How to Get Your Real Estate License in Union City, Tennessee

If you want to become a real estate agent in Union City, Tennessee, you must obtain a Tennessee real estate license through the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC). Union City does not issue a separate city real estate license; licensing is regulated statewide. If you're ready to begin the licensing process, explore Leap Real Estate's Tennessee pre-licensing course to complete the required education online and prepare for the next steps toward becoming a Tennessee affiliate broker from Union City.

Most new applicants begin as affiliate brokers, Tennessee’s entry-level real estate license category. The process generally requires approved education, a state and national licensing examination, electronic fingerprinting, a background review, errors and omissions insurance, a sponsoring principal broker, and an application through Tennessee’s CORE licensing system.

Does Union City Have Its Own Real Estate License?

No. Real estate licensing in Union City is governed by Tennessee law and administered by TREC. Applicants in Union City follow the same licensing process as applicants in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, or any other Tennessee community.

Union City or Obion County may have ordinary business-registration, zoning, tax, sign, or permit requirements that apply to a particular business. Those local requirements do not replace the Tennessee real estate license. Ask your brokerage or local government whether any additional registration applies to your business structure or office location.

Tennessee Affiliate Broker License Requirements

To apply for a Tennessee affiliate broker license, an applicant generally must:

Be at least 18 years old.
Provide proof of high school graduation or an equivalent credential.
Complete 60 hours of approved pre-licensing education in real estate principles and fundamentals.
Complete the required 30-hour Course for New Affiliates.
Pass the Tennessee affiliate broker examination administered by PSI.
Complete electronic fingerprinting.
Submit the required application and supporting documents.
Obtain errors and omissions insurance as required for the application.
Affiliate with a Tennessee-licensed principal broker.

TREC may require additional information when reviewing an applicant’s criminal, disciplinary, or professional history. Disclose requested information accurately and contact TREC before applying if you are unsure whether a past matter could affect eligibility.

Required Tennessee Real Estate Education

60-hour principles and fundamentals course

Before registering for the licensing examination, affiliate broker candidates must complete 60 hours of TREC-approved education in real estate principles and fundamentals. The education provider must submit proof of completion to PSI before the candidate can schedule the examination.

The school should also issue a certificate or letter of completion. Keep that document because it must be included with the license application.

The course commonly addresses topics such as:

Tennessee real estate law and regulations
Agency relationships
Contracts
Property ownership
Financing
Valuation and market analysis
Real estate mathematics
Fair housing
Property management
Closing procedures
Professional conduct

Course content, delivery format, testing procedures, and tuition vary by provider. Confirm that the provider and course are approved for Tennessee affiliate broker licensing before enrolling.

30-hour Course for New Affiliates

Tennessee also requires new affiliate brokers to complete a 30-hour Course for New Affiliates. The completion certificate or letter must be submitted with the license application.

This course is separate from the 60-hour principles and fundamentals course. Therefore, most new applicants should plan to complete at least 90 hours of required education:

60 hours before taking the licensing examination
30 hours before the license is issued

Review Tennessee real estate pre-licensing education options to compare available programs, but verify the provider’s current TREC approval and course requirements before purchasing.

Online Tennessee Real Estate Courses

Online education may be convenient for Union City residents who prefer studying at home instead of attending scheduled classroom sessions. Depending on the provider, an online course may include:

Self-paced lessons
Practice quizzes
Digital textbooks or course materials
Progress tracking
Instructor assistance
Course examinations
Completion certificates

An online course does not replace the official Tennessee licensing examination. It satisfies the education requirement only when the course is approved and completed according to Tennessee rules.

Before enrolling, ask the provider:

Is the course currently approved by TREC?
Does the program include the complete 60-hour principles and fundamentals course?
Is the 30-hour Course for New Affiliates included or sold separately?
Are course examinations monitored?
How is course completion reported to PSI or TREC?
Are exam-preparation materials included?
What support is available if you have questions or fail a course examination?
What are the refund, expiration, and completion policies?

A Tennessee-focused program can help you study both general real estate concepts and Tennessee-specific licensing rules. You can also review Tennessee pre-licensing course information before choosing a provider.

Step-by-Step Process to Get Licensed in Union City

1. Confirm your eligibility

Review the age, education, documentation, and background-review requirements before spending money on a course. If you have a criminal conviction, professional discipline, license denial, or other issue that may affect your eligibility, contact TREC for guidance.

2. Complete the 60-hour course

Enroll in a TREC-approved 60-hour principles and fundamentals course. Your education provider must submit completion information to PSI before you can register for the licensing examination.

