Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.01 - LICENSURE BY EXAMINATION

(1) Application - The application form provided by the Board is to be completed in part by the applicant, signed by him, and attested by a notary public.

(a) The name as signed by the applicant will be the name carried in the records of the Board. (See 1000-01-.03(3) for name change regulation.)

(b) Part of this application is to be completed by an official of the school of nursing from which the applicant graduated.

(c) The completed application, accompanied by the statutory fee, shall be submitted to the Board. The filing date for the application is set by the Board for each scheduled examination.

(d) Part of this application shall be one (1) recent photograph signed by the applicant and the director of the program. Date photograph was taken must not be more than six (6) months from the filing date of the examination.

(e) Part of this application shall be the result of a criminal background check which the applicant has caused to be submitted to the Board's administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board's licensure application materials.

(f) Only a person who has filed the required application, paid the fee, and been notified of acceptance by the Board shall be permitted to write the examination.

(2) Qualifications - Completion of a course of study in an approved school of nursing shall be required before the first day of the examination.

(a) Reserved.

(b) An applicant who graduated from a school of nursing approved by a Board in another U.S. jurisdiction shall have had substantially the same course of study as stated in the minimum curriculum requirements for Tennessee approved schools of nursing at the time of his application or he shall remove deficiencies as directed by the Board.

(c) Applicants who completed the course of study more than ten (10) years prior to date of application to write the examination shall be considered for eligibility to initially apply to write the examination in Tennessee only on an individual basis.

(d) Foreign Nurses - Nurses educated in a country outside of the U.S. or its jurisdiction, whether or not licensed in another country must apply for licensure by attaining the acceptable score on the State Board Test Pool Examination provided the applicant graduated after January 1, 1957. Individuals graduating prior to January 1, 1957 will be considered on an individual basis.

1. An applicant shall have graduated with substantially the same general and nursing education as required by the Board for Tennessee school of nursing graduates at the time such applicant was accepted for licensure by examination in the original foreign jurisdiction.

2. When the board has reasonable doubt of an applicant's ability to comprehend the English language to a degree sufficient to permit him to discharge his duties as a nurse in this state with safety to the public, the Board may require him to pass an examination to demonstrate such ability.

3. An applicant who does not have evidence of satisfactory education may have to take additional courses of study as directed by the Board in order to fulfill Tennessee requirements.

(3) Examination and Re-examination - The Board of Nursing shall determine the time, location and schedule of examinations and conduct them according to policies and procedures which protect examination security.

(a) The licensure examination may be prepared by the Board or by others delegated to do so by the Board.

(b) The passing score for each series of the Tennessee Licensure Examination shall be determined by the Board.

(c) Prior to the examination date, each accepted applicant will be sent an admission card which shall be presented by the applicant for admission to the examination center.

(d) The statutory re-examination fee shall apply to each re-examination.

(e) A candidate who fails the examination is eligible to repeat the licensure examination.

(f) Examination Failure.

1. An applicant who fails to qualify for licensure after the second examination may be requested to meet recommendations of the Board before writing subsequent examinations. Each applicant shall be considered on an individual basis.

2. After an applicant for licensure by examination fails to qualify for licensure within a three year period following graduation from an approved program of nursing, the applicant must, prior to retaking the examination, complete a board approved or National League for Nursing accredited program of nursing.

(g) The score reported to the applicant shall remain as the permanent score unless it is challenged within four (4) months following date of examination.

(h) An applicant whose scores meet the requirements set by the Board will receive an official report and a license to practice nursing in Tennessee .

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1000-01-.01

Original rule certified May 10, 1974. Amendment filed February 28, 1983; effective March 30, 1983. Amendment filed September 18, 1985; effective October 18, 1985. Amendment filed January 30, 1987; effective March 16, 1987. Amendment filed April 12, 1996; effective June 26, 1996. Amendment filed March 14, 2006; effective May 28, 2006. Amendment filed March 23, 2007; effective June 6, 2007.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-7-105, 63-7-106, and 63-7-207.