TN Property & Casualty exam-day guide
TN Property & Casualty · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Government-issued photo ID with signature
Your name on the ID must match the name on your exam registration exactly. If you have recently married or changed your name, resolve the mismatch before test day. Unacceptable or mismatched ID is the most common reason candidates are turned away. Confirm the exact ID requirements with your exam provider when you schedule.
Your appointment confirmation
Bring the confirmation number, test center address, and appointment time - printed or saved offline on your phone so it is viewable before you enter the testing room. Confirm the address the night before; testing centers are sometimes in office parks or shared suites.
Prelicensing course completion documentation
Tennessee requires approved prelicensing education before you sit for the exam, and completion is typically reported to the state/testing vendor by your course provider. Confirm with your provider that your completion has been submitted and that nothing else is outstanding (needs_review - verify current hour requirements and submission method with your provider and the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance).
A second form of identification
Some centers ask for a secondary ID (e.g., a debit or credit card with signature). Requirements vary - confirm with your exam provider whether a second ID is required or whether a primary photo ID alone is sufficient (needs_review).
Leave prohibited items behind or plan to store them
Phones, smartwatches, fitness trackers, notes, textbooks, and study flashcards are not allowed at the testing station. Most centers provide a locker - but bring as little as possible so nothing delays your check-in.
No personal calculator
Basic on-screen or provided scratch materials are generally available for calculation questions. Do not bring your own calculator; if you need one for a specific accommodation, arrange it in advance with the provider (confirm with the provider).
Planned arrival time roughly 30 minutes early
Check-in involves ID verification, a rules review, and a photo/signature capture. Arriving early absorbs traffic and parking problems. Arriving after your appointment time can mean denied admission and forfeiture of your fee - confirm the late-arrival policy with the provider.
Transportation and parking plan
Know the route, parking garage or lot, and expected cost. Do a dry run in the final 72 hours if the center is unfamiliar. Have a backup plan (rideshare, alternate route) in case of transit delays.
A light meal and water beforehand
The exam is long and cognitively demanding. Eat a normal meal, hydrate moderately, and limit caffeine to your usual amount so you are not distracted mid-exam.
One-page summary sheet for a final skim only
A single sheet of high-level concepts (e.g., key Tennessee-specific rules you have already learned) is useful for a 10-minute skim in the car or lobby - it must be stored in a locker, not taken to the station. Do not use test day to learn new material.
A realistic plan for the license application after the exam
Passing the exam does not itself issue a license. You will still need to submit a license application to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and satisfy any fingerprinting, background check, or fee requirements. Confirm the exact steps and current fees with the Department (confirm with the provider/regulator).
Plan the day
Confirm your appointment time, test center address, and that your prelicensing completion has been reported. Verify your photo ID is unexpired and your name matches the registration. Take one or two full-length practice exams under timed conditions, then spend the remaining time only on your two or three weakest topic areas. Shift your sleep schedule so you are awake and alert at your appointment time.
If the center is unfamiliar, drive there once to confirm parking and entrance location. Set out your ID and confirmation in a single place. Resolve any name mismatch or registration error now - it cannot be fixed at the door.
Stop learning new content. Do a light review of state-specific rules and the concepts you have repeatedly missed, then close the books. Pack your ID, confirmation, and keys. Avoid alcohol and heavy meals, and go to bed at a normal hour. Do not schedule anything demanding the next morning.
Eat a normal breakfast, dress in layers, and leave earlier than the map suggests. Skim your one-page summary in the lobby - nothing more. Keep your phone off and stowed before entering the check-in area.
Follow the proctor's instructions, present your ID, store all belongings in the assigned locker, and read the rules screen carefully. If you are offered scratch materials or an on-screen calculator, confirm how to use them before the clock starts.
Read every stem fully - watch for words like EXCEPT, NOT, and BEST. Answer the straightforward questions first, flag any question that stalls you, and move on; return to flagged items only after you have answered everything. Budget your time against the number of questions and a midpoint check. Trust your first reasoned answer when a question is genuinely ambiguous.
If time permits, use remaining minutes to review flagged items only - do not mass-change answers without a specific reason. Submit, collect your printed or on-screen result, retrieve your belongings, and write down any follow-up steps for your license application before you leave the building.
Rules to check
Bring at least one valid government-issued photo ID with your signature, and make sure the name matches your registration exactly. Name mismatches cannot be waived at the door - confirm acceptable ID forms with your exam provider when you schedule.
No personal belongings are permitted at the testing station. Phones must be powered off and stored, not merely silenced. Notes, textbooks, flashcards, and wearable smart devices are prohibited; possession during the exam can void your score.
Unscheduled breaks may be available, but in most testing programs the clock keeps running during them. Confirm the break policy with your provider before test day rather than assuming you will get extra time (confirm with the provider).
All scratch materials and any provided calculator must be returned or accounted for at the end of the session. Removing testing materials from the room is treated as misconduct.
Passing scores are set by the state, and results are typically provided at the test center immediately after submission. Tennessee candidates commonly cite a 70 as the passing standard, but verify the current passing score, scoring method, and whether each exam section must be passed separately with your provider (needs_review - confirm with the provider).
Exam content is confidential. Sharing, reproducing, or discussing specific questions is prohibited and can result in score cancellation and reporting to the state. Do not post question content online after the exam.
If you fail, a waiting period may apply before you can retake the exam, and additional prelicensing hours may be required on a later attempt. Confirm the retake waiting period and any re-education requirement with your provider and the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance rather than assuming either way (confirm with the provider).
A passing exam score does not issue your license. You must still file a license application with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and satisfy any background check, fingerprinting, and fee requirements. Confirm the current application steps and fees directly with the Department before you assume you are cleared to transact insurance.