Tennessee Employment Agency
Licensing requirements for Tennessee employment, staffing and talent agencies.
This page provides an overview of employment services licensing in Tennessee for individuals and agencies. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.
Companies that provide employment services in Tennessee must apply for a license prior to doing business. Depending on the services offered, businesses may need to apply for more than one license type, and in some cases, an individual license will be required as well.
Company Licenses
Tennessee Employment Services Company Licenses
Companies acting as employment agencies in Tennessee must obtain the following licenses before offering employment services. Applications usually require proof of incorporation or a certificate of authority.
Tennessee Employment Agency License
Not required
Employment Agency licensure is not required on the State level in Tennessee.
Tennessee Professional Employer Organization Registration - Group Restricted
Initial Registration
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $250 application fee + $1,000 license fee |
| Required Attachments: |
|
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $1,000 |
| Due: | Biennially by the date of issuance. |
Tennessee Professional Employer Organization Registration - Group Unrestricted
Initial Registration
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $250 application fee + $4,000 license fee |
| Required Attachments: |
|
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $4,000 |
| Due: | Biennially by the date of issuance. |
Tennessee Professional Employer Organization Registration - Single Restricted
Initial Registration
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $100 application fee + $500 license fee |
| Notarize: | Not required |
| Required Attachments: |
|
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $500 |
| Due: | Biennially by the date of issuance. |
| Notarize: | Not required |
Tennessee Professional Employer Organization Registration - Single Unrestricted
Initial Registration
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $250 application fee + $2,000 license fee |
| Required Attachments: |
|
Registration Renewal
| Filing Method: | |
| Agency Fee: | $2,000 |
| Due: | Biennially by the date of issuance. |
Tennessee Talent Agency License
Not required
Talent Agency licensure is not required on the State level in Tennessee.
Employee Leasing Company - Enter into leasing contracts with other businesses that require labor. The leasing company loans its workers to the lessee while still providing specified responsibilities, such as workers compensation insurance, to the employees. This includes long term (6 months or more) temporary arrangements but often excludes temporary help arrangements. Unlike professional employer organizations, employee leasing companies are contracted when an employer needs to hire staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.
Employment Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment for a person.
Professional Employer Organization - PEOs take on the human resources role for businesses and act as a co-employer in the sense that the client company's workers are administratively employees of the PEO but functionally these employees are controlled by the client company. Unlike employee leasing companies, PEOs are contracted when an employer already has staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.
Staffing Agency - An entity that procures temporary or part-time employment for a person who then works under the supervision of a worksite employer.
Talent Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment or placement for an artist. (Certain art forms are excluded)
American Staffing Association
Staffing, recruiting, and workforce solution industry advocacy group.
National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Education and training oriented association for personnel services providers.
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
(NAPEO)
Provides advocacy efforts, information, and other services to members of the employment
industry.
