Board of Osteopathic Examination

Establishes the requirements of licensure, education, and standards for those qualified to practice osteopathic medicine in Tennessee.

About 

The Board of Osteopathic Examination was created in 1905 by an act of the State Legislature. This Board is responsible for safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of Tennesseans, by requiring that all that practice osteopathic medicine within this state are qualified. The Board interprets the laws, rules, and regulations to determine the appropriate standards of practice to ensure the highest degree of professional conduct. The Board is authorized to issue licenses to qualified candidates who have completed appropriate education and successfully completed required examinations. The Board is also 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 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. Osteopathic physicians may be licensed by examination, by endorsement from other states, or certification by the National Board of Examiners for Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons. Renewal notices are mailed from the Board's administrative office sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the license to the current address on record. Licenses can be renewed on-line sixty (60) days prior to expiration at https://lars.tn.gov/datamart/login.do. Licensees are responsible for renewing their licenses on time and keeping the Board/Registrar apprised of current information. It is a violation of the law and of the board’s/registrar’s rules to practice on an expired license.

The Board meets as needed throughout the year for purposes of conducting administrative business concerning ratifying licenses, promulgating rules, disciplinary matters, etc. The six (6) Board members are appointed by the Governor to serve five (5) year terms. A quorum of four (4) members is required to conduct business, and the meetings are open to the public.

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.

Contact

Contact the Board of Osteopathic Examination


615-532-4384 local or 1-800-778-4123 nationwide
Medical.Health@tn.gov
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243

Applying for Licensure

Applications and Forms

►Applying for initial licensure from your professional licensing board has become a bit easier.  The Department of Health has implemented 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.

Osteopathic Physician

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

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

Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

  • The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) is an alternative pathway to medical licensure for physicians seeking to practice medicine in multiple states. The IMLC creates a streamlined process for obtaining multiple state licenses. Applicants for licensure through the IMLC must meet the rigorous qualifications for licensure which are established under the compact. 
  • Tennessee is one of more than twenty states participating in the IMLC. For a complete list of participating states, minimum applicant qualifications, and information how to apply for licensure through the IMLC, please visit the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission website at www.imlcc.org.

Office Based Surgery

Meetings, Members, & Minutes

Meeting Schedule

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

Member Title Representation Term Expires
J. Michael Wieting, D.O. President  Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 06-30-2028
Shant H. Garabedian, D.O. Board Member Family Medicine & Emergency Medicine 06-30-2027
Jan Zieren, D.O. Board Member  Family Medicine 06-30-2024
Otis B. Rickman, DO  Board member Pulmonary Diseases  06-30-2025
Michael Bernui, DO Vice President   Family Medicine 06-30-2026
Penny Grace Judd Secretary  Citizen 06-30-2029

Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes

Copies of all minutes are maintained in the official record section of the administrative office.

Please contact the board administrator to make arrangements to review minutes of meetings held prior to 2004.

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 

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. 

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.

All licensees are required to renew their license every two years. The renewal cycle is set up whereby everyone renews in their birth month. The year they renew depends on whether they were born in an even or odd year. Thus the renewal of their professional license is set up in their birth month every two years.

When renewing, the document that is signed states the licensee has fulfilled all the requirements for renewal. That means no continuing education documentation is to be mailed in with the renewal and that the licensee attests to having obtained the required continuing education. The only time continuing education is to be mailed in is when an official audit is conducted and the licensee is mailed a certified letter from this office requiring submission of the documentation.

The Board may waive or otherwise modify the requirements in cases where there is retirement, or an illness, disability or other undue hardship that prevents a licensee from obtaining the requisite number of continuing education hours. Requests for waivers or modification must be sent in writing to the Administrative Office prior to the expiration of the renewal period in which the continuing education is due. *This request must be received by our office, in writing, before January 1st of the year your license will expire.*

Educational Programs

Educational Programs

Tennessee Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA)
5133 Harding Pike, B-10 #380
Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: 800-808-8662

DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
6965 Cumberland Gap Parkway
Harrogate, TN  37742
423-869-3611
800-325-0900

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

You can renew online or by paper renewal application. To renew online, please visit https://apps.tn.gov/hlrs/. To renew using the paper renewal application you receive in the mail, please complete the paper renewal application and return it along with the required renewal fee to the address specified on the renewal notice. If you lose the paper application you received in the mail, you can contact us at 615-532-4384 for a generic renewal notice to be e-mailed to you.

