Qualification For Licensure

(1) To qualify for licensure in podiatry, all applicants must: (a) Provide evidence of good moral character and professional ethics (rule 1155-02-.05); (b) Provide proof of being at least 18 years of age; GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 1155-02 THE PRACTICE OF PODIATRY (c) Graduate from a podiatric medical college accredited by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education and the American Podiatric Medical Association. The educational requirements must be completed prior to the date of application; (d) Successfully complete all examinations required by rule 1155-02-.08; and (e) Complete at least a one-year residency program approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education or its successor organization. (2) Licensure by Reciprocity. All reciprocity applicants must complete the requirements for licensure in paragraph (1) of this rule. Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-5-202, 4-5-204, 63-3-105, 63-3-106, 63-3-109, 63-3-110, 63-3-111, 63-3-113, and 63-3-114. Administrative History: Original rule filed March 7, 1989; effective April 21, 1989. (Formerly 1155-02-.03) Amendment filed October 3, 1990; effective November 17, 1990. Repeal and new rule filed November 10, 1998; effective January 14, 1999. Amendment filed April 26, 2006; effective July 10, 2006. Amendment filed May 5, 2006; effective July 19, 2006. Amendment filed January 20, 2012; effective April 19, 2012. 1155-02-.05 PROCEDURES FOR LICENSURE - To become licensed as a podiatrist 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 documentation and fees required by the form and these rules to the Board’s administrative office. It is the intent of this rule that all steps necessary to accomplish the filing of the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that all documentation be filed simultaneously. (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 or the file will be closed. (d) An applicant shall submit with his application a signed passport type photograph taken within the preceding 12 months. (The photo is to be signed by the applicant.) (e) It is the applicant’s responsibility to request that a graduate transcript from his degree granting institution, pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-3-110, be submitted directly from the school to the board’s administrative office. The institution granting the degree must have been accredited at the time the degree was granted. The transcript must show that the degree has been conferred and carry the official seal of the institution and reference the name under which the applicant has applied for licensure. The educational requirements contained in these rules must be completed prior to the date of the application for licensure. (f) An applicant shall submit evidence of good moral character. Such evidence shall be three recent (within the preceding 12 months) original letters, two of which must be from licensed podiatrists, medical doctors or osteopathic physicians attesting to the applicant’s personal character and professional ethics on the signator’s letterhead. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 1155-02 THE PRACTICE OF PODIATRY (g) An applicant shall submit proof of being eighteen (18) years of age or older. Acceptable proof is a notarized copy of the applicant’s birth certificate, driver’s license, or voter registration card. (h) An applicant shall submit evidence of having completed at least a one (1) year residency program approved by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education or its successor organization on forms approved by the Board directly to the Board office. (i) An applicant shall request that his/her scores from Parts I and II of the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME) examinations be sent directly to the Board’s administrative office from the testing agency. (j) An applicant shall request that his/her scores, if taken in another state, from Part III of the NBPME examinations (formerly known as the Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination for States [PMLexis]) be sent directly to the Board’s administrative office from the Federation of Podiatric Medical Boards. (k) 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, civil suit settlement or pending civil suit in which the applicant was/is 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. (l) 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. (m) If an applicant holds or has ever held a license to practice as a podiatrist 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. (n) When necessary, all required documents shall be translated into English and such translation and original document shall be certified as to authenticity by the issuing source. Both versions must be submitted. (o) Personal resumes are not acceptable and will not be reviewed. (p) Application review and licensure decisions shall be governed by rule 1155-02-.07. (q) The burden is on the applicant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that his course work, supervision, and experience are equivalent to the Board’s requirements. (2) Licensure by Reciprocity. All reciprocity applicants must complete the procedures for licensure in paragraph (1) of this rule. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 1155-02 THE PRACTICE OF PODIATRY