Broker reciprocity for Tennessee real estate licenses

Tennessee does not offer real estate license reciprocity with any state. The Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) provides a case-by-case evaluation process that may waive certain education, exam, and experience requirements for out-of-state licensees, but every applicant must still pass the Tennessee state law portion of the exam and pay standard licensing fees. Broker reciprocity in real estate refers to formal state-to-state agreements that let licensed agents transfer credentials without starting over — Tennessee has none, though several states recognize Tennessee licenses on their end.

Does Tennessee offer real estate license reciprocity?

No. TREC confirmed this position on its official page published May 8, 2025, and the regulator's stance has not changed. No state has a formal reciprocity agreement with Tennessee that would let an out-of-state licensee automatically receive a Tennessee license.

Some education-provider websites classify Tennessee as offering "by waiver" reciprocity or list specific reciprocal states. These classifications describe Tennessee's statutory substitution process under Tennessee Code § 62-13-314, not a formal reciprocity agreement. TREC itself does not use the term reciprocity for this process, and multiple independent secondary sources corroborate the regulator's "none" classification.

How out-of-state licensees can qualify in Tennessee

Out-of-state licensees cannot transfer their license directly to Tennessee but may qualify for substitutions of specific requirements under Tennessee statute. TREC evaluates each applicant individually and may waive the 60-hour pre-licensing education, the national portion of the exam, and/or experience requirements based on the applicant's out-of-state credentials.

What the waiver does not cover: every out-of-state applicant must pass the Tennessee state law portion of the examination. There is no waiver for the state-specific exam section. The national exam portion may be waived if the applicant has already passed an equivalent national exam in another state.

For applicants who pass one exam section but fail the other, the passing score remains valid for two retakes of the failed section or one year, whichever comes first, according to the PSI Candidate Information Bulletin^[1] updated July 1, 2025. After a second failed attempt, candidates must wait 30 days before retaking the exam.

The TREC A Worksheet process

The TREC A Worksheet is the form out-of-state licensees submit to request an evaluation of their credentials for education and exam waivers. Applicants must email TREC.Info@tn.gov with a completed TREC A Worksheet (available on TREC's Forms and Downloads page) and a Certified License History from every state where they hold or have held a real estate license.

A TREC licensing specialist reviews the submission and notifies the applicant of which requirements may be waived and which remain. This review determines whether the applicant needs to take the full exam or only the state law portion, and whether any pre-licensing education hours are required. The process has no published standard turnaround time.

The following fees apply to out-of-state applicants navigating the transfer process:

Out-of-state candidates must submit their exam request through their online CORE account. TREC staff reviews the request and enters the candidate into PSI's system to test. The exam vendor, PSI Services LLC, administers all Tennessee real estate exams.

Tennessee cooperative portability explained

Tennessee allows cooperative portability, which means an out-of-state agent can participate in a Tennessee real estate transaction by working with a Tennessee-licensed broker. Cooperative portability is distinct from reciprocity: portability governs whether and how an out-of-state agent can participate in a single transaction without obtaining a new license, while reciprocity governs whether an out-of-state licensee can obtain a new state's license with reduced requirements. Tennessee offers no reciprocity but does permit cooperative portability for transaction-specific collaboration.

TREC draws a firm line on what cooperative portability does not allow. An out-of-state licensee cannot simply "partner" with a Tennessee licensee to conduct business that requires a Tennessee real estate license. The TREC reciprocity page^[2] states: "A Tennessee Real Estate license must be obtained by the individual." Cooperative portability means a Tennessee broker can include an out-of-state agent in a transaction, but the out-of-state agent cannot independently perform licensed activities in Tennessee.

Can a Tennessee broker pay commission to an out-of-state broker?

Yes, under specific conditions. A licensed Tennessee broker may pay a commission to a licensed broker of another state, provided the non-resident broker does not conduct any negotiations in Tennessee for which the commission is paid. This provision, outlined on the TREC reciprocity page^[2], allows referral-based commission arrangements without requiring the out-of-state broker to obtain a Tennessee license.

The out-of-state broker's involvement must be limited to a referral. If the non-resident broker conducts negotiations, shows property, or represents clients within Tennessee, that activity requires a Tennessee license. This rule gives brokers a lawful path to share commissions on referral business while keeping the door closed to unlicensed in-state activity.

Which states recognize Tennessee real estate licenses

Several states recognize Tennessee licenses through their own reciprocity or endorsement processes, even though Tennessee does not reciprocate. This one-way recognition means Tennessee licensees may have an easier route to licensure in these states than out-of-state licensees have coming into Tennessee.

Mass real estate license reciprocity with Tennessee works in one direction: a Tennessee licensee can obtain a Massachusetts license through a streamlined process, but a Massachusetts licensee coming to Tennessee receives no reciprocal treatment and must go through TREC's case-by-case evaluation. The same one-way dynamic applies to Virginia, Nevada, and Kentucky.

Next steps for out-of-state licensees

If you hold a real estate license in another state and want to practice in Tennessee, your first step is to request a Certified License History from every state where you are or have been licensed. Then download the TREC A Worksheet from TREC's Forms and Downloads page and email it with your license histories to TREC.Info@tn.gov. After TREC's licensing specialist reviews your submission, you will know whether you need to take the full exam or only the state law portion, and whether any education hours are waived.

You should also begin identifying a Tennessee sponsoring broker, as the license application requires a principal broker's signature. Plan for fingerprinting and a background check through IdentoGO (Service Code: 28TZ99) if you are not currently an active Tennessee affiliate broker. The fee schedule for exam sections and application costs is listed in the TREC A Worksheet section above.