HB 1040 would create the Tennessee Board of Professional Sign Language Interpreters to license interpreters serving deaf, deaf-blind, and hard-of-hearing residents. The board would establish rules for issuing, suspending, or revoking licenses and set professional standards for interpreters. It requires the board to include representation from the deaf community (two members) and licensed interpreters (two members), plus one academic representative. This directly affects interpreters seeking licensure and Tennesseans who rely on sign language interpretation for communication access in healthcare, employment, and public services.
HB 186 modifies Tennessee's medical licensing rules for surgical assistants. It allows applicants to register using current credentials from the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) in addition to the existing National Commission for Certification of Surgical Assistants (NCCSA), expanding acceptable credentialing options. The bill also removes the December 31, 2019, deadline for applicants with specific practical experience to register. This directly affects surgical assistants seeking state registration in Tennessee by simplifying credential recognition and eliminating a time-sensitive requirement. The changes apply to the Board of Medical Examiners' registration process under Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63, Chapter 6.
SB 20 modifies Tennessee's licensing rules for professional counselors by creating an exemption from the standard 60-credit hour graduate requirement. It directly affects applicants who already hold a valid, unencumbered professional counselor license in another state, territory, or federal district. The key provision allows these applicants to be licensed in Tennessee if the Tennessee Board for Professional Counselors determines that the applicant's home state's licensing standards are acceptable. This change streamlines licensure for qualified out-of-state counselors without requiring additional coursework, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 865 changes Tennessee nursing education rules to make practical nursing programs more accessible. It requires the Board of Nursing to allow students who meet high school diploma or equivalent standards to enroll in public college practical nursing programs. The bill also mandates that students completing these programs can take the national NCLEX-PN licensing exam immediately after graduation, without additional requirements. Additionally, it sets a minimum of 1,296 clock hours for program completion and allows early high school access to nursing curricula. This law, effective July 1, 2025, directly affects students pursuing practical nursing licenses at Tennessee public institutions.
HB 1201 creates a temporary "foreign training license" for internationally licensed physicians in Tennessee who meet specific criteria. It directly affects physicians trained outside the U.S. but holding valid licenses in their home countries, requiring them to provide proof of an AMA-approved medical education, an ECFMG certificate, three years of postgraduate training (or seven years of practice), and current good standing in their home licensing country. The license is tied to a specific Tennessee healthcare employer, requiring applicants to have a job offer from that provider and restricting practice to that employer unless the board is notified of a change. After two years of active practice in Tennessee under this license, physicians may qualify for a full, unrestricted medical license. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
SB 461 establishes licensing and regulatory requirements for anesthesiologist assistants in Tennessee. It requires these professionals to obtain a license from the Board of Medical Examiners, complete specific education and certification, and work exclusively under the supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist who delegates specific duties. The bill defines key terms like "assists" and "supervision," sets continuing education rules, and makes unauthorized practice a Class B misdemeanor punishable by fines or jail time. This directly affects anesthesiologist assistants seeking to practice in Tennessee and the supervising physicians who must oversee their work.
HB 959 updates Tennessee's licensure rules for marriage and family therapists. It allows students in accredited programs to use titles like "marital therapy intern" while supervised, and clarifies that associate license holders must use "associate licensed marriage and family therapist" or "AMFT" (not implying full licensure). The bill creates specific pathways for associate licensure, requiring a 9-month exam deadline and supervised practice under approved supervisors, while defining "approved supervisor" to include AAMFT-approved professionals. These changes directly affect therapy students, trainees, and practitioners seeking licensure in Tennessee.
SB 619 allows licensed healthcare providers in Tennessee who completed a peer assistance or treatment program following a disciplinary action (like a consent order) to petition their licensing board to remove public records about that action after 10 years. The bill requires the relevant board to review and approve such petitions before removing the information from public licensing websites. It also authorizes Tennessee's Division of Health Related Boards to create rules for implementing this process, following standard administrative procedures. This change directly affects healthcare providers seeking to have past disciplinary records removed from public view after meeting the 10-year waiting period.
HB 658 expands the scope of practice for athletic trainers in Tennessee by allowing them to treat conditions that limit or prevent participation in physical activities (not just injuries), directly affecting athletes and patients seeking preventive or rehabilitative care. The bill clarifies athletic trainers are healthcare providers and authorizes specific new procedures, including blood glucose monitoring, dry needling, and intravenous fluid administration. It amends licensing requirements to align with these expanded duties, requiring board certification and specific training for these new practices. The changes apply to all licensed athletic trainers practicing under physician supervision in the state.
SB 174 amends Tennessee law to update requirements for surgical assistants seeking board registration. It adds the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) as an accepted credentialing body alongside the National Commission for Certification of Surgical Assistants, allowing applicants to maintain current ABSA credentials. The bill also removes the December 31, 2019, deadline for applicants to register based on practical experience, making registration more flexible. This change directly affects surgical assistants in Tennessee seeking state licensure, effective March 25, 2025. The law modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 63-6-219(b)(1) and (b)(3).