3. Complete the 30-hour Course for New Affiliates

Finish the required new-affiliate course and retain the certificate or completion letter for your license application.

4. Complete electronic fingerprinting

Tennessee requires electronic fingerprinting for real estate license applicants. Tennessee residents generally schedule fingerprinting through IdentoGO, which transmits the fingerprints to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

TREC identifies the following information for affiliate broker applicants:

Real estate service code: 28TZ99
Affiliate broker ORI number: TN920784Z

Keep the fingerprinting receipt. TREC may require it as part of the application package.

5. Register for the PSI examination

PSI administers the Tennessee Real Estate Commission examination. After the education provider submits the required information and PSI confirms eligibility, PSI provides instructions for paying for and scheduling the examination.

The published affiliate broker examination fees are:

Full examination: $63
State portion only: $26
National portion only: $37

The examination has separate national and state portions. Bring the admission notice and acceptable government-issued photo identification bearing your signature.

6. Pass both examination portions

The national portion generally covers broad real estate principles, while the state portion focuses on Tennessee laws, rules, licensing procedures, and practices.

If you pass one portion but not the other, check PSI’s current retesting rules and deadlines before scheduling another examination. PSI and TREC control examination eligibility, scheduling, and retesting procedures.

7. Choose a sponsoring principal broker

An affiliate broker cannot operate independently. The licensee must affiliate with a Tennessee-licensed principal broker before conducting licensed real estate activity.

Interview multiple brokerages in Union City and the surrounding northwest Tennessee area. Compare:

Commission splits
Transaction fees
Monthly desk or technology fees
Training and mentorship
Contract-review procedures
Lead distribution
Office support
Marketing resources
Transaction-coordination services
The brokerage’s coverage of Union City and nearby communities

The principal broker must sign the PSI examination application or other documentation required by TREC.

8. Submit the initial application

The initial affiliate broker application is submitted online through Tennessee’s CORE licensing system. The published initial affiliate broker application fee is $91.

TREC may require the following documents:

PSI examination application signed by the principal broker
Proof of high school graduation
Proof of the 60-hour education course
Proof of the 30-hour Course for New Affiliates
Electronic fingerprinting receipt
Eligibility for Entitlements Verification form
Proof of errors and omissions insurance
Payment of the application fee
Any additional documentation requested by TREC

Review every document before submitting the application. Missing or inconsistent information can delay processing.

Background Check and Fingerprinting

Fingerprinting is part of Tennessee’s licensing review. For Tennessee residents, IdentoGO transmits fingerprints for state and federal background checks.

The usual process is:

Schedule an appointment with an approved fingerprinting provider.
Use the real estate service code and affiliate broker ORI number supplied by TREC.
Complete the electronic fingerprint scan.
Keep the receipt and confirmation information.
Submit the receipt with the license application if required.
Respond promptly if TREC requests additional information.

Disclose criminal and disciplinary history truthfully. An incomplete or inaccurate application can create a separate licensing issue, even if the underlying event might not have prevented licensure.

Tennessee Real Estate Licensing Costs

The total cost varies according to the education provider, fingerprint vendor, study materials, travel, and retesting. Published TREC and PSI fees include:

| Expense | Published amount |
|---|---:|
| Initial affiliate broker application | $91 |
| Full affiliate broker examination | $63 |
| State examination portion only | $26 |
| National examination portion only | $37 |
| Fingerprinting | Vendor-dependent |
| Pre-licensing education | Provider-dependent |
| Exam preparation | Provider-dependent |
| Errors and omissions insurance | Provider or brokerage-dependent |
| License renewal every two years | $75 |

The application and examination fees are separate. Budget for both in addition to education, fingerprinting, insurance, and any brokerage-related costs.

Fees can change. Confirm the current amounts on TREC’s fee page and PSI’s examination information before applying.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Tennessee Real Estate License?

Tennessee does not promise one universal processing time for every affiliate broker applicant. The overall timeline depends on:

How quickly you complete the education
Whether your course is self-paced or instructor-led
Examination availability
Whether you pass on the first attempt
Fingerprint processing
Application completeness
TREC review requirements
How quickly you select a sponsoring broker

Some applicants may complete the education and examination steps in a few weeks. Others may take several months because of work schedules, examination retakes, documentation problems, or delays in finding a brokerage.

Plan extra time for fingerprinting, examination scheduling, document collection, and application review.

Sponsoring Broker Requirements

The sponsoring principal broker is responsible for supervising affiliated licensees and is central to activating an affiliate broker’s license for practice.

