Life (listed as 'Life' in the fee table and 'Life Agent' in the exam-time table of the Pearson VUE TN candidate handbook)
The Tennessee life insurance exam.
The Tennessee life insurance exam is 68 scored questions, about 9 unscored pretest questions, in 105 minutes, passing at a scaled 70, $55 per attempt, administered by Pearson VUE. We sell study materials and practice exams for it, written from the official Tennessee outline. The first questions are free, and the full License Pass is $149, yours until you pass. Below are the licensing steps, exactly what the exam covers, and free practice questions written to this state's outline.
At a glance
| Exam | Life (listed as 'Life' in the fee table and 'Life Agent' in the exam-time table of the Pearson VUE TN candidate handbook) |
| Scored questions | 68 |
| Pretest questions | about 9 (unscored) |
| Time limit | 105 minutes |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score selected by the TN Department of Commerce and Insurance; scale 0-100) |
| Exam fee | $55 |
| Testing vendor | Pearson VUE |
| Retake rules | Wait 24 hours to make a retake reservation; after a first failure must wait 10 days to retake, and 30 days after each subsequent failed attempt. Limited to 2 OnVUE (online) attempts per exam line; further attempts must be at a test center. |
| Prelicensing education | not required for the life line |
Verified against official Pearson VUE materials, Content outlines #124301 effective October 15, 2025; candidate handbook #124300 dated July 2025 (rev 10/2025). Specs change; confirm when you register.
How to get your Tennessee life insurance license
- 1
Meet the basics
Be 18 or older and able to pass the background screening. Tennessee handles licensing through the NIPR system like most states.
- 2
Study the exam outline
Tennessee does not require prelicensing education for the life line, so your preparation is the whole game. Study the official outline below and drill practice questions until every section holds.
- 3
Book the exam with Pearson VUE
Register at Pearson VUE, pick a test center or online proctoring where offered, and pay the $55 exam fee.
- 4
Pass the exam
Walk in knowing the format, 68 scored questions in 105 minutes, passing at a scaled 70. About 62% of first-time life exam takers pass nationally (NAIC, latest published data).
- 5
Apply for the license and get appointed
Submit the license application (fingerprints where required), then get appointed with carriers so you can write business.
What the Tennessee exam covers
From the official exam outline, each section's share of the exam and how many of the 68 scored questions it earns.
| Section | Weight | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Life - General Knowledge | 74% | 50 questions |
| Life - Tennessee Specific | 26% | 18 questions |
Free Tennessee practice questions
Original questions written to the Tennessee outline, the same bank our students drill. Tap a question to check the answer.
Question 1Which feature best describes universal life insurance?
- A. A fixed premium and fixed death benefit for life
- B. Flexible premiums and an adjustable death benefit
- C. Coverage that ends after a set number of years
- D. A benefit tied entirely to stock market sub-accounts
Show the answer
Answer: B
Universal life is permanent insurance known for flexible premiums and an adjustable death benefit. Fixed premium and fixed benefit describe whole life. Coverage ending after set years describes term. A benefit tied entirely to sub-accounts describes variable life. Universal life's defining trait is its flexibility.
Life - General Knowledge > Types of Policies
Question 2The accelerated death benefit rider generally allows a policyowner to do what?
- A. Borrow against the cash value at a fixed rate
- B. Receive part of the death benefit early if diagnosed with a terminal illness
- C. Increase the face amount without new underwriting
- D. Add a spouse to the policy after marriage
Show the answer
Answer: B
An accelerated death benefit rider lets an insured with a qualifying terminal or serious illness collect a portion of the death benefit while still alive. Borrowing against cash value is a policy loan, not this rider. Increasing the face amount without underwriting describes a guaranteed insurability rider. Adding a spouse describes a family or spouse rider.
Life General Knowledge > Policy Riders, Provisions, Options, and Exclusions
Question 3Maria applied for life insurance without paying any premium, and the policy was issued as applied for; before she can collect the premium and deliver the policy, what should the producer obtain?
- A. A conditional receipt
- B. A statement of continued good health
- C. A new signed application
- D. A binding receipt
Show the answer
Answer: B
When no premium was paid at application, the producer collects the first premium at delivery and must obtain a statement of continued (or current) good health confirming no change in the applicant's health. A conditional receipt applies only when premium is paid up front. A new application is not required if the policy was issued as applied for. A binding receipt provides immediate coverage and is used when premium is paid, not here.
Life General Knowledge outline: Delivering the Policy (statement of good health concept)
Question 4An agent named Rosa signs a client's name on a life insurance application without the client's permission; how is this conduct best classified under Tennessee law?
- A. A prohibited act that can lead to license suspension or revocation
- B. A minor paperwork error with no penalty
- C. Acceptable if the client later approves
- D. Legal as long as the premium is paid
Show the answer
Answer: A
Forging a signature is a dishonest, fraudulent act and is grounds for the Commissioner to suspend or revoke a license and impose penalties. It is never a minor error. Later approval does not undo the misconduct. Paying the premium does not make forgery legal.
Tenn. Code Ann. 56-6-112 (grounds for license denial, suspension, revocation)
Question 5Maria buys a new life insurance policy and later decides she does not want it during the free look period. What is she entitled to?
- A. A full refund of premiums paid
- B. Half of the premium paid
- C. A refund minus a cancellation fee
- D. Nothing, because the policy is already in force
Show the answer
Answer: A
The free look period lets a policyowner return the policy within a set number of days and receive a full refund of premium paid. There is no partial refund, no cancellation fee, and the fact that the policy is in force does not defeat the free look right during that window.
Tennessee free look requirement for life insurance policies (concept; exact number of days not stated)
Take the free Tennessee practice test, every question with the answer and the explanation
Tennessee exam FAQs
How many questions are on the Tennessee life insurance exam?
68 scored questions, plus about 9 unscored pretest questions mixed in, with 105 minutes on the clock.
What score passes the Tennessee exam?
You need a scaled 70 to pass.
How much does the Tennessee life insurance exam cost?
The exam fee is $55 per attempt, paid to Pearson VUE. Licensing application and fingerprint fees are separate.
What happens if I fail the Tennessee exam?
Wait 24 hours to make a retake reservation; after a first failure must wait 10 days to retake, and 30 days after each subsequent failed attempt. Limited to 2 OnVUE (online) attempts per exam line; further attempts must be at a test center. About 62% of first-time life exam takers pass nationally (NAIC, latest published data). Failing once is common, and the fix is drilling the sections your score report names.
Does Tennessee require prelicensing education before the exam?
No. Tennessee does not require prelicensing education for the life line, which means how you study is up to you and practice exams carry more of the load.
What RingReady is, and is not
RingReady sells study materials and practice exams for the life insurance licensing exam. We are not a state-approved prelicensing education provider, and practicing here does not by itself satisfy any state's education requirement.
If your state requires prelicensing education, you must complete it with an approved provider; your state insurance department publishes the approved list. What we do is make sure that when you sit down for the real exam, the questions feel familiar.
Practice the Tennessee exam until it feels familiar.
Practice questions written to every section of the outline above, full timed practice exams matched to the real format (68 questions, 105 minutes), and a mastery map that shows what to study next.
A free placement plus free practice questions. No card to start.
Take the free Tennessee practice test · How to pass the exam