The Tennessee Insurance Exam: Pearson VUE Format, Lines, and What to Expect on Test Day

The Tennessee insurance licensing exam is administered exclusively by Pearson VUE — not PSI, which handles licensing exams in most other states. That distinction matters practically: the platform, the question format, the interface, and the test-day procedures are all Pearson VUE's, and candidates who prepare with PSI-calibrated materials or who arrive expecting a PSI experience will encounter differences that add unnecessary friction to an already demanding exam. This post covers everything you need to know about the Tennessee exam before you schedule: the format for every line, what the two exam sections test, how the scoring system works, what both remote and in-person test day procedures require, and the specific strategies that maximize performance on Pearson VUE's platform.

The Tennessee Exam Structure: What Every Line Looks Like

Tennessee administers separate licensing exams for each line of authority. There are no combined exams — Life and Accident and Health are separate, and Property and Casualty are separate. Every major line exam follows the same structural format:

The pretest question reality: Nine questions in every Tennessee exam are unscored. They look identical to scored questions — same format, same length, same subject matter. They are seeded throughout the exam to evaluate new questions for future versions. You cannot identify them during the exam. You must treat all 77 questions as though they count. The practical implication is straightforward: you cannot strategically skip or guess on questions you think might be pretest. Answer every question with full effort.

The scoring math: To pass at 70% on 68 scored questions, you need 48 correct. You can miss 20 scored questions and still pass. That sounds like meaningful margin — but between state law questions you have not studied and the random distribution of 9 pretest questions that might absorb some of your uncertain answers, the margin is narrower in practice than the arithmetic suggests.

The Two Sections of Every Tennessee Exam

Every Tennessee insurance licensing exam is divided into two sections that test fundamentally different knowledge domains. Understanding what each section tests — and how much weight each carries — is essential for allocating your preparation time correctly.

Section 1: General Insurance Concepts

The general section tests insurance knowledge that applies across all states — the foundational product knowledge, legal principles, and industry concepts that define insurance regardless of jurisdiction.

What the general section covers by line:

Life exam — general section topics:

Types of life insurance: term (level, decreasing, increasing), whole life, universal life, variable life, indexed universal life

Policy structure: declarations, insuring agreement, conditions, exclusions, riders

Policy provisions: grace period, reinstatement, incontestability clause, misstatement of age, suicide clause

Beneficiary designations: primary, contingent, revocable, irrevocable

Life insurance underwriting: risk classification, insurable interest, the application process

Settlement options: lump sum, life income, fixed period, fixed amount, interest only

Annuities: immediate vs. deferred, fixed vs. variable vs. indexed, accumulation and distribution phases

Group life insurance: eligibility, conversion rights, certificate vs. master policy

Business life insurance: key person, buy-sell agreements, split-dollar arrangements

Accident and Health exam — general section topics:

Health insurance policy types: indemnity, managed care (HMO, PPO, POS, EPO), HDHP

Policy provisions: coordination of benefits, subrogation, COBRA continuation, conversion rights

Medicare: Parts A, B, C, D; Medicare supplement (Medigap) plans

Medicaid fundamentals

Disability income: short-term vs. long-term, elimination period, benefit period, own-occupation vs. any-occupation definitions

Long-term care insurance: benefit triggers, elimination period, inflation protection, benefit period

ACA fundamentals: essential health benefits, metal tiers, guaranteed issue, open enrollment

Property exam — general section topics:

Property insurance fundamentals: insurable interest, actual cash value vs. replacement cost, coinsurance

Homeowners policy forms: HO-2, HO-3, HO-4, HO-5, HO-6, HO-8

Dwelling policy forms: DP-1, DP-2, DP-3

Commercial property: building and personal property coverage form, causes of loss forms (basic, broad, special)

Inland marine: floaters, scheduled property, contractors equipment

Standard fire policy

Business income coverage: actual loss sustained, coinsurance, extended period of indemnity

Casualty exam — general section topics:

Auto insurance: personal auto policy (PAP) structure — liability, medical payments, UM/UIM, physical damage

Commercial general liability: occurrence vs. claims-made, coverage A/B/C, aggregate limits

Workers' compensation: exclusive remedy, benefits structure, experience modification

Umbrella and excess liability: drop-down coverage, retained limit

Professional liability (E&O): claims-made trigger, prior acts coverage, retroactive date

Directors and officers: Side A/B/C coverage, D&O vs. E&O distinction

Personal Lines exam — general section topics:

Covers personal auto and personal homeowners concepts — the intersection of the Property and Casualty general sections focused on personal lines only

Section 2: Tennessee State Laws and Regulations

The state law section tests specific knowledge of Tennessee's insurance regulatory framework. This is the section where the majority of unprepared candidates encounter difficulty — and the section that requires the most deliberate, Tennessee-specific study.

