Renewal, Reinstatement, & Other Resources

The grace period is six (6) months. When you renew during the grace period, you are charged a late fee of $10 per month. After the grace period, yet still within 4 years of expiration, you are only required to provide either proof of 24 PDHS or an active out-of-state license. If more than 4 years have passed since expiration, 5 references are required in addition to the proof of 24 PDHS or an active out-of-state license.

How to Renew an Active License

1. Application (CORE)

Need help completing the application? View our step-by-step visual guides:
Engineer Renewal | Landscape Architect Renewal | Architect Renewal

Engineer, Interior Designer, or Landscape Architect:

Twenty-Four (24) Hours of Continuing Education: At the time of renewal, you are not required to submit your continuing education records, unless you are audited by the Board. Continuing Education records must be retained for a period of four (4) years, and copies must be furnished to the Board for audit verification purposes within thirty (30) days of the Board’s request.

Seeking renewal for the first time after initial registration, you must obtain twelve (12) hours of CE during the two (2) years immediately following initial registration. Seven (7) hours must address health, safety, and welfare issues and technical competencies.

Seeking renewal for every two years thereafter, you must obtain twenty-four (24) hours of CE. Thirteen (13) hours must address health, safety, and welfare issues and technical competencies.

Architects:

Seeking renewal for the first time after initial registration, you must obtain twelve (12) hours of PDH. All twelve (12) hours must be completed in health, safety, and welfare subjects.

Seeking renewal for every two years thereafter, you must obtain twenty-four (24) hours of PDH. All twenty-four (24) hours must be completed in health, safety, and welfare subjects.

2. Fee, $140

NOTE: If you are licensed through reciprocity, please see information below regarding continuing education requirements.

0120-05-.13 RECIPROCITY. (1) If a registrant resides in or has a principal place of business in a state or territory of the United States, or another country, that has established mandatory continuing education requirements for architects, engineers, landscape architects or interior designers, and that registrant has met the continuing education requirements of the registrant’s home jurisdiction and is in good standing in that jurisdiction, then that registrant shall be deemed to have met the continuing education requirements of Tennessee. Documentation that the registrant is in good standing in the registrant’s home jurisdiction must be provided at the Board’s request. If the registrant is exempt from the continuing education requirements in the registrant’s home jurisdiction, the registrant must meet the requirements of Tennessee unless the registrant qualifies for an exemption in Tennessee. (2) This rule shall apply only to the acceptance of professional development hours for continuing education and shall not be construed to apply to the registration by comity of architect, engineer, landscape architect or interior designer applicants from another state or territory of the United States.
 

How to Renew an Inactive License

1. Application (CORE)
2. Fee, $140
    

How to Renew a Retired License

1. Application (CORE)
2. No Fee

1. Reinstatement Application (CORE) Once logged in, please make sure your expired license is linked to your account. The option for the reinstatement application will be under "My License/Permits". Click "Actions" and then "Reinstatement/Reapplication".

2. Requirements:

Expired less than five (5) years: 24 PDHs or hold an active out-of-state license.
Expired more than five (5) years: 24 PDHs or hold an active out-of-state license, and must provide 5 references.

3. Fee, $195

Active to Inactive

Complete an inactive status request through your CORE account.

While inactive, you will be exempt from the continuing education requirement, but you will still have to pay the biennial renewal fee. Inactive registrants cannot practice or offer to practice their profession in Tennessee, nor can they use their title in Tennessee. If you choose to switch back to active status in the future, we will require a statement that you have not practiced or offered to practice your profession in Tennessee during the period you claimed inactive status and certification that you have met the continuing education requirement for each year exempt, not to exceed 24 hours.

Active (or Inactive) to Retired

To be eligible for retired status, you must be over age 62 and not practicing or offering to practice your profession in Tennessee.

Email the Board a statement to ce.aeboard@tn.gov that contains your date of birth and that you are requesting retired status. No fee is required of retired registrants. While retired registrants cannot practice in Tennessee, they can still use their title, provided that the word "retired" is used in conjunction with the title. If you choose to return to active status in the future, we will require payment of the renewal fee, a statement that you have not practiced or offered to practice your profession in Tennessee during the period you claimed retired status, and certification that you have met the continuing education requirement for each year exempt, not to exceed 24 hours.

Active, Inactive, or Retired to Not Renewing

Email the Board a statement to ce.aeboard@tn.gov stating that you do not wish to renew your registration.  If your registration has not yet expired, you are also required to return your license and wallet card with your request. If you ever need to practice in Tennessee again, you will have to reapply for registration. Reapplication involves submitting a new application, new references, continuing education information, an affidavit affirming that you have not practiced or used your title in Tennessee since your license expired, and paying the reapplication fee plus the biennial registration fee. Examination is not required for reapplication.

Inactive to Active

Complete an active status request through your CORE account.

You must attest that you have not practiced or offered to practice your profession or used your title in Tennessee during the period you claimed inactive status and certify that you have met the continuing education requirement for each year exempt, not to exceed 24 hours. The renewal fee is the same for both active and inactive registrants.

