Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0880-02-.05 - [Effective until 12/14/2025] LICENSURE OF OUT-OF-STATE AND INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
To practice medicine in Tennessee a person must possess a lawfully issued license from the Board. The Board in its discretion may issue licensure based upon licensure in another state or distinguished faculty status according to the following criteria, process and qualifications:
(1) An applicant shall obtain an application
form from the Board Administrative Office, respond truthfully and completely to
every question or request for information contained in the form and submit it
along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the
Board Administrative Office in such a manner that all documents are dated not
more than one (1) year prior to the date received in the Board Administrative
Office.
(2) An applicant shall
submit a clear and recognizable, recently taken, bust photograph which shows
the full head, face forward from at least the top of the shoulders
up.
(3) An applicant shall submit
evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall be two (2) recent (within
the six [6] months preceding the date the Board received the application)
original letters from medical professionals, attesting to the applicant's
personal character and professional ethics on the signatory's
letterhead.
(4) An applicant shall
submit proof of United States or Canada citizenship or evidence of being
legally entitled to live and work in the United States. Such evidence may
include notarized copies of birth certificates, naturalization papers or
current visa status.
(5) An
applicant shall submit with the application the application fee as provided in
Rule 0880-02-.02(1)(a) and the state regulatory fee as provided in Rule
0880-02-.02(1)(g).
(6) If an
applicant has ever held a license to practice medicine in any other state or
Canada, the applicant shall submit or cause to be submitted the equivalent of a
Tennessee Certificate of Endorsement from each such licensing board which
indicates the applicant either holds a current active medical license and
whether it is in good standing, or has held a medical license which is
currently inactive and whether it was in good standing at the time it became
inactive;
(7) All applicants shall
disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:
(a) Conviction of any criminal law violation
of any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic
violations.
(b) The denial of
licensure application by any other state or the discipline of licensure in any
state.
(c) Loss or restriction of
hospital privileges.
(d) Any other
civil suit judgment or civil suit settlement in which the applicant was a party
defendant including, without limitation, actions involving medical malpractice,
breach of contract, antitrust activity or any other civil action remedy
recognized under any country's or state's statutory, common, or case
law.
(e) Failure of any medical
licensure examination.
(8) Applicants attempting to qualify for
licensure based on licensure in another state pursuant to T.C.A. §
63-6-211(a) are subject to the following:
(a)
An applicant who has successfully completed FLEX or the National Board of
Medical Examiners examination in another state but has not become licensed in
another state or Canada will not be considered for licensure under this rule
but may qualify by complying with all requirements of Rule 0880-02-.03 or Rule
0880-02-.04.
(b) An applicant shall
cause to be submitted, evidence of successful completion of a medical
educational program as follows:
1. For United
States or Canada medical school graduates, the documentation required by Rule
0880-02-.03(2) and 0880-02-.03(3).
2. For international medical school
graduates, the documentation required by Rules 0880-02-.04(2), (3), (4) and (5)
all of which must be translated into English.
(c) It is the applicant's responsibility to
request official verification of successful completion of one of the following
examinations be sent to the Board Administration Office directly from the
examination agency.
1. FLEX - Completed in
another state with a passing score as determined pursuant to Rule 0880-02-.08;
or
2. The written and/or practical
state medical board examination successfully completed in another state prior
to December 1972 (date Tennessee began FLEX); or
3. The National Board of Medical Examiners
examination with a certificate of endorsement indicating a passing score;
or
4. The Canadian Medical Board;
or
5. The United States Medical
Licensing Examination with a certification of endorsement indicating a passing
score.
(d) An applicant
shall cause to be submitted the equivalent of a Tennessee certificate of
endorsement from the licensing board of at least one (1) state or Canada which
indicates the applicant holds a current and active medical license which is in
good standing.
(9)
Applicants attempting to qualify for licensure as a distinguished faculty
member pursuant to T.C.A. §
63-6-211(b) are subject to the following:
(a) An applicant shall cause to be submitted
evidence of successful completion of a medical education program pursuant to
either Rule 0880-02-.03(2) or Rule 0880-02.04(2).
(b) An applicant shall cause to be submitted
the following documentation:
1. A
certification from an accredited medical college in Tennessee that the
applicant has a full-time appointment at the rank of full professor;
and
2. Letters of support attesting
to the applicants distinguished status from all of the following:
(i) The Dean of the medical college
appointing the applicant.
(ii) All
department chairmen at the appointing medical college who are directly involved
with the applicant's faculty assignments.
(iii) At least five (5) of the applicant's
academic colleagues from outside of Tennessee in addition to the letters
required by paragraph (3) of this rule. The academic colleagues shall include
the following:
(I) Other nationally or
internationally recognized experts in the applicant's specialty area.
