Tennessee Code Annotated

Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-19-105 (2026)

Qualifications and licensure

✓ current as of May 2026

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(a)
- (1) An individual shall not represent to be or function as a physician assistant under this part unless the individual holds a valid physician assistant license or temporary license issued by the board. The board shall not license an individual as a physician assistant unless the individual:
  - (A) Has successfully completed a physician assistant educational program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc., or its successor accrediting agency or, prior to 2001, by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs;
  - (B) Has passed the examination of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, or its successor agency;
  - (C) Submits an application on forms approved by the board;
  - (D) Pays the appropriate fees as determined by the board;
  - (E) Is mentally and physically able to engage safely in practice as a physician assistant;
  - (F) Has no license as a physician assistant under current discipline, revocation, suspension, or probation for cause resulting from the applicant's practice as a physician assistant, unless the board considers the condition and agrees to licensure; and
  - (G) Submits to the board other information the board deems necessary to evaluate the applicant's qualifications.
- (2) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a)(1)(A) and (B), the board may license a person qualified as a physician assistant prior to April 26, 1983, and who has continued to represent to be or functioned as a physician assistant since that time. However, the board shall not license any person as a physician assistant after July 1, 1991, unless the person meets the requirements of subdivisions (a)(1)(A) and (B); provided, the board may continue to issue license renewals to any person who was licensed as a physician assistant prior to July 1, 1991.

(b)
- (1) An individual licensed, registered, or certified as a physician assistant in another jurisdiction may be licensed as a physician assistant by the board if the individual meets the requirements and standards of this part. The board shall charge an applicant with any reasonable expense incurred by the board in verifying the licensure, registration, or certification by another jurisdiction of the applicant for licensure under this chapter.
- (2)
  - (A) When the board receives a completed application for licensure from an applicant who is licensed in another jurisdiction, then the board shall, within forty-five (45) days from the date the board receives the completed application:
    - (i) Render a decision on the application; or
    - (ii) Inform the applicant of the need to appear before the board.
  - (B) As used in this subdivision (b)(2), "completed application" means an application that satisfies all statutory and board rule requirements.

(c) The board may issue a temporary license to an individual that allows the individual to function as a physician assistant under this part:
- (1) For a period of twelve (12) months immediately following graduation to allow the individual an opportunity to attempt the examination;
- (2) For a period of one (1) additional year thereafter in which to attempt and successfully complete the examination if the individual is not successful on the first attempt; or
- (3) As provided in § 63-1-104, for an individual who has been out of clinical practice or inactive in their practice for an extended period of time, or who has been or is at the time of their application engaged exclusively in administrative practice.

(d) While an individual's application is pending, the board may issue a temporary license to that individual if the individual is licensed, registered, or certified as a physician assistant in another jurisdiction and if the board finds that the application is complete. The temporary license allows the individual to function as a physician assistant under this chapter. A temporary license issued under this subsection (d) is valid for a period of six (6) months and is not renewable. The board may require that an applicant for licensure as a physician assistant appear before the board to answer any questions regarding the applicant's fitness for licensure.

(e)
- (1) The board may authorize any of its members or its consultant to conduct a review of the qualifications of an applicant for a license to practice as a physician assistant in this state and to make an initial determination as to whether the applicant has met all the requirements for licensure. If the board member or board consultant determines that the applicant has met all the requirements for licensure, then the applicant is authorized to practice as a physician assistant in this state until the board makes a final decision on the application for licensure. The board may authorize the use of this procedure with respect to applicants for license renewal or reinstatement as well. A temporary authorization issued pursuant to a determination made by the board member or board consultant must not be effective for longer than a six-month period measured from the date of issuance. The applicant shall not utilize this process more than once.
- (2) If temporary authorization pursuant to subdivision (e)(1) is issued to an applicant for a license to practice as a physician assistant in this state and if the subsequent decision of the board is to deny the application based upon a good faith determination that the applicant has not, in fact, complied with all the requirements for licensure, then the doctrine of estoppel does not apply against the state based upon its issuance of temporary authorization and its subsequent denial of licensure.
- (3) Notwithstanding a law to the contrary, a person serving as a consultant solely for the board of medical examiners' committee on physician assistants, and not for any other board or committee, as of January 1, 2021, may continue to serve as a consultant for the board of physician assistants until such time that the board of physician assistants decides otherwise.

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 443, s 5, eff. 5/22/2023.

Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 565, s 6, eff. 5/26/2021.

Acts 1985, ch. 376, § 1; T.C.A., § 63-19-205; Acts 1989, ch. 194, § 2; 1991, ch. 122, §§ 1-3, 6; 1993, ch. 247, § 1; 1995, ch. 16, §§ 4, 5; 1996, ch. 738, § 2; 1997 , ch. 207, §§ 5, 6.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 3 cases, 2009–2014 · leading case: Cox v. MA Primary & Urgent Care Clinic, 313 S.W.3d 240 (Tenn. 2010).

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Cox v. MA Primary & Urgent Care Clinic, 313 S.W.3d 240 (Tenn. 2010). · cites it 4× “24 (2009) (“the Rules”), including the following provision: A physician assistant who holds state license in accordance with T.C.A. § 63-19-105 may provide selected medical/surgical services as outlined in a written protocol according to T.”

Melissa Michelle Cox v. M. A. Primary (Tenn. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “See Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-19-105 . Pursuant to Tenn.”

Marchelle Buman, of the Est. of Kenneth Jenkins v. Alycia D. Gibson, P.A., Thomas Paul Evans, M.D., Andrew H. Lundberg, M.D., & Paris Surgical Specialists, PLLC (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “(4) Physician assistants who hold temporary licenses pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-19-105(a)(2) (those waiting to take the licensure examination) may not provide services unless a supervising physician is on site while the services are being provided.”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-19-105(a) — 1 case

Cox v. MA Primary & Urgent Care Clinic, 313 S.W.3d 240 (Tenn. 2010). “24 (2009) (“the Rules”), including the following provision: A physician assistant who holds state license in accordance with T.C.A. § 63-19-105 may provide selected medical/surgical services as outlined in a written protocol according to T.”

— Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-19-105(a)(2) — 2 cases

Marchelle Buman, of the Est. of Kenneth Jenkins v. Alycia D. Gibson, P.A., Thomas Paul Evans, M.D., Andrew H. Lundberg, M.D., & Paris Surgical Specialists, PLLC (Tenn. Ct. App. 2014). “(4) Physician assistants who hold temporary licenses pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-19-105(a)(2) (those waiting to take the licensure examination) may not provide services unless a supervising physician is on site while the services are being provided.”

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