Tennessee Real Estate CE Requirements (2026): 16 Hours Every 2 Years
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Requirements Overview
The Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) requires 16 hours of continuing education per biennial renewal cycle for affiliate brokers and brokers. The mandatory 6-hour TREC Core Course is updated every two years and covers Tennessee real estate laws, legal updates, and regulatory practices. The remaining 10 hours come from TREC-approved electives. Distance education courses must be certified by ARELLO or another Commission-approved body.
A significant change took effect January 1, 2026: grandfathered principal brokers who supervise at least one agent must now complete the full 16-hour CE requirement. Previously, these brokers were exempt. Grandfathered principal brokers who do not supervise any agents retain their exemption.
Tennessee uses 'Affiliate Broker' for agents/salespersons and 'Broker' for broker-level licensees. Retired licensees have no CE obligation but must complete 16 hours to reactivate. Active duty military whose license expires during deployment may request a waiver within 6 months of release. Pre-license courses cannot count toward CE, and licenses expired more than one year require reapplication and re-examination.
Mandatory Topics
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TREC Core Course | 6 | Every renewal | Mandatory course covering Tennessee real estate laws, legal updates, and regulatory practices. Updated biennially (e.g., CORE courses for 2025-2026). |
Renewal Pathways
Real Estate Broker Continuing Education in Tennessee
In Tennessee, the 16 CE hours every 2 years shown above apply at the broker level — the board's “Affiliate broker standard renewal” / “Broker standard renewal” / “Principal broker supervising agents (post-2026)” pathway.
License categories and totals above are verified from the published rules of the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) — confirm current broker requirements with the board before enrolling.
Exemptions
- Retired Status — Retired licensees are not required to complete continuing education.Must complete 16 hours CE to reactivate license
- Grandfathered Broker — Grandfathered principal brokers who do not supervise any agents retain exemption from CE. Effective Jan 1, 2026, grandfathered brokers supervising agents must complete CE.Exemption removed for principal brokers supervising at least one agent as of Jan 1, 2026
- Military — Active duty military whose license expires during activation may renew without CE if military duty prevented completion and a waiver request has been submitted to the Commission.Must apply within 6 months of release from active duty
How You Can Complete Your CE
Tennessee CE Rules & Limits
Details specific to Tennessee that generic CE guides tend to miss:
- Carry-over — No carry-over provisions found. CE must be completed within each 2-year license term.
- Tennessee uses 'Affiliate Broker' for agents/salespersons and 'Broker' for broker-level licensees.
- TREC Core Course is updated biennially (e.g., 2025-2026 cycle).
- Effective January 1, 2026: grandfathered principal brokers supervising at least one agent must complete 16 hrs CE. Governor Bill Lee signed the legislation April 3, 2025.
- Pre-license courses cannot be used for continuing education credit.
- Code of Ethics is required by local REALTOR boards, not by TREC.
- CE Broker is the official CE tracking system for TREC.
- Education providers have 10 working days to submit rosters.
- License renewal available online at https://core.tn.gov.
- License expired more than 1 year requires reapplication and re-examination.
Provider Requirements
Courses must be TREC-approved. Distance education must be certified by ARELLO or other certifying body approved by the Commission.
Tips for Tennessee Real Estate Agents
- Use CE Broker (TREC's official tracking system) to verify your completed hours — don't rely solely on provider confirmations.
- If you're a grandfathered principal broker supervising agents, the CE exemption was removed as of January 2026. Plan your 16 hours now.
- Complete your TREC Core Course early in the cycle since the content is cycle-specific and providers may have limited availability near deadlines.
- Pre-license courses don't count toward CE, and Code of Ethics is a REALTOR board requirement, not a TREC requirement — don't confuse the two.
Sources
- Cross-checked against the official published rules of the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC)
- Each stated figure recorded with its exact source excerpt
- 3 sources cited — 1 primary (official board)
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