TNREB Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts

Exam Snapshot: The Numbers You Must Memorize

Before you memorize a single contract clause, memorize the shape of the test itself. The Tennessee Real Estate Broker Exam is governed by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission and administered by PSI, and it is split into two distinct, separately timed halves that behave like two different tests glued together.

On top of those 125 scored items, PSI may slip in 5-10 unscored experimental questions that look identical to the real ones - you cannot tell which items are experimental, so treat every question as if it counts. This is a computer-based, closed-book exam offered at test centers or via remote proctoring; remote candidates should note they cannot use scratch paper or take breaks during the session, which is a meaningful planning detail if you're used to working problems on paper.

Registration, Fees, and Delivery Format

The full TNREB exam costs $63. If you need to retake only one section, the fees split out: $37 for the national-only retake and $26 for the state-only retake. Budgeting for this upfront avoids surprise costs if you have to schedule a second attempt.

• Full exam: $63 (national + state, one appointment)
• National-only retake: $37
• State-only retake: $26
• Bulletin currency: PSI's candidate bulletin was updated July 1, 2025 - always confirm you're using the current version before you register

For a full walkthrough of every cost, application fee, and course expense you'll encounter on the road to licensure, see our TNREB Certification Cost breakdown. And if you're still nailing down whether you even qualify to sit for the exam, our TNREB Requirements guide covers the experience and education prerequisites in detail.

The 20-Domain Weight Cheat Sheet

TNREB content is organized into 20 domains split across the national and state portions. The national section carries explicit percentage weights; the state section is dominated by three high-weight domains plus several unweighted but still-tested areas. Print this table and tape it to your monitor.

Domains 1-11 belong to the national broker portion; domains 12-20 make up the state portion. Notice that Contracts alone accounts for nearly one-fifth of the national score - no other national domain comes close. For a deep dive into every one of these 20 areas, including sub-topics and sample question styles, read our TNREB Exam Domains guide.

The Big Three State Domains

On the 50-item state section, three domains are explicitly called out as the largest at 14% each: Advertising and Marketing, Handling of Trust/Escrow Funds, and Agency and Disclosure Issues. Together these three domains likely represent well over a third of your state score, making them the highest-leverage study targets on that half of the exam.

If you're trying to gauge how tough this exam really feels compared to other licensing tests, our How Hard Is the TNREB Exam guide breaks down where most candidates lose points.

Passing Score Math, Fast

You do not need to score the same percentage on both halves - the thresholds are different in structure, so do the math separately.

• National: 60 out of 80 points correct (across 75 items)
• State: 38 out of 50 items correct

These are fixed cut scores, not curved against other candidates. Every point above the threshold is a cushion; every point below it means a paid retake. For the full mechanics behind how these numbers work, including what "80 points from 75 items" actually means, see our TNREB Passing Score explainer. If you want context on how candidates nationwide actually perform against these thresholds, the TNREB Pass Rate analysis lays out the official 2025 all-attempt figures.

Eligibility Quick Reference

You can't sit for the TNREB until you've cleared Tennessee's experience and education gates. Here's the shorthand version:

• Experience: 36 months of active affiliate-broker experience, OR 24 months if you hold a qualifying real estate degree
• Education: 120 approved classroom hours, including the 30-hour Office/Broker Management course
• Approval: TREC approval of your application before you're cleared to test
• Deadline after passing: license application must be submitted within one year of passing the exam

The full eligibility rules, including how the degree substitution works and what counts as "approved" coursework, are covered step-by-step in our TNREB Requirements article.

Retake Rules and the One-Year Clock

Two timing rules trip people up more than the exam content itself:

• Section validity: A passed section (national or state) stays valid for either two retakes of the failed section or one year - whichever limit is hit first.
• Licensing deadline: Once you pass both halves, you have one year to submit your license application before that passing status expires.

Pair this timeline awareness with a realistic prep schedule outlined in our TNREB Study Guide, which maps out how to sequence review so you're not scrambling against these deadlines.

After You Pass: Post-License and CE Checklist

Passing the exam is the midpoint, not the finish line. Tennessee attaches real ongoing obligations to a new broker license:

• Post-license education: 120 additional approved hours, due before your fourth license anniversary
• Continuing education: 16 CE hours per two-year renewal cycle
• Required course: the 6-hour TREC CORE course is mandatory within that CE total
• Insurance: Errors & Omissions (E&O) coverage must be maintained continuously

These aren't optional add-ons - missing the fourth-anniversary deadline for post-license hours can jeopardize your license status. Build a simple calendar reminder now, while you're still in exam-prep mode, so this doesn't sneak up on you later. For a broader look at whether the time and cost investment pays off across a career, see Is the TNREB Certification Worth It? and our TNREB Salary Guide.

One-Week Countdown Plan

If your exam date is locked in, don't reinvent your study system this late - instead, allocate your remaining days by domain weight, not by comfort level.

For a longer-horizon version of this plan built around your actual test date, revisit the TNREB Study Guide, and check the TNREB Exam Dates guide to make sure you've scheduled with enough runway.

The One-Page Version

If you only remember five things walking into the testing center, make them these:

• 125 scored items total - 75 national (80 points, 150 minutes) + 50 state (90 minutes)
• Pass thresholds: 60/80 national, 38/50 state
• Contracts (19%) and Agency (13%) dominate the national portion
• Advertising/Marketing, Trust/Escrow, and Agency/Disclosure Issues are 14% each on the state portion
• You have one year post-passing to file your license application, and post-license hours are due before your fourth anniversary

Run through timed practice sessions on our TNREB practice test platform to see these domain weights play out in realistic question form before test day. Repeated exposure to the actual mix of Contracts, Agency, and Trust/Escrow scenarios on the practice site is far more useful than passively re-reading notes.

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