- TN-PC refers to Tennessee's Property and Casualty Insurance Producer Exam, two separate 77-question tests.
- Each exam has 68 scored and 9 unscored questions, with 1 hour 45 minutes and a passing scaled score of 70.
- Test-center cost is $55 per exam; Pearson VUE also lists an $80 OnVUE combination appointment.
- No prelicensing course is required, but applicants must be 18+, pass a background check, and apply through NIPR.
What Is A TN-PC, Exactly?
TN-PC stands for the Tennessee Property and Casualty Insurance Producer Exam. It's the licensing test that anyone who wants to sell property or casualty insurance in Tennessee - homeowners policies, auto coverage, commercial liability, bonds, and related lines - must pass before the state will issue a resident producer license. It is not a single combined test; "Property" and "Casualty" are administered as two independent 77-question exams, and a candidate typically sits for both to hold a full P&C license.
If you've landed here searching for a broader definition, you may also want the companion pieces TN-PC Meaning and What Does TN-PC Stand For?, which unpack the acronym and its origin in more depth. This article focuses specifically on what the exam covers, how it's structured, and who ends up taking it.
Who Oversees the TN-PC?
The exam is governed by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI), which sets licensing requirements, and it's administered by Pearson VUE, the testing vendor that runs the actual exam sessions. TDCI decides who is eligible, what the content outline covers, and how licenses are issued and renewed. Pearson VUE handles scheduling, proctoring, scoring, and results delivery, whether you test at a physical test center or remotely through OnVUE.
This split matters practically: eligibility questions (background checks, age requirements, NIPR filings) go through TDCI's licensing process, while exam-day logistics (scheduling, rescheduling, ID requirements, and appointment types) are managed through Pearson VUE's system.
Exam Format and Structure
Both the Property exam and the Casualty exam follow the same structural blueprint:
- 77 total questions per exam - 68 are scored, 9 are unscored pretest items you can't identify during the test
- 1 hour 45 minutes of testing time
- Computer-based, multiple-choice format delivered at Pearson VUE test centers or via OnVUE online proctoring
- Passing score: 70 on the scaled scoring system used for each exam
- $55 per exam at a physical test center; Pearson VUE also lists an $80 OnVUE Property and Casualty combination appointment for candidates who want to complete both online in one sitting
One detail that trips up first-time candidates: online OnVUE sessions do not allow unscheduled breaks. If you step away from your screen mid-exam without prior authorization, it can be flagged as a violation. Candidates are also limited to two OnVUE attempts per exam line before they're required to test at a physical Pearson VUE center. This is a policy detail worth internalizing before you schedule - it affects how many chances you get online versus in person, a nuance covered further in the TN-PC Exam Dates 2026 guide.
Key Takeaway
Because the unscored pretest questions are mixed in with scored ones and indistinguishable, treat every question on the exam as if it counts - you can't game the test by skipping items you suspect are pretest content.
The 10 Content Domains
The TN-PC content outline (effective October 15, 2025) splits into two exams, each with five domains. Property and Casualty are tested separately, so a candidate pursuing a full P&C license needs to master both sets.
Property Exam Domains
Domain 1: Property - Types of Policies
This is the single largest domain on the Property exam at 32.4% of the content. Expect deep coverage of homeowners forms, dwelling policies, commercial property forms, and how coverage types differ.
- Know the distinctions between named-peril and open-peril forms
- Understand which policy types apply to which property situations
Domain 2: Property - Insurance Terms and Related Concepts
Covers foundational vocabulary: indemnity, insurable interest, valuation methods, coinsurance, and related concepts that appear across nearly every Property question.
Domain 3: Property - Policy Provisions and Contract Law
Focuses on how contracts are formed, endorsed, and enforced - conditions, exclusions, and the legal principles that govern property contracts.
Domain 4: Property - Tennessee Laws and Departmental Rules Common to Life, Accident and Health, Property and Casualty Insurance
State-specific regulatory content that overlaps across multiple license lines - licensing rules, producer conduct, and general regulatory framework.
Domain 5: Property - Tennessee Laws and Departmental Rules Pertinent to Property Insurance Only
Narrower state rules specific to property coverage, including Tennessee-specific statutory requirements.
Casualty Exam Domains
Domain 6: Casualty - Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms
The heaviest domain across both exams at 33.8%. Covers auto, general liability, umbrella coverage, workers' compensation, and surety bonds.
- Expect detailed questions on bond types and their purpose
- Liability policy structures show up frequently
Domain 7: Casualty - Insurance Terms and Related Concepts
Core casualty vocabulary and concepts such as liability, negligence, and related legal-insurance terminology.
Domain 8: Casualty - Policy Provisions
Provisions, conditions, and exclusions specific to casualty contracts.
Domain 9: Casualty - Tennessee Laws and Departmental Rules Common to Life, Accident and Health, Property and Casualty Insurance
Mirrors Domain 4 but tested within the Casualty exam context.
Domain 10: Casualty - Tennessee Laws and Departmental Rules Pertinent to Casualty Insurance Only
State-specific casualty regulations and statutory nuances unique to Tennessee.
