- Property and Casualty are two separate 77-question exams, each with 68 scored and 9 unscored questions.
- You need a scaled score of 70 on each exam; both allow 1 hour 45 minutes.
- Test-center cost is $55 per exam; Pearson's OnVUE combination appointment is listed at $80.
- No prelicensing course is required, but you must be 18+, fingerprinted, and apply through NIPR.
What Is TN-PC Certification?
The Tennessee Property & Casualty Insurance Producer Exam (TN-PC) is the state licensing test that lets an individual sell, solicit, or negotiate property and casualty insurance products in Tennessee. It is not a single test - it is actually two separate 77-question exams, one covering Property lines and one covering Casualty lines. Each exam has 68 scored questions and 9 unscored pretest questions mixed in, though candidates cannot tell which is which while testing.
Because "TN-PC" is a producer exam rather than a designation you earn through coursework, there's no classroom requirement standing between you and test day. That makes preparation entirely self-directed, which is exactly why a structured plan built around the actual content outline matters. For a deeper look at how the credential fits into a producer's career, see What Is TN-PC Certification? and TN-PC Meaning.
Who Oversees the Exam and Why It Matters
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) governs licensing requirements and the content outline, while Pearson VUE administers the actual test delivery - both at physical test centers and through the OnVUE remote-proctoring platform. This split matters practically: TDCI sets the rules (who qualifies, what's tested, renewal cycles), and Pearson VUE controls scheduling, fees, and the testing experience itself.
The current content outline took effect October 15, 2025, so any study materials referencing an older outline may not reflect the domain weights or terminology candidates will see now. If you're comparing prep resources, confirm they're aligned to this outline before relying on them.
Exam Format, Timing, and Fees
Both the Property exam and the Casualty exam share the same structural specs, which makes planning straightforward once you understand the numbers:
- Questions: 77 total per exam (68 scored, 9 unscored pretest items)
- Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes per exam
- Passing score: a scaled score of 70
- Format: computer-based, multiple-choice
- Test-center fee: $55 per exam
- OnVUE combination appointment: Pearson also lists an $80 option that covers both the Property and Casualty exams in a single online sitting
A key detail for online testers: OnVUE exams do not allow unscheduled breaks, and candidates get only two OnVUE attempts per exam line before they're required to test at a physical Pearson test center. If you tend to need a stretch break or a moment to reset focus, factor that into whether you choose OnVUE or an in-person center.
| Attribute | Property Exam | Casualty Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 77 (68 scored + 9 pretest) | 77 (68 scored + 9 pretest) |
| Time Allowed | 1 hour 45 minutes | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Passing Score | Scaled 70 | Scaled 70 |
| Test-Center Fee | $55 | $55 |
| Largest Domain Weight | Types of Policies - 32.4% | Types of Policies, Bonds & Related Terms - 33.8% |
For a full pricing breakdown, including how the fees stack if you need to retest, see TN-PC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. And if you want the exact passing threshold explained in more detail, TN-PC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass walks through what a scaled score of 70 actually means for how many questions you can miss.
The 10 Domains, Weighted
Because you're sitting two exams, the content outline splits into ten domains - five under Property, five under Casualty. Two domains carry outsized weight and deserve proportionally more study time.
Domain 1: Property - Types of Policies (32.4%)
This is the single heaviest domain on the Property exam. Expect deep coverage of homeowners forms, dwelling policies, commercial property forms, and how coverage triggers differ across them.
- Know the distinctions between named-peril and open-peril (all-risk) forms
- Understand commercial property vs. personal lines structures
Domain 6: Casualty - Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms (33.8%)
The largest domain across both exams. Covers general liability, auto, workers' compensation, umbrella/excess policies, and surety and fidelity bonds.
- Bonds are frequently underweighted by candidates who assume "casualty" means only liability insurance
- Know how bond obligations differ from insurance indemnity
The remaining eight domains - Property Insurance Terms and Related Concepts, Property Policy Provisions and Contract Law, the two Property law/rules domains (one shared across life/accident-health/P&C, one Property-specific), Casualty Insurance Terms and Related Concepts, Casualty Policy Provisions, and the two Casualty law/rules domains - round out the outline with smaller but still testable weight. A full walkthrough of all ten, including how they interrelate, is available in TN-PC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 10 Content Areas.
Key Takeaway
Because the two "types of policies" domains alone account for roughly a third of each exam, mastering policy forms and structures should be your first study priority - not an afterthought after memorizing law sections.
