Tennessee requires a license to sell life and health insurance.
Life and health insurance can provide lucrative sales opportunities for insurance agents. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance requires a license for life insurance and a separate combined license for accident and health insurance. Aspiring agents who wish to sell both types must attend courses on each type and pass separate exams. Tennessee applicants who complete the education and testing must also pass a criminal background check. Successful applicants may contract with insurance companies to sell policies for life, accident and health insurance in Tennessee.
Instructions
1. Complete 20 hours of approved courses in life insurance and 20 hours in accident and health insurance. Click on the "Provider and Course Listings" link on the Pearson VUE exam information page to find an approved school (see References). You can use the phone numbers in the listings to contact providers and schedule your courses. Use the course materials provided by the school to prepare for your exam. You can also use the exam content outlines to determine which subjects appear on the exam. Get a certificate from your school after completing your courses. You need to present the certificate when you take your exam.
2. Schedule your examinations. You may take the exams for life insurance and accident and health insurance at the same time. As of 2010, the combined fee for taking both exams is $52. Pearson VUE, the company that administers the exam, accepts debit cards, credit cards, payment vouchers and electronic checks. You may call, use the fax request form, or use the online site to register. You can buy a voucher with a check or money order payable to Pearson VUE. The "Insurance Candidate Handbook" contains the fax and voucher forms. Use the following information to schedule your exams:
Pearson VUE
c/o AP Voucher Program
P.O. Box 41508
Philadelphia, PA 19101-1508
Phone: 800-274-4957
Fax: 888-204-6291
pearsonvue.com
3. Take the insurance exams. Pearson VUE will send confirmation to Tennessee if you pass. You may take as many retake exams as you need for six months. If you fail to pass within that time, you will have to attend the courses again.
4. Schedule a fingerprinting session. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance will use the prints to conduct a background check. Call 877-862-2425 or use the Cogent Systems website (see References) to schedule an appointment. Use "TN920680Z" as the ORI number and "IP" as the transaction type. You may pay by credit card or a money order made out to Cogent Systems. As of 2010, the fee is $48. The authorities will forward the results to the Department of Commerce and Insurance on your behalf.
5. Fill out the "Uniform Application for Individual Producer License/Registration" form (see References). As of 2010, the fee is $50 to apply for a Tennessee insurance license. You may pay by money order, check from an insurance company, certified check, or cashier's check, payable to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Send the application and fee to the following address:
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
Producer Licensing Section
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243-1134
615-741-2693
tn.gov/commerce/insurance
Tags: Department Commerce, Department Commerce Insurance, accident health, accident health insurance, Commerce Insurance, Tennessee Department