(II) Former or current medical school
deans;
(c) An applicant must cause to be submitted a
certification of current and active membership in good standing in at least two
(2) medical specialty societies which have restricted and selective membership
based on academic and/or practice related criteria;
(d) An applicant must cause the following
documentation to be submitted:
1. A
certification from at least two (2) medical educational institutions either
abroad or in the United States that the applicant has been or was invited to be
a lecturer or visiting professor along with the applicable dates, lecture
topics and/or educational assignments.
2. The dates, location and sponsoring
specialty organizations for at least two (2) national or international medical
meetings at which the applicant delivered scholarly medical papers along with
copies of at least two (2) such delivered papers. The meetings must have been
conducted by or for the applicant's specialty membership;
(e) The appointing medical college shall
immediately notify the Board at any time that an applicant who obtains
distinguished faculty licensure ceases to maintain a full-time appointment at
the rank of full professor; and
(f)
Any license issued to a distinguished faculty member shall automatically expire
at any time the licensee fails to maintain a full-time appointment at the rank
of full professor and authorized medical practice only in conjunction with the
medical college at which the appointment is held.
(10) Any applicant for any type of licensure
authorized by this rule shall cause the results of a criminal background check
to be submitted to the Board's administrative office directly from the vendor
identified in the Board's licensure application materials.
(11) Submission of any document or set of
documents required by this rule or submission of verification of the
authenticity, validity and accuracy of the content of any document or set of
documents required by this rule directly from the FCVS to the Board
Administrative Office shall be deemed to be submission of originals of those
documents or sets of documents by the issuing institution(s).
(12) Application review and licensure
decisions shall be governed by Rule 0880-02-.07.
(13) International medical school graduates
attempting to qualify for a temporary license under T.C.A. §
63-6-207(h)
shall obtain an application form from the Board Administrative Office or from
the Board's website, respond truthfully and completely to every question or
request for information contained in the form and submit it along with all
documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the Board's
Administrative Office.
(a) An applicant shall
cause FCVS to release the applicant's physician information profile to the
Board. An applicant shall cause to be submitted a certificate of successful
completion of the U.S.M.L.E. and evidence satisfactory to the Board of
successful completion of a one (1) year United States postgraduate training
program if sufficient evidence is not included in the FCVS physician
information profile. The application will not be approved if the applicant
fails to provide, at a minimum, a certificate of completion and a letter
attesting to successful completion issued by the director of the postgraduate
training program. Successful completion means having no adverse action taken
during the duration of the postgraduate training program.
(b) An applicant shall submit proof of United
States citizenship or of being lawfully present in the United States pursuant
to T.C.A. §
4-58-103.
(c) An
applicant shall cause the results of a criminal background check to be
submitted to the Board's Administrative Office directly from the vendor
identified in the Board's licensure application materials.
(d) Demonstrated competency to qualify for
the issuance of a temporary license shall be shown through all of the
following:
1. An attestation that the
applicant does not have criminal history or licensure discipline in any country
and that any medical license that the applicant holds in any country is in good
standing. Good standing means having no discipline on any medical license and
having no pending or open investigations. The applicant shall consent to the
use of official verification from other countries, to include but not be
limited to, licensure verification and criminal background checks if such forms
of official verification are available;
2. Sufficient and satisfactory evidence of
having graduated from an international medical school that meets the E.C.F.M.G.
requirements and is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools or its
equivalent that meets the following curriculum criteria;
(i) All courses must have been completed by
personal attendance. No international medical school accepting or providing
credits for courses taken by correspondence shall be approved.
(ii) Course instruction must consist of the
equivalent of at least four (4) academic years with a minimum of thirty-two
(32) weeks of relevant medical instruction each academic year.
(iii) Acceptable medical educational courses
and activities must have been centrally organized, integrated and controlled
into a continuous program which was conducted, monitored and approved by the
parent institution.
3.
An attestation from the applicant that no adverse actions were taken against
them in medical school;
4. An
applicant shall cause to be submitted an E.C.F.M.G. certification status report
if not included in the FCVS physician information profile.
5. Sufficient and satisfactory evidence of
successful completion of any postgraduate training program that was attempted.
Successful completion means having no adverse action taken during the duration
of the postgraduate training program. Such evidence shall include, but not be
dispositive of this requirement, a certificate of completion and a letter
attesting to successful completion issued by the director of the
program;
6. An attestation from a
minimum of three (3) physicians from each of the applicant's postgraduate
training programs attesting that the applicant is ready to independently
practice medicine. One letter should be from the program director and two
letters from the applicant's supervising physicians;
7. Sufficient and satisfactory evidence that
the applicant passed all steps of the U.S.M.L.E. on the first attempt;
and
8. Sufficient and satisfactory
evidence that the applicant passed all steps of the U.S.M.L.E. within ten (10)
years from the date of whichever step of the examination was successfully
completed first.
