Tennessee (TN) Real Estate Exam Guide

From the PSI content outline · candidate handbook · verified 2026-09-18

• Advertising and marketing: Owner/agent advertising requirements, "For sale" signs, Brokerage company and team advertising, Internet advertising, Information required in advertised listings, Gifts and prizes, Advertising on social media
• Agency and disclosure issues: General agency duties and creation of the relationship, Disclosure of agency relationships, Disclosure of material facts and misrepresentation, Disclosure of agent’s interest, Handling of offers, Designated agents, Facilitators, Dual agency
• Broker/affiliate relationships: How compensation may be paid, Permitted affiliations, Broker’s supervisory responsibility, Change of affiliation, Ownership of affiliates’ listings
• Duties and powers of the Real Estate Commission: Purpose of the Commission, Persons and disputes outside its jurisdiction, Complaints, notifications, hearings, Disciplinary actions
• Licensing requirements: Licensing examinations, Educational requirements, Change of status, name or address, Firm licenses and license display, Renewal of license, Errors and omissions insurance
• Handling of documents and record keeping: Responsibility for keeping records, How long records must be kept, What must be kept, Handling offers and leaving copies, Commission access to records
• Handling of trust/escrow funds: Permissible disbursements, General account requirements, Commingling and improper use, Depository and account requirements, Interest and non-liquid earnest money, Time requirements for deposit of funds
• Other improper activities and consumer protection: Improper listing agreements, Discrimination, Other misconduct
• Special areas of practice: Timeshare, Property management, Commercial/industrial real estate

The state-specific points that show up as questions. Each cites where it comes from.

1. 1

   Tennessee calls it the Affiliate Broker exam

   The entry-level license here is Affiliate Broker, not salesperson. When you search for study material or book with PSI, that is the exam you want — the "salesperson" listing in Tennessee is the timeshare salesperson exam, a different test.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Examination Summary Table

2. 2

   The passing mark is given as a count, not a percentage

   You need 56 correct of 80 on the national portion and 28 correct of 40 on the Tennessee portion — 70% each. Knowing the count is more useful than the percentage: on the state portion you can miss twelve questions and no more.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Score Reporting

3. 3

   Advertising is the biggest single state topic

   Advertising and marketing is 7 of the 40 state items — more than agency (6) and more than the Commission’s own powers (4). Social media advertising, team advertising and required listing information are all named in the outline. Most candidates underprepare this.

   Source: PSI bulletin, State Portion Content Outline

4. 4

   Trust fund and record-keeping rules are 8 items together

   Escrow handling (4) plus documents and record keeping (4) is a fifth of the state portion. Expect specifics: deposit deadlines, commingling, how long records are kept, and the Commission’s right of access.

   Source: PSI bulletin, State Portion Content Outline

5. 5

   60 hours to test, 90 before you are licensed

   Sixty hours of real estate principles qualify you to sit the exam. The remaining 30-hour Course for New Affiliates must be finished before a license is issued. Budget for both.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Affiliate Broker Candidates (T.C.A. § 62-13-303(b)(2))

6. 6

   Apply within one year of passing

   After passing all portions you must apply at core.tn.gov within one year. The exam fee is separately valid for one year, and the application is valid for 12 months from the exam date.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Affiliate Broker Candidates

7. 7

   No same-day rebooking

   You cannot book a new appointment on the day you test, because PSI needs time to process scores. The bulletin’s own example: test unsuccessfully on a Monday, call Tuesday, retest as soon as Friday if a seat is open.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Re-taking a Failed Examination

8. 8

   Score review is the only look you get

   PSI and the Commission may re-evaluate and adjust results on review, and the bulletin states this is the only review of examination materials available to candidates. There is no walk-through of your wrong answers.

   Source: PSI bulletin, Examination Review