Tennessee-Specific Law Domains
Four of the ten domains focus on Tennessee statutes and departmental rules rather than pure insurance concepts. Two of these (one for Property, one for Casualty) cover laws and rules "common to Life, Accident and Health, Property and Casualty Insurance" - meaning general producer conduct, licensing, and ethics rules that apply regardless of line. The other two are line-specific: rules pertinent only to Property insurance, and rules pertinent only to Casualty insurance. Candidates who skip these because they seem "less technical" than policy forms often lose easy points - the questions tend to be fact-based rather than conceptual.
Eligibility and Application Path
Tennessee keeps the entry requirements minimal but non-negotiable:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Complete fingerprint-based background screening
- Apply through NIPR (National Insurance Producer Registry)
- No prelicensing education course is required before sitting the exam
The absence of a mandatory prelicensing course is a meaningful difference from many other states' P&C paths - it puts more responsibility on you to self-study the content outline thoroughly rather than relying on a course provider to sequence it for you. For the complete step-by-step application process, see TN-PC Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
Building a Domain-Weighted Study Plan
Because Property Types of Policies and Casualty Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms together make up roughly two-thirds of the combined weighting in their respective exams, an effective plan allocates study blocks in proportion to those weights rather than spreading time evenly across all ten domains.
Property Foundations
- Study Domain 1 (Property Types of Policies) - the heaviest single Property domain
- Layer in Domain 2 (Property Insurance Terms) alongside it since terminology reinforces policy structure
Property Law and Provisions
- Cover Domain 3 (Policy Provisions and Contract Law)
- Work through Domains 4 and 5 (Tennessee law/rules, common and Property-specific)
- Take a Property-focused practice set to gauge readiness
Casualty Foundations
- Prioritize Domain 6 (Casualty Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms) given its 33.8% weight
- Pair with Domain 7 (Casualty Insurance Terms) for context
Casualty Law and Final Review
- Cover Domain 8 (Casualty Policy Provisions) and Domains 9-10 (Tennessee law/rules)
- Run full-length timed practice exams under the 1 hour 45 minute limit
- Review missed questions by domain, not just overall score
This sequencing works because it mirrors how the two real exams are structured - you build Property knowledge fully before switching contexts to Casualty, rather than jumping back and forth. For a more detailed week-by-week plan with specific resource recommendations, see TN-PC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you're still deciding how much runway you need, How Hard Is the TN-PC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down what makes the question style challenging beyond raw content volume.
After You Pass: Licensing and Careers
Passing both the Property and Casualty exams is what completes the requirements for a Tennessee resident P&C producer license. Once licensed, renewal is biennial and requires 24 continuing-education hours, including 3 hours specifically in ethics. That CE cycle is worth planning for early - it's a recurring commitment, not a one-time hurdle.
Licensed P&C producers in Tennessee typically work for independent agencies, captive carriers, brokerages, and MGAs handling personal and commercial lines - homeowners, auto, general liability, workers' compensation, and bonding. If you're weighing whether the license is worth pursuing relative to other paths, Is the TN-PC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 and TN-PC Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis go deeper on career outcomes. For a sense of who's actively hiring licensed producers, see TN-PC Jobs.
Before you get there, though, nail down your test date. TN-PC Exam Dates 2026: Testing Windows, Deadlines & Scheduling covers how Pearson VUE scheduling works for both test-center and OnVUE appointments, and TN-PC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows looks at what's publicly known about outcomes so you can calibrate your prep timeline.
Key Takeaway
Keep a running list of Tennessee-specific rule citations as you study Domains 4, 5, 9, and 10 - these law-based domains reward precise recall more than conceptual reasoning, so a condensed reference sheet pays off disproportionately.
If you want a condensed, print-ready reference for final review, TN-PC Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts compiles the highest-yield facts across all ten domains. And when you're ready to test your recall under timed, realistic conditions, our TN-PC practice exams mirror the 77-question, scored-plus-pretest format you'll face at Pearson VUE.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's two separate exams - Property and Casualty - each with 77 questions (68 scored, 9 unscored pretest), a 1 hour 45 minute time limit, and a required scaled score of 70. You need to pass both to hold a full P&C producer license.
No. Tennessee does not require a prelicensing education course for the P&C producer exam. You do need to be 18 or older, complete fingerprint-based background screening, and apply through NIPR.
Each exam costs $55 at a Pearson VUE test center. Pearson also offers an $80 OnVUE combination appointment that covers both the Property and Casualty exams remotely.
Yes, through Pearson's OnVUE platform. Keep in mind OnVUE does not allow unscheduled breaks during the exam, and you're limited to two OnVUE attempts per exam line before you must switch to in-person testing at a Pearson test center.
Focus first on Property Types of Policies (32.4% of the Property exam) and Casualty Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms (33.8% of the Casualty exam) - together these are the two largest domains across both exams and offer the highest return on study time.