Tennessee Insurance Exam: Questions, Passing Score and What's Tested
October 28, 2026 · PassReadyPro Team
Tennessee's insurance exams are given by Pearson VUE for the Department of Commerce and Insurance. They have two parts, and the rules build in waiting periods between attempts, so it pays to be ready the first time.
Quick answer: The Life, Property and Casualty exams each have 68 scored questions (50 general plus 18 on Tennessee law) and a 1 hour 45 minute limit. Personal Lines has 100 scored questions and a 2-hour limit. Each exam costs $55 at a test center. The passing score is 70 on a scaled score. If you do not pass, you wait 10 days before the second attempt and 30 days before each attempt after that.
The exams at a glance
Pearson's October 2026 handbook lists these:
| Exam | General | Tennessee law | Scored total | Pretest | Time allotted | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life Agent | 50 | 18 | 68 | 5 + 4 | 1 hour 45 minutes | $55 |
| Property Agent | 50 | 18 | 68 | 5 + 4 | 1 hour 45 minutes | $55 |
| Casualty Agent | 50 | 18 | 68 | 5 + 4 | 1 hour 45 minutes | $55 |
| Personal Lines | 75 | 25 | 100 | 5 + 6 | 2 hours | $55 |
The handbook also lists an OnVUE (remote) option. Each exam line is limited to one OnVUE attempt; any later attempt must be at a physical test center.
How the scoring works
- The Department of Commerce and Insurance sets the passing score, not Pearson. The handbook says it chose 70 on a scaled score from 0 to 100.
- A scaled score is not a percentage. It is neither the number nor the percentage of questions you answered correctly, and equating adjusts for the difficulty of each form.
- If you pass, your report says "pass" and shows no number. If you do not pass, you get a numeric score and diagnostic information for each major area.
- Pretest questions are mixed in, are not identified and do not affect your score.
What's on each exam
Life — general knowledge (50): types of policies 15, policy riders, provisions, options and exclusions 15, completing the application, underwriting and delivering the policy 12, retirement and other insurance concepts 8. Tennessee law (18): 14 on laws and departmental rules common to Life, Accident and Health, Property and Casualty, plus 4 on life insurance only.
Property — general knowledge (50): types of policies 22, insurance terms and related concepts 15, policy provisions and contract law 13. Tennessee law (18): 14 common to all lines plus 4 on property insurance only.
Casualty — general knowledge (50): types of policies, bonds and related terms 23, insurance terms and related concepts 15, policy provisions 12. Tennessee law (18): 14 common plus 4 on casualty only.
Personal Lines — general knowledge (75): types of property policies 10, types of casualty policies 13, property and casualty terms and concepts 28, policy provisions and contract law 24. Tennessee law (25): 14 common plus 11 on personal lines only.
The shared Tennessee law section cites Tennessee Code sections 56-6-101 through 56-6-126 (the producer licensing statutes) and begins with the powers of the Commissioner. Tennessee law is about a quarter of each exam: 18 of 68 on Life, Property and Casualty, and 25 of 100 on Personal Lines.
Waiting periods
Tennessee builds waiting periods into its retake rules:
- After a first failure, you must wait 10 days before trying again.
- After each later failure, you must wait 30 days.
- In every case, you must also wait 24 hours before making a reservation.
Each attempt costs the exam fee again, so a first-try pass saves both time and money.
Booking and test-day rules from the handbook
- Pay when you reserve. The fee is paid by card, debit card or voucher at the time of reservation. Fees are non-refundable and non-transferable except as the change and cancel policy allows.
- Bring two forms of current signature ID. The primary ID must be government-issued with your photo and signature, such as a driver's license, state ID, passport or military ID. The secondary must contain a valid signature. All ID must be in English.
- A basic non-scientific calculator is allowed. You can bring your own or request one from the test center. It must be an independent device, not part of a phone.
- Candidates who are late or absent without properly changing the reservation forfeit the fee.
A study plan that follows the questions
- Learn the Tennessee common section first. It is the same material on every line, and it is 14 of the Tennessee questions on each exam.
- On Property and Casualty, the types of policies section is the largest (22 and 23 of 50 general questions).
- For Life, split your time between policy types and provisions, which are 30 of the 50 general questions.
- Plan for one attempt. With a 10-day wait after the first failure, finish your practice exams before you book.
See how to get your Tennessee insurance license for fingerprints and the application after you pass.
Figures come from Pearson VUE's October 2026 handbook and its outlines (effective October 7, 2026) as of October 2026 and can change. Check Pearson VUE before you book.
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Start the Tennessee Property & Casualty course → — built around the Tennessee exam outline, with timed practice exams and a state-law section.
Start the Tennessee Life Only course → — the same approach for the life exam.
Both are one flat price per license line: pay once, keep lifetime access, no subscription, and backed by our Pass Guarantee. Not sure which line to pick? Compare everything on the Tennessee page, or book a 1-on-1 tutoring session and we'll help you choose and build a study plan.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the Tennessee Property exam?+
68 scored questions: 50 general and 18 on Tennessee law, plus 9 unscored pretest questions mixed in, with a 1 hour 45 minute limit.
What is the passing score for the Tennessee insurance exam?+
70 on a scaled score of 0 to 100, set by the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The scaled score is not the number or percentage of questions you answered correctly.
How long do I wait to take the Tennessee exam again?+
10 days after a first failure and 30 days after each later failure, plus a 24-hour wait before you can make a reservation. Each attempt costs the $55 fee.
Can I use a calculator on the Tennessee exam?+
Yes. The handbook says candidates may bring, or request from the test center, a basic non-scientific calculator that is an independent device.
How much does the Tennessee insurance exam cost?+
$55 for each of the Life, Accident and Health, Property, Casualty and Personal Lines exams at a test center, paid when you reserve.
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See Tennessee CoursesThis article is for general informational purposes and reflects our understanding of Tennessee's licensing process at the time of writing. Requirements and procedures change — always verify current details with the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance or your exam administrator before relying on anything here.