Cost categories to budget for
| Item | What drives the cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 60-hour Basic Principles course | Provider, format (online vs. in-person) | Compare providers; verify TREC approval. |
| PSI exam fee | Set by PSI Services | Verify current fee directly with PSI. |
| 30-hour Course for New Affiliates | Provider, format | Completed before license issuance. |
| Fingerprinting / background check | State-contracted vendor fee | Verify current fee with the vendor. |
| Licensing / application fees | Set by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission | Verify current fee with TREC. |
| E&O insurance | Group policy or independent coverage | Ongoing cost once licensed; verify options with TREC. |
Why RealReady uses ranges, not fixed numbers
Course tuition varies significantly by provider and format, and exam, fingerprinting, and licensing fees are set by third parties who periodically adjust them. Rather than publish figures that can go stale, this guide points you to the categories to budget for and encourages verifying current fee amounts directly with the Tennessee Real Estate Commission, PSI, and your chosen course provider before you commit.
Verify current fees before budgeting
Exam fees, fingerprinting fees, and licensing fees can change. Confirm the current amounts with the official source rather than relying on older published figures.
When Each Cost Occurs
Cost Isn't All Paid at Once
Mapping cost to stage helps with budgeting even before every fee is confirmed against current TREC/PSI schedules.
| Stage | Typical cost item | Fixed or variable? |
|---|---|---|
| Before the exam | 60-hour course tuition | Variable — varies by school |
| Exam registration | PSI exam fee | Fixed, but verify current amount with PSI |
| Before license issuance | 30-hour Course for New Affiliates tuition | Variable — varies by school |
| Before issuance | Background/fingerprint fee | Fixed, but verify current amount |
| Before issuance | License application fee | Fixed, but verify current amount with TREC |
| Before and during licensure | E&O insurance premium | Fixed group-policy rate or variable independent premium |
We do not publish a single all-in total here because course tuition and E&O premium both vary. Build your own total from the current school quote plus TREC's current published fee schedule.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Total cost varies by course provider and depends on tuition for both the 60-hour and 30-hour courses, the PSI exam fee, a fingerprinting/background-check fee, and licensing fees. Verify current fee amounts directly with course providers, PSI, and the Tennessee Real Estate Commission.
No. Tuition for the 60-hour Basic Principles course and the 30-hour Course for New Affiliates varies by provider and format. Compare providers directly rather than assuming a fixed price.