Tennessee state law topics tested across all lines:

Regulatory structure:

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI): authority, structure, contact information

Commissioner of Insurance: appointment, authority under TCA §56-2-305; civil penalty authority up to $1,000 per violation; higher penalties for willful misconduct

Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) Title 56 as the governing statutory framework

Producer licensing:

License types and lines of authority

No mandatory prelicensing requirement (effective March 21, 2023)

Exam: Pearson VUE; $59 per attempt; 70% pass; immediate results

Fingerprinting: IdentoGO; $37.15; TBI and FBI background check

Application: NIPR; $50 per line; 48-hour wait after passing exam

License validity: biennial; last day of birth month

Appointment requirement: carrier must file within 15 days

Grounds for discipline: TCA §56-6-112

CE requirements: 24 hours biennial; 3 hours ethics; 30-day grace period; $120 late fee after grace period; up to 1 year late renewal

Unfair Trade Practices and Unfair Claims Settlement Act:

TCA Title 56, Chapter 8 (adopted 2009)

Prohibited acts: misrepresentation, false advertising, defamation, boycott/coercion/intimidation, unfair discrimination, rebating, unfair claims practices

Unfair claims practices: misrepresenting policy provisions, failing to acknowledge claims promptly, not investigating claims reasonably, compelling litigation to recover clear amounts

Commissioner enforcement authority

Bad faith:

TCA §56-7-105: insurer liable for the claim amount plus up to 25% additional damages for wrongful refusal to pay a valid claim

This is a Tennessee-specific provision that differs from many other states — the 25% figure is frequently tested

Tennessee auto insurance:

At-fault (tort) state — not no-fault

Minimum liability limits: 25/50/25 ($25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident bodily injury; $25,000 property damage)

Modified comparative fault: 50% bar rule — a claimant who is 50% or more at fault cannot recover damages; below 50% fault, recovery is reduced proportionally

No mandatory PIP or personal injury protection

UM/UIM: available but not mandatory in the same structure as no-fault states

SR-22 financial responsibility certificates

Tennessee workers' compensation:

TCA §50-6-103

General threshold: 5 or more employees

Construction industry: 1 or more employees

Competitive market (not monopolistic state fund)

Exclusive remedy doctrine

DLI administration

Tennessee health insurance:

TennCare: Tennessee's Medicaid program — administered by TENNESSEE Department of Finance and Administration (not TDCI); Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA

Federal exchange: Tennessee uses Healthcare.gov — not a state-based exchange like MNsure

No state-based ACA exchange

Tennessee life insurance:

Replacement regulations: producer obligations when replacing existing life insurance

Suitability requirements for annuity sales

Free look period requirements

TennCare application: TCA §56-6-112 includes a specific prohibition on knowingly directing a person to apply for TennCare when they are covered by group insurance

Tennessee surplus lines:

Requirements for placing coverage with non-admitted carriers

Diligent search requirement

Tennessee surplus lines broker licensing

Disclosure obligations to policyholders

Tennessee captive insurance:

Tennessee is an active captive insurance domicile

Captive insurance regulations under TCA 0780-01-41

Exam Administration: Two Testing Options

Option 1: Remote Testing via OnVUE

OnVUE is Pearson VUE's online proctored testing platform. It allows you to take the Tennessee insurance exam from any location with a qualifying computer setup, eliminating the need to travel to a testing center.

Technical requirements for OnVUE:

Computer or laptop (tablets and Chromebooks are not supported)

Webcam (built-in or external)

Microphone (built-in or external)

Stable internet connection — wired connections are more reliable than WiFi for exam purposes

No dual monitors — only one screen permitted

All applications other than the OnVUE testing software must be closed during the exam

Compatibility check: Pearson VUE provides a system check tool at home.pearsonvue.com/tn/insurance. Run this check on the specific computer you plan to use for the exam — not on a different device. Run it at least 24 hours before your scheduled exam, not the morning of. If your system fails the compatibility check, you will need to schedule an in-person exam.

