Tennessee Code Annotated
Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-427 (2026)
Authority of licensed psychologist or other mental health professional
✓ current as of May 2026
- (a) If a person is a licensed psychologist designated as a health service provider by the board of healing arts and is actively practicing as such, the person may take any action authorized and perform any duty imposed on a physician by §§ 33-6-401 - 33-6-406.
- (b) The commissioner may designate a person to take any action authorized and perform any duty imposed on a physician by §§ 33-6-401 - 33-6-406 to the extent the duties are within the scope of practice of the profession in which the person is licensed or certified, if the person:
- (1) Is a qualified mental health professional under § 33-1-101 or is a licensed physician assistant with a master's degree and expertise in psychiatry as determined by the department based upon training, education or experience;
- (2) Is licensed or certified to practice in the state if required for the discipline; and
- (3) Satisfactorily completes a training program approved and provided by the department on emergency commitment criteria and procedures.
- (c) Subsection (b) does not affect any property right of an employee of the state while the person is acting in the person's capacity as employee of the state.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 688,s 1, eff. 4/15/2014.
Acts 2000, ch. 947, § 1; 2001, ch. 334, § 5; 2002, ch. 730, § 43.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 3
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2004–2021 · leading case: In Re William B. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021).
In Re William B. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 33-6-402 further provides as follows: If an officer authorized to make arrests in the state, a licensed physician, a psychologist authorized under § 33-6-427(a), or a professional designated by the commissioner under § 33-6-427(b) has reason to…”
Pamela D. Vickroy v. Pathways, Inc., Dyersburg, TN, Kimberly Bord, J. Forstlam, M.D. Methodist Hosp., Coleman Foss, Adm'r, & W. Mental Health Inst. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “T.C.A. § 33-6-427(b) (2001). 13 T.C.A. § 39-13-302 states: (a) A person commits the offense of false imprisonment who knowingly removes or confines another unlawfully so as to interfere substantially with the other’s liberty.”
State of Tennessee v. Micah Johnson, Alias (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 33-6-503 (2011) continues by stating that -41- [n]o defendant may be judicially committed under this part, unless two (2) licensed physicians, or one (1) licensed physician and one (1) licensed psychologist qualified as provided in § 33-6-427(a),…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-427(a) — 2 cases
In Re William B. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 33-6-402 further provides as follows: If an officer authorized to make arrests in the state, a licensed physician, a psychologist authorized under § 33-6-427(a), or a professional designated by the commissioner under § 33-6-427(b) has reason to…”
State of Tennessee v. Micah Johnson, Alias (Tenn. Crim. App. 2015). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 33-6-503 (2011) continues by stating that -41- [n]o defendant may be judicially committed under this part, unless two (2) licensed physicians, or one (1) licensed physician and one (1) licensed psychologist qualified as provided in § 33-6-427(a),…”
— Tenn. Code Ann. § 33-6-427(b) — 2 cases
Pamela D. Vickroy v. Pathways, Inc., Dyersburg, TN, Kimberly Bord, J. Forstlam, M.D. Methodist Hosp., Coleman Foss, Adm'r, & W. Mental Health Inst. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2004). “T.C.A. § 33-6-427(b) (2001). 13 T.C.A. § 39-13-302 states: (a) A person commits the offense of false imprisonment who knowingly removes or confines another unlawfully so as to interfere substantially with the other’s liberty.”
In Re William B. (Tenn. Ct. App. 2021). “Tennessee Code Annotated section 33-6-402 further provides as follows: If an officer authorized to make arrests in the state, a licensed physician, a psychologist authorized under § 33-6-427(a), or a professional designated by the commissioner under § 33-6-427(b) has reason to…”
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