Examinations

All applicants for licensure by examination and reciprocity must successfully complete the examinations described in paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) of this rule. (1) Parts I and II of the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners (NBPME) examinations. (a) The Board adopts as its passing scores for Parts I and II the NBPME’s recommended passing score as determined by the criterion-referenced method approved by the NBPME. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 1155-02 THE PRACTICE OF PODIATRY (b) The passing scores for Parts I and II are to be achieved independently of each other and shall not be combined together for an average passing score. (c) The examinations shall be administered by the NBPME’s authorized testing agency. (2) Part III of the NBPME examinations (formerly known as the Podiatric Medical Licensing Examination for States [PMLexis]). (a) The Board adopts as its passing score for Part III the NBPME’s recommended passing score as determined by the criterion-referenced method approved by the NBPME. (b) An applicant for licensure shall successfully complete Parts I and II before applying to the Board to take Part III. (c) The examination shall be administered by the NBPME’s authorized testing agency. (3) Jurisprudence examination. (a) The Board shall include a jurisprudence examination with all applications for licensure that are mailed from the Board’s administrative office, or the applicant may obtain the jurisprudence examination from the Board’s Internet web page that can be accessed at www.Tennessee.gov/health. (b) The applicant shall include a completed jurisprudence examination when his/her completed application for licensure is returned to the Board’s administrative office. (c) There is no fee for the jurisprudence examination. (d) The scope and content of the examination shall be determined by the Board but limited to statutes and regulations governing the practice of podiatry (T.C.A. §§ 63-3-101, et seq., and Chapter 1155-02 of the Official Compilation, Rules and Regulations of the State of Tennessee) and the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) Code of Ethics. Copies of the applicable statutes, regulations, and the APMA Code of Ethics are available upon request from the Board’s administrative office. (e) The format of the examination shall be “open-book.” Correctly answering ninety percent (90%) of the examination questions shall constitute successful completion of the jurisprudence exam. (4) Any applicant whose most recent satisfactory NBPME examination score is more than five (5) years old and who has practiced podiatry with an unencumbered license in another state during the three (3) year period immediately preceding the application shall not be required to take Part III of the NBPME examination for licensure. All other applicants whose most recent satisfactory examination score is more than five (5) years old shall be required to take Part III of the NBPME examination for licensure. (5) The Board’s administrative office will notify applicants in writing within forty-five (45) days of the date the written test scores are made available to the Board. (6) Re-Examination (a) Applicants who fail Part III of the NBPME examinations shall be entitled to retake the next regularly scheduled examination upon sending a written request to the Board’s administrative office at least sixty (60) days prior to the examination. GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING CHAPTER 1155-02 THE PRACTICE OF PODIATRY (b) Applicants who fail to successfully complete the jurisprudence examination must continue to retake the examination until it has been successfully completed before the application will be deemed complete and presented to the Board for consideration. (c) If an applicant neglects, fails or refuses to take the examination or fails to pass the examination for licensure under these rules within 12 months after being deemed eligible to sit for the state examination, the application file will be closed. However, such an applicant may thereafter make a new application accompanied by the required fee and supporting documents. The applicant shall meet the requirements in effect at the time of the new application.