Tennessee life line
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 20 study questions are free, and the full License Pass is $79, yours until you pass.
At a glance
| Exam | Tennessee Life |
| Scored questions | 68 |
| Pretest questions | about 9 (unscored) |
| Time limit | 105 minutes |
| Passing score | a scaled 70 |
| Exam fee | $55 |
| Testing vendor | Pearson VUE |
| Retake rules | You wait 24 hours to book a retake. After a first failed attempt you wait 10 days to retake, and 30 days after each later one. OnVUE online testing allows 2 attempts per exam line, and after that you test at a test center. |
| Prelicensing education | not required for the life line |
Checked against Pearson VUE's official materials. Specs change, so confirm them when you register.
How to get your Tennessee life insurance license
- 1
Meet the basics
Tennessee sets its own age, background check and application rules. The Tennessee insurance department lists them, so read them before you book.
- 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 57 percent of first-time life exam takers pass nationally (NAIC, 2025 results).
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge | 74 percent | 50 questions |
| Tennessee Specific | 26 percent | 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. Flexible premiums and an adjustable death benefit
- B. Coverage that ends after a set number of years
- C. A benefit tied entirely to stock market sub-accounts
- D. A fixed premium and fixed death benefit for life
Show the answer
Answer: A
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.
Question 2The accelerated death benefit rider generally allows a policyowner to do what?
- A. Increase the face amount without new underwriting
- B. Receive part of the death benefit early if diagnosed with a terminal illness
- C. Borrow against the cash value at a fixed rate
- 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.
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 statement of continued good health
- B. A conditional receipt
- C. A binding receipt
- D. A new signed application
Show the answer
Answer: A
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.
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. Legal as long as the premium is paid
- B. A prohibited act that can lead to license suspension or revocation
- C. A minor paperwork error with no penalty
- D. Acceptable if the client later approves
Show the answer
Answer: B
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. Nothing, because the policy is already in force
- C. Half of the premium paid
- D. A refund minus a cancellation fee
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.
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?
You wait 24 hours to book a retake. After a first failed attempt you wait 10 days to retake, and 30 days after each later one. OnVUE online testing allows 2 attempts per exam line, and after that you test at a test center. About 57 percent of first-time life exam takers pass nationally (NAIC, 2025 results). 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 prelicensing education provider on any state's list, and practicing here does not by itself satisfy any state's education requirement.
If your state requires prelicensing education, you must complete it with a provider your state insurance department lists. The department publishes that list. What we do is help the questions feel familiar when you sit down for the real exam.
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.