1. (1) Registrations shall expire on the last day of the twenty-fourth (24th) month following their issuance or renewal and shall become invalid on such date unless renewed prior to their expiration date.
2. (2) Renewal applications must be received by the Division not less than thirty (30) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of a registration.
3. (3) Applications for the renewal of registrations shall be made on forms provided by the assistant commissioner.
4. (4) Applications for renewals will not be considered filed until the applicable fee prescribed in these rules and all other information required pursuant to the Act and these rules are received.
5. (5) Applicants are responsible for biennial renewal whether or not a notice of renewal is received from the commissioner.

6. (6) A provider’s application for renewal of its registration shall include at a minimum:

   1. (a) A complete and properly executed renewal application form signed by the provider’s representative under penalty of perjury;
   2. (b) The applicable nonrefundable renewal application fee as provided in Rule 0780-05-18- .09, below;
   3. (c) A surety bond as required by T.C.A. § 47-18-5513, or an acceptable surety alternative that complies with the provisions of T.C.A. § 47-18-5514;

   4. (d) Evidence of insurance as required by T.C.A. § 47-18-5505(b)(4) in the amount of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000);

      1. 1. Any insurance policy submitted by a provider as evidence of insurance required by the Act shall include the insurer’s written agreement to provide the commissioner with written notice of termination or reduction of the policy, which shall be sent by certified U.S. mail to the Division.
      2. 2. For purposes of administering the Act, the insurer’s termination or reduction of liability shall be effective from and after the expiration of sixty (60) days from the Division’s receipt of such written notice or on such later date as is stated in the written notice. The insurer’s termination or reduction of liability shall not affect, reduce, or release its liability for any acts or practices that occurred during the time the policy was in force and prior to the effective date of termination or reduction of the policy.
   5. (e) Disclosure of any changes of information reported in the initial registration application or the immediately previous renewal application, as applicable;
   6. (f) The applicant’s financial statements prepared in accordance with the provisions of T.C.A. § 47-18-5506(7);
   7. (g) Evidence of the applicant’s accreditation by an independent accrediting organization approved by the assistant commissioner;
   8. (h) Evidence of certification, by an independent certifying program approved by the assistant commissioner, of all counselors and debt specialists conducting business in this state on behalf of the applicant;
   9. (i) Sworn criminal history records checks for every employee or agent with access to the applicant’s trust account(s) are only conducted on initial applications for licensure; however, when an applicant submits a renewal application, the applicant shall attest in writing that every employee or agent with access to the applicant’s trust account(s) has not committed any felonies since their prior background check;
   10. (j) Disclosure of the total amount of money received by the applicant from or on behalf of Tennessee consumers pursuant to debt-management services agreements and plans during the preceding twelve (12) month period and the total amount of money distributed to creditors of those Tennessee consumers during the same twelve (12) month period;
   11. (k) Disclosure of the gross amount accumulated during the preceding twelve (12) month period pursuant to debt-management services plans by or on behalf of Tennessee consumers with whom the applicant has debt-management services agreements; and
   12. (l) Any other information required to determine whether the application should be approved or denied.
7. (7) An applicant shall notify the Division within ten (10) days after a change occurs in any of the information originally reported in the renewal application.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 47-18-5504, 47-18-5506, 47-18-5511, 47-18-5513, 47-18-5514, and 47-18-5532. Administrative History: Original rule filed October 28, 2016; effective January 26, 2017. Rule renumbered from 0780-08-01. Amendments filed March 17, 2026; effective June 15, 2026.