OnVUE exam day procedure:

Log in to your Pearson VUE account 15–30 minutes before your scheduled start time

Begin the check-in process — you will photograph your government-issued ID

Photograph your testing space — the proctor will review the photos remotely

Complete the room scan: you will be asked to show your webcam around the room to confirm no prohibited materials are present

The proctor connects with you via chat to verify setup and grant exam access

The exam begins — the proctor monitors via webcam and microphone throughout

OnVUE testing environment rules:

You must be alone in the room — no other persons present at any time during the exam

No phones, notes, books, or secondary screens in the room

No eating, drinking, or smoking during the exam

Do not leave your seat during the exam without proctor permission

Do not cover your mouth or talk to yourself during the exam — the microphone is monitored

The proctor can terminate the exam for any rule violation

OnVUE fee: $49 per line.

Option 2: In-Person at a Pearson VUE Test Center

In-person testing is available at Pearson VUE testing locations throughout Tennessee. For most standard insurance licensing exams, multiple test center locations are available statewide.

Important limitation: Public Adjuster exams are available only at the Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville test centers — not at all Pearson VUE locations in Tennessee. If you are testing for a Public Adjuster license specifically, confirm your chosen test center offers that exam before scheduling.

In-person test day procedure:

Before arriving:

Confirm your test center address — Pearson VUE test centers are located within office buildings, not standalone exam facilities

Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment

Bring government-issued photo ID with your signature — the name must exactly match your exam registration

Leave all personal belongings (phone, keys, wallet, bag) available for secure storage — lockers are provided

At the test center:

Check in with the test center staff — you will present your ID and sign in

Personal items go into a provided locker before entering the testing room

You will receive scratch paper or a whiteboard for calculations and notes — no personal paper permitted

You are escorted to your assigned testing station

During the exam:

The testing room is monitored by test center staff and by security cameras

Do not communicate with other candidates in the testing room

Raise your hand if you need test center staff assistance

Do not leave the testing room without informing staff

After the exam:

Your score report is printed by test center staff and provided to you before you leave

You will know your result — pass or fail, with your scaled score — before leaving the facility

In-person fee: $59 per line.

Identification Requirements

Both remote and in-person testing require one form of government-issued photo identification with your signature. Accepted forms include:

Driver's license

State-issued identification card

Passport

Military identification

Your name on the ID must match your name on your exam registration exactly. Discrepancies — even minor ones like a middle initial present on the ID but absent from the registration — can prevent you from testing. Verify the name match before exam day. If a discrepancy exists, contact Pearson VUE to correct your registration before your appointment.

Taking Multiple Exams in One Testing Session

Tennessee allows candidates to schedule and take multiple line exams in a single testing session. A candidate pursuing both Property and Casualty can take both exams back to back on the same day — paying separate exam fees for each line but completing both in one scheduling event.

The practical approach for multiple exams in one session:

For in-person testing, schedule your exams as separate appointments on the same day at the same test center — beginning the second exam immediately after receiving your score from the first. Test center staff will manage the transition between exams.

For remote testing via OnVUE, schedule your exams as separate appointments with sufficient time between them — your first appointment should be scheduled with buffer time for the check-in process, the full exam, and a short break before the second appointment's check-in process begins. Do not schedule two OnVUE exams back to back without buffer time, as the check-in process for each appointment requires 15–30 minutes.

Which order to take multiple exams: If taking Property and Casualty on the same day, take the line you are more confident about first. Starting with your stronger line builds exam-day confidence and primes your recall for the second exam. If your confidence level is equal, the order is not significant.

How Pearson VUE Scoring Works

Tennessee uses Pearson VUE's scaled scoring system — your raw score (number of questions answered correctly) is converted to a standardized scale that accounts for slight variations in difficulty between different exam versions. This means:

The pass score is reported as a scaled score, not a raw percentage. On most Tennessee insurance exams, a scaled score of 70 or above represents passing. The exact raw score required to achieve a 70 scaled score varies slightly by exam version — some versions require answering 48 of 68 correctly, others may require 47 or 49 depending on the difficulty calibration of that particular version.

