Board of Physical Therapy

Licenses and regulates those qualified to practice as physical therapists in Tennessee.

About  the Board of Physical Therapy

Pursuant to Public Chapter 115 of the Public Acts of 2007, The Board of Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Examiners and its two (2) Committees ( Committee of Occupational Therapy and Committee of Physical Therapy ) has been replaced by the Board of Occupational Therapy and the Board of Physical Therapy.

The Board of Physical Therapy is responsible for safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of Tennesseans, by requiring that all who practice physical therapy within the state be qualified to practice. The Board interprets the laws, rules, and regulations to determine the appropriate standards of practice in an effort to ensure the highest degree of professional conduct. The Board is responsible for the investigation of alleged violations of the Practice Act and rules and is responsible for the discipline of licensees who are found guilty of such violation.

The Board of Physical Therapy consists of five (5) members, appointed by the Governor. Three (3) members are physical therapists, one (1) member is a physical therapist assistant, and one (1) member is a consumer who is not physical therapist and is not commercially or professionally associated with the health care industry. Members may be appointed from a list of three nominees submitted to the Governor by the respective organization for each profession.

The Board meets four (4) times per year. A quorum of the Committee consists of three (3) members. The meetings are open to the public.

The administrative staff of the Division of Health Related Boards supports the Board by issuing licenses to those who meet the requirements of the law and rules. Physical therapists may be granted licensure by examination or reciprocity from other states. Renewal notices are mailed from the Board's administrative office forty-five (45) days prior to the expiration of the license to the current address on record. Licensees are responsible for renewing their license on time and keeping the Board apprised of current information. Licenses can be renewed on-line ninety  (90) days prior to expiration at Tennessee.gov/health. Click on the "License Renewal" link and follow the prompts. It is a violation of the law and of the board’s rules to practice on an expired license. Licensees are responsible for renewing their license on time and keeping the Board apprised of current information.

Licensure Scam Alert

The Department of Health has been made aware that some licensees of a few different health licensure boards have received fraudulent communications from individuals claiming to be from those licensee’s licensing boards. The communications, often by phone, may threaten arrest or license suspension, demand personal information, or require payment of fines.  Some of them have been accompanied by fraudulent letters claiming to suspend the license. Please note: 

  • Phone calls may “spoof” or appear to be from the boards’ number;
  • If you need to verify the identity of a TN board investigator, call (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov.
  • The health-related board investigators will never demand that you provide personally identifying information, such as a social security number, date of birth, or bank or credit card account numbers over the phone;
  • These types of licensing scams are a problem nationwide.

 If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:

  • If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:
  • Report the communication to the Internet Crime Complaint Center Internet Crime Complaint Center at using the code "TDHHPBSCAM2026".  This will allow law enforcement to link these scams for improved investigation.
  • Complainants can alternatively call the Fusion Center Tipline (800TBIFIND) or submit a tip online at TBI but the IC3 is preferred.

·         Notify the Department of Health at (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov

  • The Federal Trade Commission also accepts reports about “Imposter Scams” online or at 1-877-382-4357.

Featured Links

June 2024 PTCC Notice of Rulemaking and Public Comment

2023 Special PT Compact Rule Change Draft

Contact

Contact the Board of Physical Therapy

615-741-3807 local or 1-800-778-4123 nationwide
Unit2HRB.Health@tn.gov 
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243

When completing the application process below, you will be required to submit an official transcript from the institution where you completed your education. The transcript must be mailed directly from the educational institution to the board office located at 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243.

Applications

Before you apply, make sure you have everything you need for the process to run smoothly.  Please review this checklist when applying online  for the additional items you will need. Click the link.

Support documents checklist

► Applying for initial licensure from your professional licensing board has become a bit easier.  For the past year, the Department of Health has been working on an online application process that will allow all health care professionals to apply online for an initial license and complete (and update as necessary) a practitioner profile mandatory for certain professions.  The process is user friendly and convenient and even allows you to pay for your initial application utilizing a credit card, debit card or e-check.  You will also be able to upload many of the documents required to complete your initial application!  Please go to the initial application link below to begin the online process.

