Procedures For Licensure

(1) To become licensed as a genetic counselor in Tennessee a person shall do all of the following procedures: (a) Obtain an application from the Board’s Internet web page or from the Board’s administrative office. (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 by rule 0880-13-.06, to the Board’s 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. (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) Cause a graduate transcript from a genetic counseling training program that is accredited by the ABGC or by an equivalent as determined by the ABGC or the ABMG to be submitted directly from the educational institution to the Board’s administrative office. The transcript must contain the official seal of the institution, must show that the program has been successfully completed, and must indicate that the masters degree has been awarded. (e) Cause proof of current certification as a genetic counselor to be sent directly from the ABGC or the ABMG to the Board’s administrative office. (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. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 0880-13 THE PRACTICE OF GENETIC COUNSELORS 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 Board’s administrative office directly from the vendor identified in the Board’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 Board’s administrative office. (2) Temporary License – A temporary license to practice genetic counseling may be issued to an applicant who meets all of the requirements for licensure in Rule 0880- 13-.04 except the examination requirement of Rule 0880-13-.04 (2), and has complied with all subparagraphs contained in paragraph (1) of this rule except subparagraph (e). (a) Temporary license applicants must have active candidate status conferred by the ABGC and take the next available certification examination. (b) A temporary license will not be issued if the applicant has failed the ABGC certification examination more than twice. (c) Temporary licensees must practice under the general supervision of a licensed genetic counselor or a licensed physician with current ABMG certification in clinical genetics. (d) A temporary license shall expire upon the earliest of one (1) of the following: 1. issuance of full licensure; 2. ninety (90) days after notification of failing the certification exam without obtaining current active candidate status; or 3. the date printed on the temporary license. (3) Grandfathering – For one (1) year after the original effective date of this chapter of rules, any person who has practiced as a genetic counselor since 1980 is eligible to receive a license as a genetic counselor upon compliance with Rule 0880-13-.04 (1), GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 0880-13 THE PRACTICE OF GENETIC COUNSELORS and all subparagraphs contained in paragraph (1) of this rule except subparagraph (e) and upon further showing satisfactory proof of work history and scope of practice by submitting to the Board’s administrative office, along with the licensure application: (a) written job description(s) or letters from employers which cover the entire work period and explain the licensure applicant’s scope of practice; and (b) photocopies of paycheck(s), paycheck stub(s), or Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Forms W-2, 1099-Misc., or Schedules C or C-EZ for IRS Form 1040 to verify proof of income from the practice of genetic counseling. (4) Application review and licensure decisions shall be governed by Rule 0880-13-.07.