For part 1 of this two-part blog series, visit this page.

As we noted last week, one of the distinctions that sets REALTORS^® apart is their commitment to pursue ongoing learning, not only to fulfill Tennessee licensure requirements and to complete NAR’s required REALTOR^® Code of Ethics training—but also to grow in a range of skills that help them bring top knowledge and expertise to their work with property buyers and sellers.

Our REALTOR^® members do this in a variety of ways, including:

• CE courses hosted at our Training Center in Mt. Juliet or via Zoom;
• online offerings from our partner The CE Shop;
• courses from our state association, Tennessee REALTORS^®;
• classes and programs from NAR;
• courses from our friends at organizations such as the Realtracs MLS, fellow local associations, and others;
• and by working toward national real estate designations and certifications.

EMTAR is honored to serve as our members’ “partner in success” to ensure ample CE and other learning opportunities to fit the busy schedules of real estate professionals serving clients in our vibrant, fast-moving market.

Here is part 2 of a Q&A refresher on some of the key educational details and resources for our members:

How many hours of continuing education (CE) are required by the Tennessee Real Estate Commission (TREC) to maintain my license?

You must take 16 hours of continuing education every two years from the date you were licensed. The TREC Core Course must make up 6 of those hours, and the remaining 10 can be any state-approved course of your choice.

Speaking of TREC’s required Core class, does it also cover Code of Ethics?

No, it does not. These are two separate classes. Let’s look at each one:

First, NAR’s Code of Ethics class is a REALTOR® membership requirement that you must complete every three years in order to maintain your membership status. Starting this year, 2025, a Fair Housing / Anti-Bias training of not less than 2 hours has been added to coincide with the Code of Ethics period.

Second, the TREC Core Class is a licensure requirement that meets 6 hours of the 16 hours required by the state of Tennessee every two years from your original license date to maintain your license.

What is the timeframe for NAR’s Code of Ethics training, and where can I check my status?

The current three-year cycle for completing NAR’s REALTOR® Code of Ethics training is 2025 through 2027. You can learn more and check your status here. NOTE: Be sure to ask for a “Certificate of Completion" from your Course Provider which you will need to forward to EMTAR for proof of training.

I took a CE class but it’s not showing up on the TREC website. What can I do?

Each sponsoring school in which you took your class is responsible for submitting class attendance rosters to CE Broker— TREC’s official CE tracking system. Please check with the school first to see if that has been submitted. Sometimes there is a delay in the classes being updated online.

And as a reminder, licensees are now responsible for monitoring your own education; local associations cannot look it up. If you haven’t done so yet, you must register your license number with CE Broker, TREC’s official CE tracking system as mentioned in the previous paragraph.

I’ve heard the acronym “TREEF” mentioned—what is that?

TREEF is short for the Tennessee Real Estate Educational Foundation, which was established by Tennessee REALTORS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation. Many courses are created by TREEF and its Trustees for the use of REALTOR Associations in Tennessee such as EMTAR. TREEF is maintained by Tennessee REALTORS.

In closing, as a reminder, please go to our EMTAR Education calendar here to learn about and register for the latest menu of CE and other courses designed just for our members. We have many options available throughout the year!

About EMTAR: Chartered in 1969, our Association’s 1,200+ REALTORS® are a proud part of the 36,000+ members of Tennessee REALTORS® and of the 1.5 million+ members of NAR, all working to serve the public and protect the rights of America’s property owners. EMTAR members are known not only for their unmatched real estate excellence and high ethical standards, but also for being generous, hospitable, others-focused, loyal, hardworking, and eager to help wherever and whenever help is needed.