The journey to practicing medicine in Tennessee involves a multi-step process that varies depending on your medical role—be it a physician, physician assistant, or nurse. This comprehensive guide aims to demystify the medical licensing process, covering everything from the types of licenses available to renewal requirements and telemedicine regulations.
TN offers a range of medical licenses, including:
To obtain a full (permanent) license to practice medicine without restrictions in Tennessee, you must:
To become a licensed Physician Assistant in Tennessee, you must:
All medical professionals must renew their licenses every two years, with the renewal cycle corresponding to the licensee’s birth month and whether they were born in an even or odd year.
Physicians are required to complete 40 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) in the 24 months preceding their licensure renewal. Two of these hours must relate to controlled substance prescribing, including instruction on the Department’s treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol.
Physician Assistants must complete 100 hours of CME within a two-year period prior to license renewal. The division of hours between Category I and Category II CME must align with the requirements of the NCCPA.
Telemedicine licenses are no longer offered in Tennessee. Medical practice is considered to occur where the patient is located, necessitating licensure in that state. Current law permits only medical doctors and osteopathic physicians to practice telemedicine, and Physician Assistants must be supervised by a physician licensed for telemedicine in Tennessee.
The Tennessee Health Related Board’s official licensure verification site serves as a critical resource for verifying the licensure status of healthcare professionals in the state. Updated daily, this platform provides a wealth of information, including the licensee’s name, license number, professional designation, and any disciplinary actions or abuse data, if applicable.
For those in the nursing profession who may also be interested in licensure status in other states, the Tennessee Board of Nursing has designated NURSYS as a primary source equivalent. This platform provides a centralized database for nursing licensure, making it easier for nurses to verify their credentials across multiple states. If you encounter any issues with the verification system, you can contact the appropriate board through the Tennessee Health Department’s website .
Tennessee is one of the more than twenty states participating in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC). Applicants must meet qualifications established under the compact, which mirror state requirements. Once approved, physicians can practice in any of the participating states, expanding their potential patient base and offering more flexibility in their practice locations.
Navigating the medical licensing process in Tennessee can be a complex and time-consuming endeavor. This is where MedicalLicensing.com comes into play. Specializing in assisting healthcare professionals with their licensing needs in Tennessee, this service takes on the heavy lifting of the administrative process.
Our range of services includes:
By leveraging the expertise of MedicalLicensing.com, healthcare professionals can focus on their primary responsibility—providing exceptional patient care—while we take care of the administrative intricacies.
Each type of license has different requirements and fees. You need to complete and submit the application form, along with the required documents: medical school transcripts, postgraduate medical training verification, proof of legal status, letters of recommendation, examination scores, and more.
The Board of Medical Examiners states that it takes an average of 51 days to process a full medical license application, but individual application processing time may vary based on the complexity of the application.
The fee is $510 for MDs and $410 for DOs. The application fee is $120, and the initial license fee is $100. No fees for nurses.
Still have questions? Do not hesitate to contact usStop hunting state medical board for answers and see how our team can help you:
