Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners

Licenses and regulates those qualified to practice the profession of podiatry in Tennessee.

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Notice of Approved Rules, Effective January 8, 2025 Regarding 1155-04-.12

About 

About the Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners

The Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners was created in 1931 by an act of the State Legislature. Its mission is to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of Tennesseans by requiring those who practice the profession of podiatry within this state be qualified. 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 authorized to issue a license to qualified applicants who have completed appropriate education and successfully completed required examinations. 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 violations.

Podiatrists may be licensed by either examination or endorsement from other states.

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. Renewal notices are mailed from Board’s administrative office approximately forty-five (45) days prior to the expiration of the license to the current address on record. For those licensees who have "opted in," an email will be sent to the email address on file approximately seventy (70) days prior to the expiration date of the license.  This is the only reminder a licensee shall receive. Licensees are responsible for renewing their license on time and keeping the Board apprised of current information. Licenses can be renewed on-line seventy (70) days prior to expiration at https://apps.tn.gov/hlrs/.  Click on "renew license" and follow the prompts.  Failure to renew by the expiration date may result in a fine.

The Board meets at least twice each year for purposes of conducting administrative business concerning ratifying licenses, promulgating rules, disciplinary matters, etc. The five (5) Board members are appointed by the Governor and serve three (3) year terms. A quorum of three (3) members is required to conduct business. The meetings are open to the public.

Contact

Contact the Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners

Call 615-741-5735 local or 1-800-778-4123 nationwide
Unit1HRB.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 or emailed directly to our office at Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov.

Effective immediately, anyone coming in person to complete their application, speak to an administrator, or paying a fee will be required to have an appointment. This will ensure excellent customer service. To schedule an appointment please email Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov. An administrator will contact you with a date and time. 

Applications

Applying for initial licensure from your professional licensing board has become a bit easier. 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.

For mailing documents please send to: Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners; 665 Mainstream Dr.; Nashville TN 37243

Applying for Licensure

 

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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 Member Title Representation Term Expires

Chad Webster, D.P.M 

Chairman

Podiatrist

 06-30-2025

Bhekumuzi Khumalo D.P.M.

Board Member

Podiatrist

 06-30-2027

Kelley Bumpus, D.P.M

Board Member

Podiatrist

 06-30-2025

Christopher Frazier, D.P.M

Secretary

Podiatrist

 06-30-2026

Aaron Sorensen, Ph.D.

Board Member

Orthotist, Prosthetist, or Pedorthist

 06-30-2027
Vacant Board Member Consumer Member  06-30-2025

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. 

Continuing Education

Podiatry

The Board requires each licensed Podiatrist to complete fifteen (15) clock hours of continuing education each calendar year (January 1- December 31).

  • Twelve (12) hours of the fifteen (15) clock hour requirement shall be clinical, scientific, or related to patient care. If the licensee is performing ankle surgery pursuant to T.C.A. § 63-3-101 (b) (1), ten (10) of these twelve (12) hours shall pertain to ankle surgery.
  • Beginning January 1, 2008, at least one (1) hour of the annual fifteen (15) hour requirement shall, every other calendar year, be a course designed specifically to address prescribing practices.
  • Ten (10) of the fifteen (15) clock hour requirement must be completed in the traditional “lecture/classroom” format.
  • Five (5) hours of the fifteen (15) clock hour requirement may be completed in any of the following multi-media formats: The Internet, Closed circuit television, Satellite broadcast, Correspondence courses, Videotapes, CD-ROM, DVD, Teleconferencing, Videoconferencing or Distance learning.

Acceptable continuing education shall consist of courses provided or sponsored by the APMA, APMA approved colleges of podiatric medicine, state, regional (zone), national and affiliated specialty groups, the U.S. federal government, or other education programs approved by the Board.

X-ray Operators

Each person certified by the Board must biennially complete four (4) hours of radiological related continuing education in courses provided or sponsored by the APMA, a state regional affiliate of the APMA, an affiliated specialty group, the United Sates government, or other courses approved by the Board.

Orthotist, Prosthetist, Pedorthists

Each licensed orthotist, prosthetist and pedorthist must annually complete fifteen (15) hours of continuing education in courses applicable to his/her profession. At least six (6) hours of the continuing education each year must be obtained by each licensee from providers in the State of Tennessee. Effective January 8, 2025, no more than seven (7) hours (previously five hours)  of the annual requirement shall be completed by any of the means listed in Rule 1155-02-.12 (1) (d): The Internet, Closed circuit television, Satellite broadcast, correspondence courses, Videotapes, CD-ROM, DVD, Teleconferencing, Videoconferencing or Distance Learning.

  • A person who is licensed in more than one (1) profession under these rules shall annually complete a total of twenty (20) hours of continuing education.
  • Of the twenty (20) hours required by subparagraph (a), six (6) hours shall be subjects pertaining to each profession in which he/she is licensed. For example, a person who is licensed as an orthotist and as a prosthetist is required to complete six (6) hours pertaining to orthotics and six (6) hours pertaining to prosthetics. The remaining eight (8) hours required could pertain to either orthotics or prosthetics.
  • Acceptable continuing education shall consist of courses provided, approved, or sponsored by: The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc.; The Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification;  The Board for Certification in Pedorthics; The Pedorthic Footwear Association; Tennessee Orthotic and Prosthetic Facilities, Inc.; The Tennessee Podiatric Medical Association; and any other entity whose education programs have been approved by the Board.

Requirements

Educational Programs

Arizona Podiatric Medicine Program at Midwestern University
19555 North 59th Avenue
Glendale, AZ 85308
Phone 623-572-3450
www.midwestern.edu/programs-and-admission/az-podiatric-medicine.html

Barry University School of Graduate Medical Sciences
11300 NE Second Avenue
Miami Shores, FL 33161
Phone 305-899-3249
https://www.barry.edu/podiatry/

California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College
370 Hawthorne Avenue
Oakland, CA 94609
Phone 510-869-8727
www.samuelmerritt.edu

Des Moines University – College of Podiatric Medicine & Surgery
3200 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50312
Phone 515-271-1464
www.dmu.edu/cpms

New York College of Podiatric Medicine
1800 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10035
Phone 212-410-8000
www.nycpm.edu

Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine (Formerly Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine
6000 Rockside Woods Boulevard
Independence, OH 44131
Phone 216-231-3300
https://www.kent.edu/cpm

Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin
University of Medicine and Science
3333 Green Bay Road
North Chicago, IL 60064
Phone 847-578-8400
www.rosalindfranklin.edu

Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine
Eighth at Race Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone 215-625-5400
http://podiatry.temple.edu/

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

8am-4:pm central standard time.

The administrators can be reached at 615-741-5735 or by email Unit1HRB.Heatlh@tn.gov.

If you have previously created an account in this licensure system, but cannot recall your Username and/or password, please click the appropriate Forgot Password or Forgot User ID link to recover your account credentials.
If you have forgotten or do know the email address used to create your account, you can contact the board administrators at 615-741-5735 local or 800-778-4123 nationwide, or email Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov to update or retrieve your email address.

A provider must be licensed in the state of Tennessee to provide treatment to a client in Tennessee or operated in a free clinic environment.

Unless in a free clinic environment, the provider must be licensed in Tennessee, and the client must be in Tennessee.

Policies, Rules, & Statutes

Policies

Rules

Click here for Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Tennessee Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners

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. 63-3 (Podiatrists).

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: January 20, 2026 at 9:58 AM