Revised UAAARegistration requiredCovers HS athletes3 primary sourcesRules changing — check often

How do you become a registered athlete agent in Tennessee?

Register with the Tennessee Secretary of State before acting — $500 initial, $200 renewal (both nonrefundable), two-year term, no bond. Tennessee adopted the Revised Uniform Athlete Agents Act (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 49-7-2101 to -2120), which covers HIGH SCHOOL athletes expressly and reaches NIL through the endorsement-contract definition. Tennessee adds requirements most states don't have: the agency contract must be NOTARIZED, minors need a parent's notarized signature plus a separate acknowledgment, and contract copies go to the institution's general counsel as well as the athletic director. Violations of the prohibited-conduct section are Class E felonies (up to $25,000 and 1-6 years); the Secretary of State can add civil penalties to $50,000.

Verified July 19, 2026 by LeadCo editorial review

Registration at a glance

Registration required
Yes
Registering body
Tennessee Secretary of State
Fee
$500 initial; $200 renewal (both nonrefundable, § 49-7-2109)
Term
2 years
Surety bond
No
Covers high school athletes
Yes
Reaches NIL / marketing-only reps
Yes
Prescribed contract warning
Yes

How to register

  1. Apply to the Tennessee Secretary of State ($500, nonrefundable) — the live application page could not be verified from our network (sos.tn.gov blocks automated access); contact the SoS directly
  2. Include the prescribed warning text; have the contract signed IN THE PRESENCE OF A NOTARY (§ 49-7-2110(a))
  3. For a minor: parent/guardian notarized signature plus a separate acknowledgment (§ 49-7-2110(d),(g))
  4. After signing: notify the athletic director within 72 hours AND provide copies to the institution's general counsel (§ 49-7-2111)
  5. Renew every two years at $200

Renewal: Valid two years (§ 49-7-2106(f))

Contract & notification requirements

  • Prescribed verbatim warning block (§ 49-7-2110(c)): eligibility warning, 72-hour dual notification, 14-day cancellation
  • Contract must be notarized (§ 49-7-2110(a)) — unusual among the states verified
  • Minor's contract requires parent/guardian notarized signature + separate acknowledgment (§ 49-7-2110(d),(g))
  • Copies to the athletic director AND the institution's general counsel (§ 49-7-2111)
School notification required
Yes
Athlete cancellation right
14 days, non-waivable (§ 49-7-2112)

What the statute is silent on

Silence is not permission and not prohibition — the statute simply does not address these.

  • surety bond (no requirement found)

Penalties

§ 49-7-2115 (verbatim): "An athlete agent who violates § 49-7-2114 is guilty of a Class E felony and, on conviction, is punishable by a fine of no more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or confinement for no less than one (1) year nor more than six (6) years, or both."

§ 49-7-2106(i)(3): failing to submit clarifying information within 30 days while continuing to act — Class D felony.

§ 49-7-2117: "The secretary of state may assess a civil penalty against an athlete agent not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for a violation of this part." Private action (§ 49-7-2116): actual, treble, and punitive damages, costs, attorney's fees; violation is an unfair or deceptive practice under the TN Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Stated as the statute states it. Read the cited section before relying on this.

Statute

Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 49-7-2101 to 49-7-2120 (Revised Uniform Athlete Agents Act) + §§ 49-7-2801 to -2803 (NIL)

'Student athlete' (§ 49-7-2102) covers 'any interscholastic or intercollegiate sport' — high school included, unlike Florida. CAVEAT: statutory text was verified via a code mirror stamped current as of Jan. 2, 2024 (the state's own sites block automated retrieval); whether 2024-2026 sessions amended Parts 21/28 is UNVERIFIED — re-check against the official TCA before relying on fine detail.

NIL interaction

§ 49-7-2802: 'All athlete agents who represent intercollegiate athletes... must be licensed under § 49-7-2104.' Family members (parent, sibling, grandparent, spouse, legal guardian) are exempt from registration for NIL representation. Tennessee's 2024 NIL statutory overhaul may or may not be reflected in the mirror text — open item.

Sources

  1. Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-7-2110 (contract requirements incl. notarization) (January 2, 2024)
    shall be signed, or otherwise authenticated, by the parties in the presence of a notary public who shall duly notarize the contract
  2. Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-7-2115 (Class E felony) (January 2, 2024)
    An athlete agent who violates § 49-7-2114 is guilty of a Class E felony
  3. Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-7-2802 (NIL licensing cross-reference) (January 2, 2024)

Change history

  • July 19, 2026 — Initial publication from primary-source research pass (statute text read directly; penalties quoted verbatim).
Not legal advice. This page documents publicly available rules and is not legal advice. Rules change, and associations do not always announce changes. Confirm anything you rely on with the governing association, your school compliance office, or your own counsel before acting.

Spot an error? Tell us and cite the statute.

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