Licensure Process

To become licensed as a clinical perfusionist in Tennessee a person must comply with the following procedures and requirements: (1) Grandfathering - Any person who is currently actively practicing perfusion is eligible to receive a license as a clinical perfusionist upon compliance with all subparagraphs contained in paragraph (2) except subparagraphs (d) and (i), and upon further showing satisfactory proof of the existence, on January 1, 2000, of all of the following requirements: (a) Four (4) years experience within the immediately preceding six (6) years (between January 1, 1994 and January 1, 2000) operating cardiopulmonary bypass systems during cardiac surgical cases in a licensed health care facility. (b) That the experience obtained in that four (4) year period was obtained while the person’s primary function in that health care facility was operation of the cardiopulmonary systems. (c) Satisfactory proof of the requirements of subparagraphs (a) and (b) shall include: 1. Written job description(s) from employing facilities that cover the entire four (4) year period; and 2. Letters from each of the following officials at the licensed health care facilities at which the applicant was employed during the entire four (4) year period attesting to the fact that all requirements of subparagraphs (a) and (b) have been met: (i) A cardiac surgeon(s) (ii) The applicant’s immediate supervisor(s) (iii) The chief of medical staff (d) All documents required to satisfy the requirements of subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) must be submitted directly from the employing facility or signatory to the Committee’s administrative office. (2) Licensure by examination - An applicant for licensure by examination shall do the following: (a) Obtain an application packet. (b) Respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information contained in the application form and submit it, along with all documentation and fees required by the form and rules, to the Administrative Office. It is the intent of this rule that activities necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that all documentation be filed simultaneously. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 0880-11 THE PRACTICE OF CLINICAL PERFUSIONISTS (c) Submit a clear, recognizable, recently taken bust photograph which shows the full head, face forward from at least the top of the shoulder up. (d) Request that a graduate transcript from a perfusion education program, the educational standards of which have been established by the ACPE and approved by CAHEA or its successor, be submitted directly from the educational institution to the Administrative Office. The transcript must show that the program has been successfully completed and carry the official seal of the institution. (e) Submit evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall be two (2) recent (within the preceding 12 months) original letters from medical professionals, attesting to the applicant’s personal character and professional ethics on the signator’s letterhead. (f) 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 professional licensure/certification application by any other state or the discipline of licensure/certification in any state. 3. Loss or restriction of professional licensure/certification. 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. 5. Failure of any professional licensure or certification examination. (g) Cause to be submitted to the Committee’s administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Committee’s licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check. (h) Cause to be submitted the equivalent of a Tennessee Certificate of Endorsement (verification of licensure/certification) from each licensing board of each state or country in which the applicant holds or has ever held a license/certificate to practice any profession that indicates the applicant holds or held an active license/certificate and whether it is in good standing presently or was at the time it became inactive. It is the applicant’s responsibility to request this information be sent directly from each such licensing board to the Administrative Office. (i) Submit the fees required in Rule 0880-11-.06. (j) Cause to be submitted, directly from the examining agency to the Administrative Office, documentation of successful completion of the examination for licensure as governed by Rule 0880-11-.08. (3) Licensure by Reciprocity. To become licensed in Tennessee as a clinical perfusionist based on licensure or certification in another state or certification from the ABCP, an applicant must (a) Pursuant to licensure/certification in another state: 1. Comply with all the requirements of paragraph (2) of this rule except subparagraphs (d) and (j); and GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 0880-11 THE PRACTICE OF CLINICAL PERFUSIONISTS 2. Cause to be submitted the information necessary for the Committee to determine that the state of licensure/certification has licensure or certification requirements substantially equivalent to the requirements of the Tennessee “Clinical Perfusionist Licensure Act” (T.C.A. §§ 63-28-101, et seq.) and this chapter of rules; and 3. Cause the certification issued pursuant to subparagraph (2) (h) to show that the licensure or certification in another state is current, active and is in good standing without any restriction or encumbrance. (b) Pursuant to ABCP certification: 1. Comply with all requirements of paragraph (2) of this rule except subparagraphs (d) and (j); and 2. Have the ABCP submit directly to the Committee’s administrative office satisfactory evidence of current ABCP certification as a certified clinical perfusionist. (4) Application review and licensure decisions shall be governed by Rule 0880-11-.07.