Before selecting a Union City brokerage, ask:

How many agents actively work in the local market?
Will the principal broker review contracts?
Is formal mentoring available?
What commission split and transaction fees apply?
Are there monthly, annual, or technology fees?
Who pays for signs, photography, advertising, and listing services?
How are leads assigned?
Does the company handle residential, land, farm, commercial, or rental transactions?
What counties and communities does the brokerage serve?
How often are training sessions held?

A brokerage with strong supervision and transaction support may be especially valuable during an agent’s first year.

Post-License Education

The 30-hour Course for New Affiliates must be completed before an affiliate broker license is issued. It is not the same as the 60-hour pre-licensing course.

After licensure, monitor your TREC and CORE records for education and renewal deadlines. TREC maintains approved course information and states that providers report completed education through the state’s education-reporting process.

Do not assume that passing the licensing examination ends all education obligations. Keep copies of course certificates and verify that completed education has been reported correctly.

Continuing Education Requirements

TREC’s published guidance identifies a 16-hour continuing education requirement during each two-year renewal period after applicable post-license education. The 16 hours include:

A six-hour CORE course
Ten elective hours

Requirements may depend on license category, issue date, and whether applicable post-license education has been completed. Check your CORE account and current TREC instructions before selecting courses or waiting until the renewal deadline.

Complete education early enough to correct reporting problems before the license expires. TREC’s published renewal fee for a licensee or firm is currently $75 every two years.

Potential Earnings in Union City

No authoritative public source identified here provides a dependable salary or average income figure specifically for Union City real estate agents. A city-specific earnings estimate should therefore be treated cautiously.

Affiliate brokers are commonly paid through commissions or brokerage commission splits rather than a guaranteed salary. Actual income may vary according to:

Number of completed transactions
Listing and buyer activity
Property prices
Commission agreements
Brokerage splits and transaction fees
Referral business
Marketing effectiveness
Local economic conditions
Full-time or part-time work status

New agents should prepare for uneven income, particularly during the first year. A written budget, emergency savings, and a clear understanding of brokerage expenses can reduce financial pressure while building a client base.

Career Opportunities in Union City

A Tennessee affiliate broker license can support several real estate career paths, including:

Residential buyer representation
Residential listing services
Relocation assistance
Land and rural property sales
Agricultural and recreational property transactions
Commercial real estate
Leasing and rental services
Property management when properly licensed and structured
New-construction sales
Referral-based real estate business
Real estate investment and acquisition support

Union City has a population estimate of approximately 10,876 and reported a 53.0% owner-occupied housing rate for 2019–2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These figures describe the community but do not guarantee demand, sales volume, or agent income.

Local agents may focus on:

First-time buyers
Existing homeowners
Rural and agricultural land
Rentals and small investment properties
Senior housing transitions
New construction
Small commercial properties
Buyers and sellers in nearby northwest Tennessee communities

The best opportunity depends on inventory, mortgage rates, local employers, population trends, competition, and the brokerage’s network.

For education and Tennessee-specific preparation, review online Tennessee real estate licensing courses and independently confirm current requirements with TREC.

Affiliate Broker vs. Principal Broker

An affiliate broker is the typical starting license. Affiliate brokers practice under the supervision of a Tennessee principal broker.

A principal broker has additional education, experience, and supervisory responsibilities. TREC states that broker candidates must complete 120 classroom hours of approved education, including a 30-hour Office/Broker Management course.

Broker candidates generally must also satisfy an active affiliate broker experience requirement. TREC’s published guidance identifies different experience periods depending on the candidate’s licensing history and qualifying education, including 24 or 36 months in applicable circumstances.

Most new applicants should begin with the affiliate broker license unless they already meet the broker qualifications.

Practical Union City Licensing Checklist

Confirm that you meet the age and education requirements.
Review any criminal-history or disciplinary concerns with TREC.
Choose a TREC-approved education provider.
Complete the 60-hour principles and fundamentals course.
Complete the 30-hour Course for New Affiliates.
Schedule electronic fingerprinting.
Keep the fingerprinting receipt.
Confirm that your school submitted education information to PSI.
Register for the PSI examination.
Bring the admission notice and acceptable photo identification.
Interview potential sponsoring brokerages in Union City.
Pass the national and state examination portions.
Complete the CORE affiliate broker application.
Submit the $91 application fee and required documents.
Track education and renewal deadlines.
Confirm your license status before performing licensed activity.

Authoritative Sources