Certain limited lines licenses don't require CE
• Nonresident producers: If you hold a nonresident Tennessee license, you must comply with your home state's CE requirements rather than Tennessee's

Most active agents don't qualify for exemptions, so plan on completing your 24 hours each cycle.

How to Complete Your CE

Tennessee offers flexibility in how you complete continuing education:

Online Self-Study Courses

The most popular option for busy agents. Complete coursework on your own schedule—during lunch breaks, evenings, or whenever you have time. Online courses typically include quizzes or exams to confirm you've engaged with the material.

Webinars and Virtual Classrooms

Live online sessions provide interaction with instructors and other agents. Some ethics courses may require live participation rather than self-study, depending on the provider.

In-Person Classes

Classroom instruction is still available through various providers, though online options have become more popular for their convenience.

When choosing a CE provider, verify they're approved by Tennessee. Taking unapproved courses means wasted time and money—those hours won't count toward your requirement.

Timing Your CE Completion

Don't wait until the last minute. The Tennessee Department of Insurance recommends completing your CE at least 30-60 days before your license expiration date.

Why the buffer? After you complete courses, your provider must report your hours to the state. This typically happens within 24-72 hours, but delays can occur. If you complete CE at 11 PM on your expiration date, there's no guarantee it will be reported in time.

Smart strategies for CE timing:

• Set a reminder 90 days before your renewal deadline
• Complete your ethics hours first—they're required and often overlooked
• Spread courses throughout your renewal cycle rather than cramming at the end
• Verify your transcript shows all completed hours before renewal

You can check your CE transcript through the State Based Systems (SBS) portal to confirm your hours have been reported.