Posted September 11, 2024

Board of Licensure Timeline Updates

Senate Bill 458, as amended in House Bill 496, makes several changes to Tennessee's health-related licensure processes:

1. Streamlined Application Process: Health-related boards and the Emergency Medical Services Board must establish rules to expedite the application and renewal process for licenses, certifications, or permits. Applications from Tennessee residents must be decided within 60 days of submission. If additional information is needed, the board must request it within the same 60-day period.

2. Special Considerations for Military Personnel: The expedited process also applies to:

• Individuals licensed in another state whose spouse is a U.S. service member being transferred to Tennessee.
• Service members applying for a license within 180 days of retiring, receiving a discharge (other than dishonorable), or being released from active duty.

3. These individuals should either receive a full license if their out-of-state credentials are substantially equivalent or a temporary permit to practice until their credentials are fully reviewed.

4. Administrative Staff Changes: Health-related boards and the Emergency Medical Services Board can request the replacement or transfer of their administrative staff or assigned attorney by the Department, subject to a majority vote.

5. Effective Date: The act took effect July 1, 2023.

Senate Bill 296, as amended in House Bill 779, updates the licensure process for health professions in Tennessee with the following changes:

1. Processing Time: Health boards must decide on completed licensure applications from out-of-state or District of Columbia applicants within 45 days of receipt. This includes issuing the license or providing reasons for denial.

2. Effective Date: Currently in effect.

Posted May 17, 2023

TNOTA is grateful to our lobbyist partners at Capitol & 5th Public Strategies for diligently tracking bills impacting the occupational therapy profession. Check out their summary of the legislation we tracked on a state level in 2023. Of note- TNOTA worked with our friends at the Tennessee Association of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists (TAASLP) to pass a bill requiring our respective licensure boards to review and make a determination on licensure applications within 60 days of receiving a completed application. This will expedite the licensure application process and hold the licensure boards to a higher standard of accountability. 

Posted February 12, 2023

TNOTA continues to work closely with our lobbyists at Capitol & 5th Public Strategies, as well as AOTA state affairs to monitor legislation and regulations that impact occupational therapy at both the state and federal levels. Read about legislation we're tracking here! 

Posted May 12, 2022

End of Legislative Session Report (download this statement, as well as a copy of all bills tracked by TNOTA

The second half of the 112th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned on Thursday, April 28th. Linked here is the C5 legislative update detailing the large initiatives passed in the last hours of session. 

Linked here is TNOTA's final bill track report for the legislative session with status updates for each piece of legislation tracked. Of special interest this session were TNOTA's priority pieces of legislation that included SB2453/HB2655, dealing with telehealth and telemedicine services, and SB1848/HB2561, dealing with the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact. 

SB2453/HB2655 was passed by both chambers of the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor going into effect on April 1, 2022. You can find the final text of the law, Public Chapter 766, here:

https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/112/pub/pc0766.pdf

SB1848/HB2561 was passed by both chambers of the General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor going into effect on April 19, 2022. You can find the final text of the law, Public Chapter 839, here: https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/acts/112/pub/pc0839.pdf