If you hold a Tennessee appraiser credential, Tennessee uses an individual two-year renewal cycle rather than a single statewide renewal date. Under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1255-01-.10, a license or certificate expires two years after issuance, and Tennessee’s current renewal guidance states that licensed and certified appraisers must complete 28 hours of continuing education every renewal period.

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What Tennessee appraisers need

As a prerequisite to renewal, a Tennessee real estate appraiser licensee or certificate holder must complete at least 28 hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal period. The governing CE rule is Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1255-04-.01. Tennessee’s renewal guidance also states that the Commission will accept either the appraiser’s home-state CE or Tennessee-approved CE, and that completion certificates must be signed by the school.

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USPAP requirement

Tennessee requires the 7-hour National USPAP Update course during each renewal period. Tennessee’s current renewal guidance states that 7 hours of the 28-hour total must be the 7-hour USPAP Update course, that the 15-hour USPAP course cannot be substituted for it, and that the 7-hour National USPAP Update is required each renewal period.

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Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Requirement

Tennessee appraisers should now treat the Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations course as a required part of current CE planning. The AQB’s 2026 Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria, effective January 1, 2026, require appraisers to complete a VB-FH course every two calendar years. The first CE course must be 7 hours, unless the appraiser has already completed the 7-hour-plus-1-hour-exam version in qualifying education; every two calendar years thereafter, the course must be at least 4 hours. Tennessee’s Commission minutes show that the Commission approved multiple VB-FH CE courses in March 2024, January 2025, and April 2025, including courses by Dennis Badger & Associates and other providers.

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Important Tennessee deadlines

Under Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1255-01-.11, a Tennessee appraiser may apply to renew not earlier than 120 days before expiration. Tennessee’s current renewal guidance also states that renewal should be completed at least 30 days prior to expiration and before the first day of the month of expiration to avoid dropping from the ASC National Registry.

If a licensed or certified appraiser misses the expiration date, Rule 1255-01-.11 imposes a $100 late-renewal penalty and provides that no late renewal will be granted if the completed renewal application is not received within 12 months after expiration. Tennessee’s current customer-service page is consistent with that 12-month grace period for real estate appraisers.

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Repeat-course limitation

Tennessee’s current renewal guidance states that a course may be taken for continuing-education credit only once every five years, including courses with substantially similar subject matter, whether or not the course has the same name. The stated exception is the 7-hour National USPAP Update course, which may be repeated within a cycle as permitted for the required USPAP renewal course.

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Special note for registered trainees

For registered trainees, the governing rule is Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1255-01-.12. That rule requires trainees to complete 28 hours of continuing education prior to each renewal period, including the 7-hour National USPAP course at least once every two years. Tennessee’s customer-service guidance states that there is a 180-day grace period for late trainee renewal.

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Online and distance education

Tennessee’s current renewal page states that all courses can be completed online if they meet the applicable online requirements. However, Tennessee’s current expired-grace page still says that a real estate appraiser may complete a maximum of 14 hours of online continuing education. Because those two current Tennessee customer-service pages are not fully aligned, we recommend that you exercise caution.

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Approved courses

Tennessee maintains an official Approved Course Listing through the Real Estate Appraiser Commission. The Commission’s meeting minutes also show approval of multiple Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations CE courses in 2024 and 2025.

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Stay on track with your Tennessee CE

We offer appraisal education designed to help appraisers satisfy Tennessee continuing education requirements with practical, current instruction and approved course options. Tennessee’s official Approved Course Listing is the best place to verify currently approved courses.

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Legal Authority / Compliance References

Tennessee’s statutory renewal provisions are found in Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-39-307 for licenses and Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-39-315 for certificates. The Commission’s general powers and duties, including its authority to administer these requirements, are found in Tenn. Code Ann. § 62-39-204.

The current Tennessee continuing-education rule is Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1255-04-.01. The current expiration and renewal rules are 1255-01-.10 and 1255-01-.11. For registered trainees, the governing renewal and CE rule is 1255-01-.12. Tennessee’s official list of approved courses is available through the Tennessee Real Estate Appraiser Commission Approved Course Listing.

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The basis for treating Valuation Bias and Fair Housing Laws and Regulations as required is the AQB’s 2026 Criteria, effective January 1, 2026, which require appraisers to complete a VB-FH course every two calendar years. Tennessee’s current qualification pages already include the 8-hour VB-FH course for applicants and upgrades, and the Commission approved multiple VB-FH CE courses in 2025.

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Important Disclaimer

This page is provided for general informational purposes only. Continuing education and renewal requirements can change. Appraisers should verify current requirements directly with the Tennessee Real Estate Appraiser Commission.

 

Last reviewed: April 13, 2026.