# Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-201: Levels of practice - Valid license or certificate required > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-201 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-201 - **Heading:** Levels of practice - Valid license or certificate required - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 63 / Chapter 11 / Section 63-11-201 ## Text (a) Five (5) levels of psychological practice are defined for the purposes of this chapter. Such levels are to be known and are referred to as: (1) Psychological examiner; (2) Senior psychological examiner; (3) Psychologist; (4) Certified psychological assistant; and (5) Certified psychological testing technician. (b) Any and all individuals who engage in the practice of psychology as a psychological examiner, senior psychological examiner or psychologist must possess in full force and virtue a valid license under this chapter. (c) Any person engaged in the practice of psychology as a certified psychological assistant or certified psychological testing technician must possess in full force and virtue a valid certificate to practice under this chapter. (d) (1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a charitable clinic from employing or contracting with a psychologist; provided, that the contractual relationship between the psychologist and the charitable clinic is evidenced by a written contract, job description, or documentation, containing language that does not restrict the psychologist from exercising independent professional judgment in diagnosing and treating patients. (2) For the purposes of this subsection (d), the term "charitable clinic" means an entity that meets the following standards: (A) Has received a determination of exemption from the internal revenue service under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) or is a distinct part of an entity that has received such a determination of exemption; (B) Has clinical facilities located in this state; (C) Has a primary mission to provide health care or dental care services to low-income, uninsured, or underserved individuals; (D) Provides one (1) or more of the following services for free or at a discounted rate: (i) Medical care; (ii) Dental care; (iii) Mental health care; or (iv) Prescription medications; (E) Utilizes volunteer healthcare professionals and nonclinical volunteers; and (F) Is not required to be licensed under § 68-11-202(a)(1) . Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 442, s 3, eff. 1/1/2024. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 442, s 2, eff. 1/1/2024. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 766, s 5, eff. 4/19/2016. Acts 1953, ch. 169, § 2 (Williams, § 7082.2); T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 63-1105; Acts 2001, ch. 123, § 4. (a) Five (5) levels of psychological practice are defined for the purposes of this chapter. Such levels are to be known and are referred to as: (1) Psychological examiner; (2) Senior psychological examiner; (3) Psychologist; (4) Certified psychological assistant; and (5) Certified psychological testing technician. (1) Psychological examiner; (2) Senior psychological examiner; (3) Psychologist; (4) Certified psychological assistant; and (5) Certified psychological testing technician. (b) Any and all individuals who engage in the practice of psychology as a psychological examiner, senior psychological examiner or psychologist must possess in full force and virtue a valid license under this chapter. (c) Any person engaged in the practice of psychology as a certified psychological assistant or certified psychological testing technician must possess in full force and virtue a valid certificate to practice under this chapter. practice of psychology as a psychological examiner, senior psychological examiner or psychologist must possess in full force and virtue a valid license under this chapter. (c) Any person engaged in the practice of psychology as a certified psychological assistant or certified psychological testing technician must possess in full force and virtue a valid certificate to practice under this chapter. (d) (1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a charitable clinic from employing or contracting with a psychologist; provided, that the contractual relationship between the psychologist and the charitable clinic is evidenced by a written contract, job description, or documentation, containing language that does not restrict the psychologist from exercising independent professional judgment in diagnosing and treating patients. (2) For the purposes of this subsection (d), the term "charitable clinic" means an entity that meets the following standards: (A) Has received a determination of exemption from the internal revenue service under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) or is a distinct part of an entity that has received such a determination of exemption; (B) Has clinical facilities located in this state; (C) Has a primary mission to provide health care or dental care services to low-income, uninsured, or underserved individuals; (D) Provides one (1) or more of the following services for free or at a discounted rate: (i) Medical care; (ii) Dental care; (iii) Mental health care; or (iv) Prescription medications; (E) Utilizes volunteer healthcare professionals and nonclinical volunteers; and (F) Is not required to be licensed under § 68-11-202(a)(1) . (1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a charitable clinic from employing or contracting with a psychologist; provided, that the contractual relationship between the psychologist and the charitable clinic is evidenced by a written contract, job description, or documentation, containing language that does not restrict the psychologist from exercising independent professional judgment in diagnosing and treating patients. (2) For the purposes of this subsection (d), the term "charitable clinic" means an entity that meets the following standards: (A) Has received a determination of exemption from the internal revenue service under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) or is a distinct part of an entity that has received such a determination of exemption; (B) Has clinical facilities located in this state; (C) Has a primary mission to provide health care or dental care services to low-income, uninsured, or underserved individuals; (D) Provides one (1) or more of the following services for free or at a discounted rate: (i) Medical care; (ii) Dental care; (iii) Mental health care; or (iv) Prescription medications; (E) Utilizes volunteer healthcare professionals and nonclinical volunteers; and (F) Is not required to be licensed under § 68-11-202(a)(1) . (A) Has received a determination of exemption from the internal revenue service under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) or is a distinct part of an entity that has received such a determination of exemption; (B) Has clinical facilities located in this state; (C) Has a primary mission to provide health care or dental care services to low-income, uninsured, or underserved individuals; (D) Provides one (1) or more of the following services for free or at a discounted rate: (i) Medical care; (ii) Dental care; (iii) Mental health care; or (iv) Prescription medications; ed such a determination of exemption; (B) Has clinical facilities located in this state; (C) Has a primary mission to provide health care or dental care services to low-income, uninsured, or underserved individuals; (D) Provides one (1) or more of the following services for free or at a discounted rate: (i) Medical care; (ii) Dental care; (iii) Mental health care; or (iv) Prescription medications; (i) Medical care; (ii) Dental care; (iii) Mental health care; or (iv) Prescription medications; (E) Utilizes volunteer healthcare professionals and nonclinical volunteers; and (F) Is not required to be licensed under § 68-11-202(a)(1) . Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 442, s 3, eff. 1/1/2024. Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 442, s 2, eff. 1/1/2024. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 766, s 5, eff. 4/19/2016. Acts 1953, ch. 169, § 2 (Williams, § 7082.2); T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 63-1105; Acts 2001, ch. 123, § 4. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-101 Board creation - Composition - Immunity from civil action](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-102 Appointment and terms of members - Removal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-103 Members' oath - Reports and records](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-104 Organization - Meetings - Expenses - Powers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-201 Levels of practice - Valid license or certificate required](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-201.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-202 Practice of psychological examiner - Senior psychological examiners](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-202.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-203 Practice of psychologist](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-203.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-204 Restrictions on methods of treatment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-204.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-205 Use of identifying terms](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-205.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-206 Unlicensed practice - Penalties - Supervised practice - Evaluation techniques - Temporary licenses - Provisional licenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-206.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-207 Qualifications and application to practice as examiner - Expiration of period to issue licenses - Certification of psychological assistants and psychological testing technician](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-207.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-208 Qualifications and application to practice as psychologist - Specialty certification](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-208.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-209 Application and examination fees](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-209.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-11-210 Examination of applicants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-210.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C11_S63-11-201. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.