The practical implication: You should aim to answer substantially more than 70% of questions correctly to ensure your raw performance translates to a passing scaled score across any version you might receive. Targeting 80%+ on practice exams gives you meaningful margin against both the scaling variation and the test-day conditions that can reduce performance slightly below practice levels.

What your score report shows: Your score report includes your pass or fail result, your scaled score, and a section-by-section performance breakdown showing how you performed on different content areas. If you fail, this breakdown identifies your weakest sections — information that directly guides your retake preparation.

The Retake Policy and Its Implications

Tennessee allows unlimited exam retakes with no mandatory waiting period between attempts. You can schedule a retake for the next available appointment — potentially the following day — after a failed attempt.

What the unlimited retake policy does not mean: It does not mean retaking immediately without changing your preparation approach is a viable strategy. Candidates who fail, do nothing differently, and retake within a day or two fail again at approximately the same rate. The score report from your first attempt identifies where your knowledge failed — the retake preparation should systematically address those specific gaps.

The financial reality of unlimited retakes: Each retake costs the full exam fee — $59 per attempt, per line. A candidate who takes a line three times before passing has spent $165 on that line alone in exam fees. The total cost of multiple failed attempts across two lines (Property and Casualty, for example) compounds quickly. The unlimited retake policy is insurance against bad luck on a single attempt — not a subsidy for underprepared repeated attempts.

The score report as a retake guide: After a failed attempt, do not simply study more of what you already studied. Read your section performance breakdown carefully. If you failed because of the state law section, that is a different preparation problem than failing because of property coverage concepts. Identify the specific content areas where your performance was weakest and build your retake preparation around those gaps.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have taken PSI exams in other states. How different is Pearson VUE in practice?

The core exam-taking experience is similar — you read questions, select answers from four options, and navigate between questions using on-screen controls. The differences are in interface details: Pearson VUE's question layout, navigation buttons, and flagging system look and behave slightly differently from PSI's. Pearson VUE's question style also tends toward more scenario-based framing, where a question describes a situation and asks what a producer should do, rather than PSI's more direct definitional approach. Neither platform is harder than the other — they are just different. The best way to familiarize yourself with Pearson VUE's interface before exam day is to use practice exam software that specifically simulates Pearson VUE's format, so that the interface on exam day is familiar rather than novel.

My remote exam was terminated by the proctor midway through for a room violation. What happens to my exam fee and my results?

If a Pearson VUE proctor terminates an OnVUE exam for a policy violation — unauthorized materials visible, another person entering the room, covering your mouth, or other prohibited conduct — your exam is voided and your fee is forfeited. Your score report will reflect the termination rather than a scored result. You must schedule and pay for a new exam attempt. There is no partial refund for a terminated exam. The practical lesson is to prepare your testing environment before exam day — not during the check-in process — and to review OnVUE's testing rules thoroughly before your appointment. Rule violations during online proctored exams are the most common cause of non-preparation-related exam failures, and they are entirely preventable.

I received my score report and passed Property but failed Casualty on the same day. Do I need to retake both?

No. Tennessee issues licenses by individual line, and each exam is scored independently. Your passing Property result stands — you do not need to retake Property. Your failed Casualty result means you need to retake only the Casualty exam before you can apply for Casualty authority. You can apply for your Property license through NIPR immediately after the 48-hour waiting period following your passing Property exam, and add Casualty to your license separately after passing the Casualty retake. There is no requirement to hold both lines simultaneously or to pass both before applying for either. Use the section performance breakdown from your Casualty score report to identify your weak areas and focus your retake preparation there.

The Tennessee Pearson VUE insurance exam rewards candidates who understand its specific format, respect its genuine difficulty, and prepare with the right materials for the right platform. Every element of the exam day experience — from the OnVUE technical setup to the immediate score reporting at the test center — is designed to be navigable for a candidate who has prepared deliberately. The candidates who walk out with passing scores are overwhelmingly those who showed up knowing what to expect, having practiced under realistic conditions, and having studied Tennessee's specific statutory framework alongside the general insurance concepts that the exam equally tests.

Visit JustInsurance to enroll today and complete your Tennessee exam prep with a state-approved course built for Pearson VUE — so that test day is confirmation of what you already know.