Approximately ninety (90) days in advance of your expiration date, you will receive a paper or electronic renewal notice notifying you of your upcoming expiration. Individuals who are “opted in” to receive electronic notifications from our office will receive the notification at the email address you provided on your application. Licensees who did not opt in will receive a paper renewal notice.

Renewals must be successfully processed by your expiration date. An incomplete renewal application, incomplete payment, or otherwise a hold on the renewal will delay successful processing. Starting the day after your expiration date, a late renewal fee will be imposed, and your licensure status will change to lapsed on the public facing licensure verification page.

You must contact the Tennessee Department of Revenue, pay any professional privilege tax fees owed, and request a Tax Clearance Letter. You may obtain a copy of that letter and send it to us at medical.health@tn.gov. A receipt of tax payment will not clear your tax hold. We must receive the Tax Clearance Letter to remove the hold. Your renewal will not be processed until the hold is clear. Thus, you could be subject to the late renewal fee.

The online system will only accept one payment. Thus, if you already paid for your renewal online then you cannot pay for the late fee online. You must send a check or money order written to the TN Department of Health to our address: TN Board of Medical Examiners, 665 Mainstream Dr., Nashville, TN 37243.

The Board is not a records keeper of your continuing medical education. You will only be requested to send in continuing medical education proof if you are randomly selected for an audit after renewing your license.

The Board may conduct a continuing education audit of any licensee after the licensee renews. Upon receipt of the audit notice, if you fail to provide the required continuing medical education then the Board’s administrative office will enforce the Board’s policy on continuing education: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/healthprofboards/osteo/CME_policy_revised%203.2.22.pdf.

You must complete forty (40) hours of courses approved by the Board in category 1-A, II-A, and/or I-B continuing medical education as defined by the American Osteopathic Association. No more than twenty (20) credits should be obtained in Category I-B. Unless statutorily exempted under TCA 63-1-402(c), all licensees shall complete a minimum of two (2) hours in continuing medical education related to controlled substances prescribing, which must be Tennessee specific thus including instruction in the Department’s treatment guidelines on opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and carisoprodol and may include topics such as medicine addiction, risk management tools, and other topics approved by the Board.Example: If your medical license is set to expire on October 31, 2022, forty hours of CME must be completed between November 1, 2020 through October 31, 2022 and prior to your renewal application being submitted.

The continuing medical education must be approved in content, structure, and/or format by the AOA, or by the ACCME or by a state medical association recognized by the ACCME as an intrastate accreditor of sponsors of continuing medical education; or they must be designated by the AAFP as meeting the criteria of AAFPs prescribed credit.

Contact the Bureau of Investigations at 1-800-852-2187; 615-532-3421
https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/report-a-concern.html

You can request a duplicate certificate after logging into your online account here: https://apps.tn.gov/hlrs/. From a drop down on the main menu, select Request a Duplicate Renewal Certificate or Duplicate Wall Certificate. The Duplicate Renewal Certificate will be a duplicate of the small certificate with your expiration date on it and is free. The Duplicate Wall Certificate will be a duplicate of the large brown certificate, and costs $25. The certificate(s) will print and be mailed to the mailing address we have on file. For security purposes, we cannot provide an electronic copy of your license.

 

You may retire your medical license with the submission of an affidavit of retirement. You may access the affidavit here: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/PH3460.pdf. There is no fee to retire your license; however, should you seek to reinstate your license at a later date, the Board may require that you submit evidence that you have maintained your clinical competency. If you are retired from clinical practice for more than two years, you will be subjected to the Board’s reentry policy.