Because Domains 1 and 6 together make up roughly two-thirds of their respective exams' weighting, they deserve the largest share of your study time. For a full breakdown of every domain with more granular subtopics, see the TN-PC Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 10 Content Areas.
| Exam | Total Questions | Scored Questions | Time Allowed | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property | 77 | 68 (9 unscored) | 1 hr 45 min | 70 (scaled) |
| Casualty | 77 | 68 (9 unscored) | 1 hr 45 min | 70 (scaled) |
Registration, Fees, and Eligibility
Getting to test day involves a few concrete steps rather than a generic application process:
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old
- Candidates must complete a fingerprint-based background screening
- Applications route through NIPR (National Insurance Producer Registry)
- There is no prelicensing course requirement in Tennessee before sitting the exam
- Test-center cost is $55 per exam; the OnVUE combination appointment covering both Property and Casualty is listed at $80
Because there's no mandatory course, self-study and structured prep resources carry more weight than in states requiring a prelicensing class. For a line-item breakdown of every fee you'll encounter - application, fingerprinting, exam, and licensing costs - see TN-PC Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown. And if you want to double-check exactly what counts as eligible before you file anything, the TN-PC Requirements 2026 guide walks through eligibility, prerequisites, and how to qualify step by step.
Who Actually Needs A TN-PC?
The TN-PC isn't an optional professional credential - it's the licensing gate for a specific job function in Tennessee. People who typically sit for it include:
- New insurance agency hires who will sell homeowners, auto, or commercial P&C policies
- Career-changers entering independent or captive insurance agencies
- Existing life/health producers expanding into property and casualty lines
- Insurance agency owners who want to personally hold a producer license alongside staff
Insurance agencies, brokerages, and carriers hiring for producer roles in Tennessee generally require this exam to be passed before an applicant can bind or sell policies. For a look at how this credential connects to actual job roles and hiring expectations, see TN-PC Jobs, and for a broader cost-benefit view of pursuing licensure at all, Is the TN-PC Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 lays out the tradeoffs without relying on invented figures.
After You Pass: Licensing and Renewal
Passing both exams doesn't end your relationship with TDCI - it starts your license cycle. Resident producer licenses in Tennessee renew on a biennial (two-year) basis, and renewal requires 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours specifically on ethics. This CE obligation is ongoing for as long as you hold an active license, so passing the TN-PC is really the entry point rather than a one-time achievement.
Because the content outline used for the exam took effect October 15, 2025, anyone scheduling now should make sure their study materials reflect that current outline rather than an older version - domain names and weightings can shift between outline revisions.
Key Takeaway
Budget for continuing education from day one of licensure. The 24-hour biennial CE requirement, with 3 hours of ethics, is a recurring cost of maintaining your producer license, not a one-time exam hurdle.
Building a Domain-Driven Study Plan
Rather than studying generically, allocate time in proportion to how each domain is weighted. Since Domain 1 (Property Types of Policies) and Domain 6 (Casualty Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms) carry the most weight on their respective exams, they should anchor your schedule.
Property Foundations
- Study Domain 1 (Types of Policies) and Domain 2 (Insurance Terms) since together they form the bulk of the Property exam
- Build a vocabulary list of core Property terminology
Property Rules and Practice
- Cover Domain 3 (Policy Provisions and Contract Law), Domain 4, and Domain 5 (Tennessee-specific rules)
- Run full-length Property practice sets timed to the 1 hour 45 minute limit
Casualty Foundations
- Focus heavily on Domain 6 (Types of Policies, Bonds, and Related Terms) given its 33.8% weight
- Pair it with Domain 7 (Insurance Terms) for reinforcement
Casualty Rules and Final Review
- Study Domain 8, Domain 9, and Domain 10 (Tennessee-specific casualty rules)
- Take full-length timed practice exams for both Property and Casualty before scheduling
For a more detailed week-by-week framework with specific practice benchmarks, see the TN-PC Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt. If you're unsure how challenging the exam will feel relative to your background, How Hard Is the TN-PC Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down what makes it tough and what doesn't. You can also review TN-PC Pass Rate 2026: What the Data Shows and TN-PC Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass for a clearer picture of the scoring bar before you sit down for either exam. Running through timed practice tests is one of the most direct ways to gauge readiness against the real 68-scored-question format.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's two separate exams - Property and Casualty - each with 77 questions (68 scored, 9 unscored), a 1 hour 45 minute time limit, and a required scaled score of 70. Most producers who want a full P&C license take both.
No. Tennessee does not require a prelicensing course before sitting for either the Property or Casualty exam, though applicants must still meet the age-18 and background-screening requirements and apply through NIPR.
Each exam costs $55 at a Pearson VUE test center. Pearson VUE also offers an $80 OnVUE combination appointment that covers both the Property and Casualty exams in one online sitting.
Yes, through Pearson VUE's OnVUE remote-proctoring option. Online sessions do not allow unscheduled breaks, and candidates get only two OnVUE attempts per exam line before being required to test at a physical Pearson VUE center.
Your resident producer license is issued and must be renewed every two years with 24 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours of ethics coursework, to stay active.