(e)
Where the Board determines to grant a temporary license, the following shall
apply:
1. The temporary license shall be for a
duration of three (3) years.
2. The
temporary license shall be nonrenewable and cannot be automatically converted
to a full and unrestricted license.
3. All rules and regulations of a full and
unrestricted license shall apply to a temporary license.
(f) A temporary license is subject to the
same disciplinary proceedings as a full and unrestricted license and if a
temporary licensee commits a violation of the practice act or rules and
regulations promulgated thereto, that violation shall be grounds to deny the
temporary licensee's application for a full and unrestricted license and
grounds for discipline of the temporary license.
(g) A temporary licensee shall be in good
standing at the time of application for a full and unrestricted license. Good
standing means having no formal discipline or open investigations on the
temporary license. In order to apply for a full and unrestricted license, a
temporary licensee shall:
1. Submit an
application to the Board Administrative Office and pay the conversion fee and
state regulatory fee.
2. Submit
sufficient and satisfactory evidence to the Board that the temporary licensee
has actively practiced clinical medicine in Tennessee for two (2) years after
the date of issuance of the temporary license. Actively practiced clinical
medicine means full time and continuous employment with an average of thirtytwo
(32) hours per week. The applicant shall provide at a minimum, completion of a
notarized attestation form by each employer that employed the temporary
licensee in the last two years after the date of issuance of the temporary
license.
3. The applicant shall
cause the result of a criminal background check to be submitted to the Board's
administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board's
licensure application materials.
4.
Submit proof of United States citizenship or of being lawfully present in the
United States pursuant to T.C.A. §
4-58-103.
(h) The temporary license, if still active,
shall automatically expire upon the issuance of a full and unrestricted
license.
Notes
Authority: T.C.A. §§ 63-6-101, 63-6-207, and 63-6-211.
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
To practice medicine in Tennessee a person must possess a lawfully issued license from the Board. The Board in its discretion may issue licensure based upon licensure in another state or distinguished faculty status according to the following criteria, process and qualifications:
(1) An applicant shall obtain an application form from the Board Administrative Office, respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the form and submit it along with all documentation and fees required by the form and this rule to the Board Administrative Office in such a manner that all documents are dated not more than one (1) year prior to the date received in the Board Administrative Office.
(2) An applicant shall submit a clear and recognizable, recently taken, bust photograph which shows the full head, face forward from at least the top of the shoulders up.
(3) An applicant shall submit evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall be two (2) recent (within the six [6] months preceding the date the Board received the application) original letters from medical professionals, attesting to the applicant's personal character and professional ethics on the signatory's letterhead.
(4) An applicant shall submit proof of United States or Canada citizenship or evidence of being legally entitled to live and work in the United States. Such evidence may include notarized copies of birth certificates, naturalization papers or current visa status.
(5) An applicant shall submit with the application the application fee as provided in Rule 0880-02-.02(1)(a) and the state regulatory fee as provided in Rule 0880-02-.02(1)(g).
(6) If an applicant has ever held a license to practice medicine in any other state or Canada, the applicant shall submit or cause to be submitted the equivalent of a Tennessee Certificate of Endorsement from each such licensing board which indicates the applicant either holds a current active medical license and whether it is in good standing, or has held a medical license which is currently inactive and whether it was in good standing at the time it became inactive;
(7) All applicants shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:
(a) Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.
(b) The denial of licensure application by any other state or the discipline of licensure in any state.
(c) Loss or restriction of hospital privileges.
(d) Any other civil suit judgment or civil suit settlement in which the applicant was a party defendant including, without limitation, actions involving medical malpractice, breach of contract, antitrust activity or any other civil action remedy recognized under any country's or state's statutory, common, or case law.
(e) Failure of any medical licensure examination.
(8) Applicants attempting to qualify for licensure based on licensure in another state pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-6-211(a) are subject to the following:
(a) An applicant who has successfully completed FLEX or the National Board of Medical Examiners examination in another state but has not become licensed in another state or Canada will not be considered for licensure under this rule but may qualify by complying with all requirements of Rule 0880-02-.03 or Rule 0880-02-.04.
(b) An applicant shall cause to be submitted, evidence of successful completion of a medical educational program as follows:
1. For United States or Canada medical school graduates, the documentation required by Rule 0880-02-.03(2) and 0880-02-.03(3).
2. For international medical school graduates, the documentation required by Rules 0880-02-.04(2), (3), (4) and (5) all of which must be translated into English.
(c) It is the applicant's responsibility to request official verification of successful completion of one of the following examinations be sent to the Board Administration Office directly from the examination agency.
