How to Get My Tennessee Medical License

Are you looking to get your Tennessee Medical License? The process can seem a little tedious or confusing at first, but this guide will provide you with enough information and preparation to get your license without delays.

We’ll show you a step-by-step guide that you can follow to get your license, even if you’re an international student.

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Key Takeaways

• Tennessee medical license requires med school, residency, exams, and specific documents.
• USMLE or COMLEX-USA exams are mandatory for MDs and DOs, respectively.
• Minimum of three years in an accredited residency program is required.
• License renewal requires 40 CME hours every two years to maintain active status.

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How Do You Acquire Your Tennessee Medical License?

Acquiring a Medical License in Tennessee involves four primary steps:

• Finishing med school.
• Finishing a set number of residency years.
• Passing the licensure test
• Having the required documents.

Note that these steps apply for almost every state in the U.S. While it’s mandatory for all states that you finish your med school, a few changes are present for the other steps, like the required number of residency years and the documents needed.

Related: How to Get a Medical License in Mississippi

Your Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Acquire Your Tennessee M.D. License

The title is self-explanatory, so let’s get right into it:

Step 1: Finish Your Med School

The very first step is to graduate from an accredited medical school. The institution you study in must be recognized by the Tennessee Board of Medicine.

National students can attend schools accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education LCME (for MDs) or the Committee on Osteopathic Continuing Education COCA (for DOs).

As for International medical graduates (IMGs), they must obtain an ECFMG certification to verify their education.

ECFMG is a credential awarded by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates to IMGs who meet specific requirements.

Step 2: Finish the Minimum Postgraduate Study Requirement

Post-graduate studies can last up to seven years, depending on your specialty. However, most states don’t require full completion of residency programs before you can apply for your M.D. or D.O. License.

Tennessee requires a minimum of three years in a residency program of your specialty. However, it must be approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Whether the applicant is a national or an international student, completing those three years is a must.

Step 3: Take and Pass the Examination

Depending on your medical career choice as a physician, you’ll need to pass one of two exams to qualify for your medical license in Tennessee.

The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)

USMLE is a 3-step examination for MDs designed to assess a physician’s ability to practice medicine.

Each step focuses on different aspects of medical knowledge, and they all must be taken, passed, and completed within ten years of each other.

Here’s a breakdown of what you should expect in each of the three steps:

• Step 1, which is about medical knowledge and science, will assess your overall knowledge as a physician. It’ll cover a wide range of topics, like pathology, microbiology, physiology, etc. It often uses a multiple-choice question (MCQ) format.
• Step 2 is about clinical knowledge and skills. It assesses your problem-solving skills and covers a variety of medical specialties and patient scenarios. It has an MCQ format plus a performance assessment (formerly known as a clinical skills assessment).
• Step 3 is the knowledge application step. It’ll assess your ability to practice medicine independently, and it covers various medical specialties. It has an MCQ format plus simulated patient encounters.

The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA)

COMLEX is another 3-step examination, but this one is designed for DOs. Its process is fairly similar to the USMLE, but the scope of the questions is focused on osteopathic medicine.

• Step 1 here is similar to the USMLE. It assesses basic knowledge of multiple topics through MCQs.
• Step 2 is also similar in regard to testing the problem-solving skills, but it’s subdivided into two parts: cognitive evaluation through MCQs and performance evaluation through simulated encounters.
• Step 3 of COMLEX is practically identical to the USMLE, with the only difference being the scope of simulations, which are designed for DOs instead of MDs.

Step 4: Prepare the Required Documents

Once you pass the test, you’ll need to prepare the following documents before you apply:

• Official copies of your medical school transcripts.
• Proof of completion of your residency program or the minimum required three years.
• Your USMLE or COMLEX examination scores.
• Your proof of identity, which typically includes a copy of your birth certificate or passport.
• A background check.
• If you’re not a U.S. citizen, you need to provide documentation of your legal status, such as a visa or a green card.

Step 5: Start Your Application

Go to the official website of the Board of Medical Examiners, then, scroll down until you find the application form.

If you get lost on the page, press Ctrl + F and paste this in the search box: “Application for Full Medical Doctor Licensure in Tennessee.”

If you haven’t registered an account on a website, you’ll be prompted to create one at this point. If you already have one, it’ll take you right to the application process.

You’ll be required to add your information information and include soft copies of your documents. Have them all ready to avoid being timed out by the page.

Note: make sure that you do the process through one of these browsers to avoid page hiccups and payment delays:

• Microsoft Edge
• Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari

Step 6: Pay the Fees and Wait for Your Application

You’ll need to pay a fee of $510 if you’re applying for an M.D. License and $410 if you’re applying for a D.O. License. Keep in mind that this fee is non-refundable even if your application gets rejected.

Once you finish, you should keep an eye on your email because you’ll receive one once your application gets processed. From there, expect a waiting time of 12–14 weeks.

You should periodically check your email for any updates, as you may be required to provide further documents and/or information.

Note: Any legal issues or malpractice claims could delay your application.

Related: How to Obtain your Michigan Medical License

Maintaining Your Medical Licenses

Getting your medical license is needed for you to start practicing, but maintaining it is the key to “continuing” practicing, as you’ll need to renew it every year.

This means that you’ll need to avoid any type of malpractice or misconduct and keep yourself well-informed of the latest medical practices. In other words, you need to fulfill Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements.

To do that, you must complete 40 accredited CME hours in your specialty every two years.

You should also renew your license before it expires to avoid late fees. You’ll be notified about your renewal one month before the license expires, which gives you more than enough time.

Related: What does it take to get a Virginia Medical License?

Grow More With Physicians Thrive

In theory, medical licensure in the U.S. is fairly similar between different states. However, knowing the minute differences can be difficult if you rely on outdated online resources. At Physicians Thrive, we’ll have all the licensing information you need, and more.

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Secure your medical future with a single click. Contact us, and we’ll jumpstart your career.