Rules & Regulations of the State of Tennessee
Title 0260 - Chiropractic Examiners
Chapter 0260-02 - General Rules Governing Chiropractic Examiners
Section 0260-02-.05 - PROCEDURES FOR LICENSURE

Current through April 3, 2024

To become licensed as a chiropractic physician in Tennessee, a person must comply with the following procedures and requirements:

(1) Licensure by Examination

(a) An application packet shall be requested from the board's administrative office.

(b) An applicant shall respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the application form and submit it along with all fees required by the form and these rules to the board's administrative office.

(c) Applications will be accepted throughout the year, and applicants shall be scheduled to take the examinations required in Rule 0260-02-.08.

(d) An applicant shall submit with his/her application a passport type photograph. The photo must be signed by the applicant.

(e) It is the applicant's responsibility to request a transcript pursuant to T.C.A. §§ 63-4-l 08(3) which must be submitted directly from the school to the board's administrative office.

(f) It is the applicant's responsibility to request that documentation be submitted, directly from the applicant's chiropractic school to the board's administrative office, of graduation from a chiropractic educational institution in compliance with T.C.A. §§ 63-4-108(2). The chiropractic institution granting the degree of Doctor of Chiropractic must have been accredited with the commission on accreditation of the council on chiropractic education or its successor at the time the degree was granted. The documentation must show that the degree has been conferred.

(g) An applicant shall submit evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall be one recent (within the preceding 12 months) original letter from a licensed chiropractic physician attesting to the applicant's personal character and professional ethics on the signator's letterhead.

(h) An applicant shall request that his/her National Board scores be submitted directly to the Board's administrative office from the testing agency.

(i) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:
1. Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state or municipality, except minor traffic violations.

2. The denial of licensure application by any other state or the discipline of licensure in any state.

3. Loss or restriction of licensure.

4. Any civil suit judgment or civil suit settlement in which the applicant was a party defendant including, without limitation, actions involving malpractice, breach of contract, antitrust activity or any other civil action remedy recognized under the country's or state's statutory, common, or case law.

(j) An 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.

(k) If an applicant holds or has ever held a license to practice as a chiropractic physician in any other state, the applicant shall cause to be submitted the equivalent of a Tennessee Certificate of Endorsement (verification of license) from each such licensing board which indicates the applicant holds or held an active license and whether it is in good standing presently or was at the time it became inactive.

(l) When necessary, all required documents shall be translated into English and such translation and original document certified as to authenticity by the issuing source. Both version must be submitted.

(m) Personal resumes are not acceptable and will not be reviewed.

(n) Application review and licensure decisions shall be governed by rule 0260-02-.07.

(2) Licensure by Criteria (Reciprocity).

(a) An application packet shall be requested from the board's administrative office.

(b) An applicant shall respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the application form and submit it along with all fees required by the form and these rules to the board's administrative office.

(c) Applications will be accepted throughout the year. Supporting documents requested in these instructions must be received in the board office within 60 days of receipt of the application by the Board Administrative Office or the file will be deemed abandoned and closed.

(d) An applicant shall submit with his/her application a signed and notarized passport type photograph taken within the preceding 12 months. (The photo is to be signed by the applicant and the notary seal must be stamped on the back of the photograph).

(e) An applicant shall submit evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall be one recent (within the preceding 12 months) original letter from a licensed chiropractic physician attesting to the applicant's personal character and professional ethics on the signator's letterhead.

(f) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:
1. Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.

2. The denial of licensure application by any other state or the discipline of licensure in any state.

3. Loss or restriction of licensure.

4. Any civil suit judgment or civil suit settlement in which the applicant was a party defendant including, without limitation, actions involving malpractice, breach of contract, antitrust activity, or any other civil action remedy recognized under the country's or state's statutory, common or case law.

(g) An 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.

(h) If an applicant holds or has ever held a license to practice as a chiropractic physician in another state, the applicant shall cause to be submitted the equivalent of a Tennessee Certificate of endorsement (verification of license) from the licensing board which indicates the applicant holds or held an active license and whether it is in good standing presently or was at the time it became inactive. The applicant must be licensed in at least one (1) other state for a period of two (2) full years.

(i) When necessary, all required documents shall be translated into English and such translation and original document certified as to authenticity by the issuing source. Both versions must be submitted.

(j) Personal resumes are not acceptable and will not be reviewed.

(k) Application review and licensure decisions shall be governed by rule 0260-02-.07.

(l) Examination of licensure by criteria (reciprocity) applicants.
1. An individual who possesses a valid unrestricted license to practice chiropractic in another state or other regulated jurisdiction for a period of two (2) full years will not be required to have passed Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the National Board Examination.

2. An individual who possesses a valid unrestricted license to practice chiropractic in another state or other regulated jurisdiction for a period of two (2) full years shall provide proof of successful completion of the Special Purposes Examination for Chiropractors (SPEC) as administered by the National Board or its successor.

(m) All other reciprocity applicants will be required to have passed the National Board as a pre-requirement pursuant to rule 0260-02-.08.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-4-103, 63-4-106, 63-4-108, 63-4-109, 63-4-110, 63-4-111, 634-114, and Public Chapter 618 of the Public Acts of 2000.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Tennessee may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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