1. FLEX - Completed in another state with a passing score as determined pursuant to Rule 0880-02-.08; or
2. The written and/or practical state medical board examination successfully completed in another state prior to December 1972 (date Tennessee began FLEX); or
3. The National Board of Medical Examiners examination with a certificate of endorsement indicating a passing score; or
4. The Canadian Medical Board; or
5. The United States Medical Licensing Examination with a certification of endorsement indicating a passing score.
(d) An applicant shall cause to be submitted the equivalent of a Tennessee certificate of endorsement from the licensing board of at least one (1) state or Canada which indicates the applicant holds a current and active medical license which is in good standing.
(9) Applicants attempting to qualify for licensure as a distinguished faculty member pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-6-211(b) are subject to the following:
(a) An applicant shall cause to be submitted evidence of successful completion of a medical education program pursuant to either Rule 0880-02-.03(2) or Rule 0880-02.04(2).
(b) An applicant shall cause to be submitted the following documentation:
1. A certification from an accredited medical college in Tennessee that the applicant has a full-time appointment at the rank of full professor; and
2. Letters of support attesting to the applicants distinguished status from all of the following:
(i) The Dean of the medical college appointing the applicant.
(ii) All department chairmen at the appointing medical college who are directly involved with the applicant's faculty assignments.
(iii) At least five (5) of the applicant's academic colleagues from outside of Tennessee in addition to the letters required by paragraph (3) of this rule. The academic colleagues shall include the following:
(I) Other nationally or internationally recognized experts in the applicant's specialty area.
(II) Former or current medical school deans;
(c) An applicant must cause to be submitted a certification of current and active membership in good standing in at least two (2) medical specialty societies which have restricted and selective membership based on academic and/or practice related criteria;
(d) An applicant must cause the following documentation to be submitted:
1. A certification from at least two (2) medical educational institutions either abroad or in the United States that the applicant has been or was invited to be a lecturer or visiting professor along with the applicable dates, lecture topics and/or educational assignments.
2. The dates, location and sponsoring specialty organizations for at least two (2) national or international medical meetings at which the applicant delivered scholarly medical papers along with copies of at least two (2) such delivered papers. The meetings must have been conducted by or for the applicant's specialty membership;
(e) The appointing medical college shall immediately notify the Board at any time that an applicant who obtains distinguished faculty licensure ceases to maintain a full-time appointment at the rank of full professor; and
(f) Any license issued to a distinguished faculty member shall automatically expire at any time the licensee fails to maintain a full-time appointment at the rank of full professor and authorized medical practice only in conjunction with the medical college at which the appointment is held.
(10) Any applicant for any type of licensure authorized by this rule shall cause to be submitted to the Board's administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board's licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.
(11) Submission of any document or set of documents required by this rule or submission of verification of the authenticity, validity and accuracy of the content of any document or set of documents required by this rule directly from the FCVS to the Board Administrative Office shall be deemed to be submission of originals of those documents or sets of documents by the issuing institution(s).
(12) Application review and licensure decisions shall be governed by Rule 0880-02-.07.
(13) Applicants attempting to qualify for a temporary licensure under T.C.A. § 63-6-207(g) shall apply pursuant to Rule 0880-02-.05(1)-(8) and pay the application fee and state regulatory fee. The Board will determine on a case by case basis whether the applicant's special circumstances warrant a temporary license.
(a) Where the Board determines to grant a temporary license, the following shall apply:
1. The temporary license shall be of a duration of one (1) year, unless a shorter or longer period is determined by the board, but in no event shall it be for longer than a two (2) year duration;
2. The temporary license shall be nonrenewable and cannot be converted to a full and unrestricted license;
3. The temporary license shall be for the accomplishment of an express purpose determined by the Board to be accomplished by the licensee during the duration of the temporary license; and
4. All rules and regulations of a full and unrestricted license shall apply to a temporary license, and though not disciplinary, a temporary license shall be encumbered to the extent that a temporary licensee may not serve as a supervising or collaborating physician to an advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant.
(b) In order to apply for a full and unrestricted license, a temporary licensee shall:
1. Submit an application pursuant to Rule 0880-02-.05(1)-(8) and pay the application fee and state regulatory fee;
2. Submit proof that the temporary licensee has successfully accomplished the requirements of the express purpose determined by the Board for which the temporary license was issued; and
3. The applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Board's administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board's licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check.
(c) A temporary license is subject to the same disciplinary proceedings as a full and unrestricted license and if a temporary licensee commits a violation of the practice act or rules and regulations promulgated thereto, that violation shall be grounds to deny the temporary licensee's application for a full and unrestricted license or grounds for discipline of either the temporary license or the licensee's full and unrestricted license where such an application was approved.
Notes
Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-6-101, 63-6-207, and 63-6-211.