Portability Act for Military and Military Spouse with Transfer Orders to Tennessee

Please fill out the application below and email it to Unit2HRB.Health@tn.gov with a copy of the military orders.

 
Other Applications:

Applying for Licensure

Licensure Information

Click on link below to see all approved Service members and Spouses to practice in TN.

Meetings, Members, & Minutes

Meeting Schedule

Click for the [Board] Calendar of Events

Public Notices will remain online until the minutes are ratified and posted on the Meeting Minutes page.

Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at 665 Mainstream Drive, MetroCenter.

Members

Board Members

Board Members Position Representation Term Expires
David Harris Chair Physical Therapist Assistant 06-30-2027
Ronald De Vera Barredo Board Member Physical Therapist 06-30-2027
Jane David
 Board Member
 Physical Therapist  06-30-2022
LeAnn F. Childress Board Secretary Physical Therapist 06-30-2027
Kelly O’Connor, CFRE
 Board Member Public Member 06-30-2022

Meeting Minutes

Continuing Education

Failure to comply with continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action against the licensee or registrant. The disciplinary action will be reported on the Department of Health license verification web site. 

Requirements

Continuing Competence

Failure to comply with continuing competence requirements may result in disciplinary action against the licensee.  The disciplinary action will be reported on the Department of Health license verification web site and will not be removed.

2024 TPTA Approved Course

2024-2025 Dry Needling Approved courses 

 

https://www.tptatn.org/page/ApprovedDryNeedling
  •  CE Broker Information
  • NEW - CE BROKER IS NOW THE OFFICIAL CE TRACKING SYSTEM OF THE BOARD OF PHYSICAL THERAPY
    The Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy has approved a transitional phase for licensees to start reporting certificates of completion of appropriate continuing education (CE) courses to CE Broker which began on July 1, 2018 to last until June 30, 2020 , the equivalence of one renewal cycle. During this period, licensees may report completion of their CEs to either CE broker or the board’s administrative office. Beginning July 1, 2020, it shall become mandatory for licensees to report proof of completion of their CEs to CE Broker, including at the time of license renewal. The Board will periodically audit proof of completion of CE courses submitted to CE Broker to determine compliance with the board’s CE requirements.

    Should you have additional questions or need further information about this notice, please do not hesitate to contact the Board Administrative Office at (615) 741-3807.

Effective June 29, 2016, changes to the continuing competence rules outlining continuing competence requirements for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants went into effect.  These rules require all licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants to obtain 30 hours of credits for the 24 months that precede their licensure renewal month.  For physical therapists, at least twenty hours must be in Category 1 activities and no more than ten hours may be acquired online. Up to ten of the thirty hours requirement may be from Category 2 activities.

All licensed physical therapist assistants are now required to obtain 30 hours of credits for the 24 months that precede their licensure renewal month.  At least twenty of those hours must be Category 1 activities and no more than 10 hours may be acquired online. Up to ten of the thirty hours may be from Category 2 activities.

For both physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, four (4) of the required hours must consist of ethics and jurisprudence courses which are a minimum of two (2) hours each in duration and must be Category 1 continuing competence. Proof of completion of courses in ethics and jurisprudence is required every license renewal cycle. 

Pursuant to policy statement adopted by the Board on May 27, 2016 to address transition of continuing competence due dates for physical therapist assistants in 2016 and online course restrictions for all physical therapy practitioners through June 30, 2017, any physical therapist assistant with a licensure expiration date on or before June 30, 2017 who earns twenty (20) hours of continuing competence in his or her twenty-four (24) month licensure renewal cycle is considered to have fulfilled the continuing competence requirement for that licensure renewal cycle. Furthermore, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants with licensure expiration dates on or before June 30, 2017 may acquire more than ten (10) hours of online instruction to fulfill their continuing competence requirements for that renewal cycle. Illustrative examples of the effect of this policy can be found in the policy statement in the link to 'Policies' section on the Board's website.

