Licensure Process

To practice osteopathic medicine in Tennessee, a person must possess a lawfully issued license from the Board. The procedure for obtaining a license is as follows: (1) Initial Licensure as an Osteopathic Physician - Consideration for initial licensure as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine requires that the applicant shall submit to the Board the following materials: (a) An application from the Board Administrative Office in which the applicant responds truthfully and completely to every question or request for information along with all documentation and fees to the Board Administrative Office. It is the intent of this rule that all activities necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing a licensure application and that all documentation be filed simultaneously. This form will include the applicant’s name, current address, social security number and age (which shall not be less than eighteen years of age). (b) A clear and recognizable, recently taken, bust photograph which shows the full head, face forward from at least the top of the shoulders up. The photograph must be signed by the applicant. (c) A graduate transcript from an accredited osteopathic medical school in good standing with the American Osteopathic Association at the time of graduation (or its successor). The transcript must be submitted directly from the school to the Board Administrative Office. The transcript must show that the degree has been conferred based upon the GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 1050-02 THE PRACTICE OF OSTEOPATHY applicant’s good repute and personal attendance and must carry the official seal of the institution. (d) Evidence satisfactory to the Board of successful completion of a one (1) year internship or postgraduate year one (PGY-1) in a hospital approved by the American Osteopathic Association, American Medical Association or its accreditation program for medical education, or the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospitals. Such evidence shall include the program director’s notarized verification of post-graduate medical training form included in the Board’s application packet. (e) Evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall include at least two (2) letters from physicians who know the applicant and can attest to his or her moral character and professional capability. The letters must be original and on the physician’s letterhead. (f) Proof of United States or Canadian citizenship or evidence of being legally entitled to live and work in the United States or evidence of citizenship and residency in a N.A.F.T.A. participating country. Such evidence may include notarized copies of birth certificates, naturalization papers or current H-1 visa status, or voter registration. (g) The applicable application fee and state regulatory fee as provided in rule 1050-02-.02. (h) All applicants shall submit or cause to be submitted a certificate of successful completion of acceptable examination for licensure as governed by rule 1050-02-.06. (i) All applicants 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 hospital privileges. 4. Any other civil suit judgment or civil suit settlement or pending civil lawsuit in which the applicant was a party defendant including, without limitation, actions involving medical malpractice, breach of contract, antitrust activity or any other civil action remedy recognized under any country’s or state’s statutory, common, or case law. 5. Failure of any medical licensure examination. (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) An applicant who has completed all but three (3) or less months of the one (1) year training program required by paragraph (d) of this rule may apply for licensure if all other requirements of this rule are met and the director of the training program submits a letter attesting to the applicant’s satisfactory performance in and anticipated successful completion of the training program. However, no license shall be approved or issued until the requirements of paragraph (d) of the rule are met. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 1050-02 THE PRACTICE OF OSTEOPATHY (2) Reciprocity Licensure - Consideration for initial licensure as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine based on endorsement/reciprocity requires that the applicant shall submit to the Board the following materials: (a) Evidence of current licensure in good standing in another state, along with evidence of having passed a written licensure examination of another state licensing board or accepted by another state licensing board, provided the applicant meets all other licensure standards for osteopathic physicians described in T.C.A. § 63-9-104 and paragraph (1) of this rule to the satisfaction of the Board. (b) The applicant must comply with all provisions of paragraph (1) of this rule. (c) The applicant shall cause an official transcript or certified copy of licensing examination scores to be provided directly to the Board from the official licensing or examination agency through which the applicant became licensed in another state. (3) At the Board’s discretion, submission of any document or set of documents required by this rule or submission of verification of the authenticity, validity and accuracy of the content of any document or set of documents required by this rule directly from the FCVS or other Board approved credentialing service to the Board Administrative Office shall be deemed to be submission of originals of those documents or sets of documents by the issuing institution(s). (4) Application review and licensure decisions shall be governed by rule 1050-02-.05.