Retired to Active

Email the Board a statement to ce.aeboard@tn.gov stating that you wish to move your license from a retired status to active. Include in the statement that you have not practiced or offered to practice your profession in Tennessee during the period you claimed retired status, and certification that you have met the continuing education requirement for each year exempt, not to exceed 24 hours.

A renewal fee of $140 must also be mailed to the Board.

Department of Commerce & Insurance
State Board of Examiners for Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors
500 James Robertson Pkwy
Nashville, TN 37243-1153

Reporting home, business, and/or mailing address changes is the responsibility of the licensee and can be completed through their CORE account. Once signed in, select the "My License or Permit" tile within the Quick Actions menu. A new screen will appear where you can select what information needs to be updated. Click "Select" and proceed with the online instructions. There is no fee associated with this request.

This must be submitted within thirty (30) days of the change.

Firms submitting an address change should submit the Firm Disclosure through their CORE account (Tennessee Code Annotated 62-2-601).

Submitting your Firm Disclosure can be completed through your CORE account. These changes should be submitted within 60 days of the change. Firms are made invalid or closed if the person who has been designated in responsible charge of the firm’s practice no longer holds active registration in Tennessee and/or is no longer employed in the office.

All Land Surveyors expire on the last day of every odd-numbered year. Renewals open sixty (60) days prior to the expiration date and are completed online through your CORE account. The fee associated with a renewal is $280.

Registrants who have been licensed for at least 2 years are subject to the PDH requirements outlined in Rule 0820-05-.03. This rule states that a licensee must obtain 30 PDHs during the 2 years immediately preceding renewal application, with 2 PDHs being in Ethics and Standards of Practice.

Exceptions to this requirement are detailed below:

1. Those licensed for less than 2 years are not subject to the PDH requirements for their first renewal.

2. Those currently in “Inactive” or “Retired” status are not required to obtain the 30 PDHs.

3. Those who have received Hardships and Exemption status must complete only the 2 PDHs in Ethics and Standards of Practice.

You do not need to submit PDHs with your renewal application. However, you must confirm that you have completed the required PDHs when applying. If selected for an audit, you will be required to provide documentation of your PDHs.

Here is a link to the approved course list.  

Any person seeking renewal of a registration more than one (1) year after the expiration date is required to reapply for registration.  Complete the reinstatement application online at core.tn.gov.

Expired less than four (4) years: Provide proof of completion of 30 PDHs completed within the two years preceding the date of reapplication.

Expired more than four (4) years: Provide proof of completion of 30 PDHs completed within the two years preceding the date of reapplication, and provide five (5) references, three (3) being Professional Land Surveyors (PLS). Please have the reference form filled out and returned to you, as the completed form is required to be provided to us alongside the online application. This form can be found on the Forms and Downloads page.

Here is a link to the approved course list.  

Active to Inactive

1. Application (CORE)

2. No Fee

While inactive, you will be exempt from the continuing education requirement, but you will still have to pay the biennial renewal fee. Inactive registrants cannot practice or offer to practice their profession in Tennessee, nor can they use their title in Tennessee. If you choose to switch back to active status in the future, we will require a statement that you have not practiced or offered to practice your profession in Tennessee during the period you claimed inactive status and certification that you have met the continuing education requirement for each year exempt, not to exceed 24 hours.
 

Request to Retire

This is completed through your CORE account. Per 62-18-128 (a), any licensee may retire their license. The fee for this request is $25. The holder of a retired license shall not be entitled to practice as a surveyor unless the licensee is reinstated to an active status. If you choose to return to active status in the future, we will require payment of the renewal fee, a statement that you have not practiced or offered to practice your profession in Tennessee during the period you claimed retired status, and certification that you have met the continuing education requirement for each year exempt, not to exceed 30 hours.

Active to Not Renewing

Send an email to ce.aeboard@tn.gov stating you do not wish to renew your registration.

If your registration has not yet expired, you are also required to return your license and wallet card with your request. If you ever need to practice in Tennessee again, you will have to reapply for registration. Reapplication involves submitting a new application, new references, continuing education information, an affidavit affirming that you have not practiced or used your title in Tennessee since your license expired, and paying the reapplication fee.

Inactive to Active

1. Application (CORE)

2. Fee, $25

You must attest that you have not practiced or offered to practice your profession or used your title in Tennessee during the period you claimed inactive status and certify that you have met the continuing education requirement for each year exempt, not to exceed 30 hours.

This is completed through your CORE account. Once signed in, select the "My License or Permit" tile within the Quick Actions menu. A new screen will appear where you can select what information needs to be updated. Click "Select" and proceed with the online instructions. There is no fee associated with this request.

If you have an update to your firm’s address, principals or officers, responsible charge change, or contact information, please fill out an updated Firm Disclosure Form and email it to ce.aeboard@tn.gov. This form can be found on the Forms and Downloads page.