Educational Programs

Educational Programs

Belmont University
School of Physical Therapy
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37212-3757
Phone: (615) 460-6727
Fax: (615) 460-6729

East Tennessee State University
Box 70624
Johnson City, TN 37614-0624
Phone: (423) 439-8275
Phone: (423) 429-8077

Tennessee State University
3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard
Campus Box 9639
Nashville, TN 37209-1561
Phone: (615) 963-5871

University of Tennessee, Chattanooga
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37403-2598
Phone: (423) 755-4747
Phone: (423) 755-2215

University of Tennessee Health Science Center
930 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: (901) 448-5888
Phone: (901) 448-5889

Physical Therapist Assistants Educational Programs

Chattanooga State Technical Community College
4501 Amnicola Highway
Chattanooga, TN 37405-1097
Phone: (423) 697-3071
Phone: (423) 697-4450

Daymar Institute
Laurie Schroder, PTA Program Manager
1860 Wilma Rudolph Blvd.
Clarksville, Tennessee 37040
Phone: (931) 552-7600

Jackson State Community College
2046 N. Parkway Street
Jackson, TN 38302-3797
Phone: (731) 425-2612
Phone: (800) 355-5722

South College
3904 Lonas Drive
Knoxville, TN 37909
Phone: (865)251-1800

Roane State Community College
276 Patton Lane
Harriman, TN 37748
Phone: (865) 354-3000
Phone: (800) 343-9104
Fax: (865) 882-4562

Roane State Community College
701 Briarcliff Avenue
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Phone: (865) 481-2000
Phone: (865) 481-2018

Southwest Tennessee Community College
761 Linden Avenue
Memphis, TN  38103
Phone: (901) 333-5394

Volunteer State Community College
1480 Nashville Pike
Gallatin, TN 37066
Phone: (615) 230-3331
Phone: (615) 230-3224

Walters State Community College
500 South Davy Crockett Parkway
Morristown, TN 37813-6899
Phone: (423) 585-6986

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

To renew online, please visit https://apps.tn.gov/hlrs/

Please complete the application and follow instructions found at: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/PH-3619.pdf

You may verify the license of any health care practitioner or facility in Tennessee via our website at: Individual: https://apps.health.tn.gov/Licensure/default.aspx
Facility: https://dhlrapps.health.tn.gov/FacilityListings

Follow this link for instructions on how to complete your background check.
For applicants living out of state, please note that results are typically received sooner when fingerprints are electronically scanned; therefore, if you are going to be in Tennessee anytime during the application process, it may be to your benefit to schedule a fingerprint scan rather than submitting a fingerprint card.

Yes, you can “opt in” to receive all information from the Board electronically by. Even if you opt in, you must always maintain a current mailing and practice address on file with the Board. You are required to notify the Board of any change to the information maintained in your licensure file within thirty (30) days of any such change.

 If you believe a practitioner’s performance or behavior is unprofessional, unlawful or unacceptable, you may file a complaint through the Health-Related Boards’ Office of Investigations.
You can call that office directly at 1-800-852-2187 or you can access the Allegation Report form through the Office of Investigation webpage using this link.

Follow this link and fill in your required criteria

Policies, Rules, & Statutes

Policies & Position Statements

Rules

Click here for Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Tennessee Board of Physical Therapy

Compact Rules

Nov 2025 PTCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Public Comment

June 2024 PTCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Public Comment

2023 Special PT Compact Rule Change Draft

Proposed Compact Rules 2021

Statutes

Statutes are proposed and made law by the Tennessee State General Assembly (Legislature). The Board, following specific notice requirements and hearings, adopts rules. Both have the force of law and may be used in the regulation of a profession. The statutes pertaining to this Board are found at T. C. A. 63-1 (Division of Health Related Boards) and T.C.A. 63-13 ( Physical Therapy).

Click here to review the Tennessee Code Annotated. (This link will take you to a website that is not maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health).

This Page Last Updated: April 8, 2026 at 4:08 PM