Understand Tennessee’s regulatory structure

Real estate education in Tennessee is regulated by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission, or TREC, within the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. TREC approves education providers, courses, and instructors for qualifying real estate education.

A person who wants to teach approved Tennessee real estate courses should review TREC’s current Instructor Certification Application, instructor training materials, and applicable Tennessee statutes and rules before accepting teaching assignments.

Instructor certification is separate from authorization to operate a real estate school or education company. If you plan to offer courses independently, you may also need to work through—or become—a TREC-approved education provider and obtain approval for each course.

Typical path to becoming a Tennessee real estate instructor

1. Build relevant real estate credentials and experience

A practical starting point is to hold an active Tennessee real estate license, particularly if you intend to teach principles, brokerage practice, agency, or other subjects directly related to real estate practice.

For instruction in Principles of Real Estate, TREC’s application identifies different pathways:

• A Tennessee broker may qualify by providing a broker license number and proof of five years of experience in the subject matter.
• An affiliate broker may qualify with Commission approval and proof of five years of experience in the subject matter.
• Applicants should be prepared to document their professional licenses, work history, and teaching background.

Tennessee’s instructor application also requires evidence of a high school diploma or equivalent. A college degree is not universally required for every real estate topic, but specialized subjects may require additional academic or professional qualifications.

2. Complete approved instructor training

Initial applicants must complete a TREC-approved instructor training course. The current certification materials also identify instructor-development options and training resources, including the Tennessee Real Estate Education Foundation, REALTOR® education designations, and TREC’s instructor training materials.

TREC’s instructor training manual is designed to help instructors comply with the Commission’s education laws and rules. It addresses course administration, instructional standards, examinations, attendance, distance education, and provider responsibilities.

The application materials indicate that a new instructor training course must be submitted for approval every two years for certified instruction. Confirm the current interpretation and renewal process with TREC before relying on an older application or training certificate.

3. Qualify for the subjects you want to teach

Tennessee may require subject-specific qualifications in addition to general instructor certification.

Principles of Real Estate

Applicants generally must document the required Tennessee real estate license and five years of relevant experience. Affiliate brokers require Commission approval for this teaching area.

Law of Agency

An applicant must complete a TREC-approved instructor course on agency before teaching this subject.

Law of Real Estate

The application identifies graduation from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association or approved by the applicable state board of law examiners as the qualification for teaching real estate law.

TREC Core courses

Before teaching the mandatory TREC Core course, an instructor must demonstrate competency by completing an approved instructor course of at least four hours in the Core subject matter being presented.

Because the Core course changes with Tennessee’s education cycle and regulatory priorities, instructors should verify the currently approved Core curriculum and required training directly with TREC.

Other specialized subjects

For subjects in a field where a degree or recognized professional designation is commonly awarded, the applicant generally must provide proof of the degree or at least five years of satisfactory experience in that field.

College or university real estate credit

Teaching real estate for college or university credit has higher academic expectations. The application identifies a master’s degree plus three years of satisfactory experience in the instructional area, or a terminal degree in that area.

Prepare the instructor certification application

An initial application should normally include:

• Completed TREC Instructor Certification Application.
• Nonrefundable application fee, currently listed as $25.
• Resume.
• Copies or documentation of professional licenses.
• Evidence of educational teaching experience.
• Proof of the required instructor training.
• Proof of subject-matter qualifications, when applicable.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Any additional documents required for the particular course or subject.

The application materials state that applicants should have no current or unresolved complaints with TREC. Before submitting, check the current form for updated fees, document requirements, expiration provisions, and submission instructions.

TREC’s published application identifies approval as applying to the current education cycle, so certification may not remain effective indefinitely. Confirm the applicable expiration date and renewal procedure with the Commission.

Submit the application to TREC

The published Instructor Certification Application directs applicants to submit the completed application, fee, and required attachments to:

Tennessee Real Estate Commission
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243

The application materials should control if the mailing address, fee, payment method, or submission process changes. TREC also provides education-related contact information through its official education resources.

Do not assume that completing instructor training alone authorizes teaching. Wait for TREC certification or written confirmation of approval before teaching a course for which Commission approval is required.

Work with an approved education provider

Most instructors teach through an approved real estate education provider rather than independently managing every regulatory obligation.

The provider generally handles:

• Course approval and renewal.
• Instructor assignment.
• Attendance and completion records.
• Course rosters.
• Student examinations where required.
• Advertising and course descriptions.
• Compliance with TREC’s delivery and recordkeeping rules.

A provider must submit the appropriate course application and identify the course format and legal or regulatory authority supporting the requested credit. TREC’s course application materials state that Internet and webinar courses require appropriate ARELLO or Certified Distance Education Instructor, commonly called CDEI, certification.

If you intend to create your own school or course, review the separate provider and course-approval requirements rather than submitting only an individual instructor application.

Meet classroom and distance-education standards

TREC’s instructor manual states that approved courses must be reasonably related to real estate practice and suitably advanced for the licensees taking them. It also addresses facilities, equipment, attendance, examinations, and distance-learning interaction.

Among the published standards:

• Courses lasting eight hours or longer must include a final examination.
• Certain distance courses must include student interaction.
• Providers and instructors must promptly report changes and maintain current contact information.
• Education must comply with Tennessee’s real estate education rules, including Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-05.

Instructors should keep organized copies of lesson plans, presentation materials, attendance records, examinations, answer keys, and supporting sources. Providers may need these records to demonstrate compliance during review.

Maintain eligibility and certification

Instructor approval can depend on continued compliance with TREC requirements. Instructors should:

• Keep professional licenses active and in good standing.
• Complete any required instructor or subject-matter updates.
• Monitor certification expiration dates.
• Use only currently approved course materials.
• Avoid teaching outside the subjects or formats for which they are approved.
• Disclose changes in licensing status or professional qualifications.
• Coordinate renewals with the sponsoring education provider.

Distance instructors should verify whether the planned format requires current CDEI or ARELLO certification. The requirement may apply to the delivery method even when the course content itself has already been approved.

What if you are not yet a Tennessee licensee?

Tennessee’s published instructor application does not impose one identical real estate-license requirement for every subject. Requirements vary according to the topic.

A person without a Tennessee broker or affiliate-broker license may still qualify for some specialized or academic subjects if the person can document the required degree, designation, legal qualification, or professional experience. However, that does not guarantee approval.

For general real estate principles, an applicant should expect TREC to scrutinize real estate credentials and relevant experience. Contact TREC’s education section before investing in instructor training if you are unsure whether your background satisfies the subject-specific standard.

Confirm current requirements before applying

Tennessee instructor rules, forms, fees, course standards, and education-cycle requirements can change. Before applying:

1. Review TREC’s official education page.
2. Download the current Instructor Certification Application.
3. Read the current TREC Instructor Training Manual.
4. Review Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-13-324 and Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1260-05.
5. Ask TREC whether your license status, experience, subject, and delivery format meet current requirements.
6. If teaching through a school, confirm that the school and course are currently approved.

A state-approved education provider can also explain practical course-development and delivery requirements, but the Commission remains the controlling authority for Tennessee regulatory approval.

Authoritative Sources

• Tennessee Real Estate Commission Education Courses and Instructor Resources
• Tennessee Real Estate Commission Instructor Certification Application
• Tennessee Real Estate Commission Instructor Course Application
• Tennessee Real Estate Commission Education Resources
• Tennessee Real Estate Commission Instructor Training Manual