Yes, if you are struggling and need assistance, please contact the Tennessee Medical Foundation (TMF) today. The TMF conducts Tennessee’s Peer Assistance Program and exists to assist practitioners with chemical dependency, psychological and physiological conditions that may impair their ability to safely practice medicine. Your contact with the TMF is not reported to the Board and does not become a part of your licensure file. The TMF will consult with you regarding your specific concerns and/or condition(s) and will likely recommend that you submit to an evaluation. That evaluation is intended to determine a diagnosis and if indicated, a treatment plan. This entire process can be carried out confidentially.
Tennessee Medical Foundation
(615) 467-6411
5141 Virginia Way, Suite 110
Brentwood, TN 37027

Yes, if you are the spouse, friend, colleague or otherwise significant other of a physician that is struggling with an illness please contact the Tennessee Medical Foundation (TMF) to get assistance in how best to handle this problem. It is imperative that this occur as soon as it is realized the physician is struggling so the safety and effectiveness of the medical care that he or she is providing is not compromised. Treating illness early in the process provides the best chance for a good result. Whereas any delay in treatment allows overt impairment to manifest in the physician’s work, putting all at risk. Referral of the physician to the TMF is not reported to the Board unless patient harm has occurred. The TMF will do an initial assessment of the physician and will likely recommend a full evaluation which is intended to determine a diagnosis and if indicated a treatment plan. This entire process can be confidential.
Tennessee Medical Foundation
(615) 467-6411
5141 Virginia Way, Suite 110
Brentwood, TN 37027

No, you may not delegate authority that you yourself do not have.

First, you must jointly develop protocols with your supervisee. The protocols must satisfy the following requirements:
1) It must be reviewed and updated biennially;
2) It must cover the applicable standard of care;
3) It must be maintained at the practice site;
4) It must be made available to the Department of Health upon request;
5) It must specify the classes of drugs that may be prescribed by the PA/APRN; and
6) It must be specific to the population seen.

You must also complete and sign the Attachment 4 and 5 if you are supervising a PA, or a Notice and Formulary if you are supervising an APRN. These documents identify you as the supervising physician and specify the area in which the PA or APRN will be practicing, as well as the bounds of the supervisee’s prescribing authority. If your supervisee will be prescribing controlled substances and is registered in the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database (CSMD), you must also confirm your supervisory relationship in the CSMD.

Additional supervisory relationship information can be found on our other FAQs/Instructions:
Supervision FAQs: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/SUPERVISION_FAQs.pdf
Reviewing or Modify a Supervisory Request in LARS account: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/Reviewing_a_Supervisory_Request.pdf
Reviewing & Approving a Supervisory Request in CSMD: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/SupervisorInstructionToApproveRelationships-20150209.pdf

 If you have an expired Tennessee medical license and wish to return to practice in Tennessee, you must submit an application for reinstatement. That application is available here: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/PH-3556.pdf

If your application reveals you have been out of clinical practice for more than two years, you may be subject to additional requirements of the Board.

 On May 11, 2017, Governor Haslam signed Public Chapter 365 making Tennessee the 19th state to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. For information regarding the Compact and how it works, please visit: http://www.imlcc.org/

You may confirm that your application is in progress through our license verification page: The Board’s administrative staff makes every effort to keep applicants apprised of their application status. This includes an effort to send deficiency letters to applicants every couple of weeks. Frequent calls and emails to our office for license status updates interrupt our administrators’ work processes and reduce the amount of time available to review applications and correspond with applicants regarding application deficiencies.

Follow this link for instructions on how to complete your background check.
https://www.tn.gov/health/health-professionals/criminal-background-check/cbc-instructions.html

 Yes, if you have been issued a license/certificate number you are allowed to commence practice in Tennessee. If your license/certificate is not ratified by the board you will be promptly notified to suspend your practice in Tennessee with an explanation for why your license/certificate was not ratified.

 Yes, if you choose to have your FCVS packet sent to our office the following items will be marked as received for your application process:
1) Medical school transcript
2) Any post-graduate training verified
3) Examination scores
4) Proof of citizenship (so long as the document is not expired)

No. Applications are reviewed and considered in the order in which they are received. To emphasize this point, the application instructions recommend that you do not make arrangements to accept employment to practice in Tennessee prior to being issued a license number. Requesting documents from outside organizations or others could be done prior to submitting your application which would assist in your file being promptly complete.

Policies, Rules, & Statutes

Policies

Rules

Click here for Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examination

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. 63-9 (Osteopathic Physicians).

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: March 30, 2026 at 2:51 PM