# Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-201: License requirements > Tennessee · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-201 ## Section - **Citation:** Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-201 - **Heading:** License requirements - **Jurisdiction:** Tennessee - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** TN Code / Title 63 / Chapter 6 / Section 63-6-201 ## Text (a) No person shall practice medicine in any of its departments within this state unless and until such person has obtained a license from the board created by § 63-6-101 . The provisions in this chapter with reference to obtaining a license from the board do not apply to any person who on July 1, 1947, was duly and regularly licensed by law to practice medicine in any of its branches in this state. (b) (1) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions visiting medical faculty licensed in a country other than the United States and employed full time by a college or university operating an accredited medical school in Tennessee are exempt from the requirement of a license; provided, that the visiting faculty member is a graduate of a medical school, a recognized medical authority approved by the board and the practice of the visiting faculty member is limited to and is incidental to the visiting faculty member's employment at an accredited medical school in Tennessee. Such person is entitled to engage in private practice; provided, that the person enrolls and satisfactorily participates in a three-year residency program approved by the board. No physician authorized under this subsection (b) to engage in private practice shall continue to engage in private practice of any form after a period of three (3) years unless such person meets all the requirements of licensure set forth in § 63-6-207 . (2) It is the responsibility of the dean of the medical school to apply to the board for an exemption for each such visiting faculty member. Such application for exemption shall be filed annually, and an individual applicant may not receive an exemption for a period in excess of two (2) years. It is also the responsibility of the above-named dean to notify the board upon termination of a visiting faculty member's responsibilities. (3) The board may impose a fee to accompany each application for exemption. Acts 1901, ch. 78, § 1; 1905, ch. 111, § 1; Shan., § 3609a13; Code 1932, § 6918; impl. am. Acts 1947, ch. 9, §§ 2-4, 9; mod. C. Supp. 1950, § 6918; Acts 1977, ch. 285, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 63-605; Acts 1982, ch. 905, § 3; 1984, ch. 937, §§ 27, 28; 1989, ch. 523, §§ 39, 40; 1990, ch. 1055, § 2; 1994, ch. 732, § 1; 1995, ch. 329, § 5; 2003 , ch. 262, § 1. (a) No person shall practice medicine in any of its departments within this state unless and until such person has obtained a license from the board created by § 63-6-101 . The provisions in this chapter with reference to obtaining a license from the board do not apply to any person who on July 1, 1947, was duly and regularly licensed by law to practice medicine in any of its branches in this state. (b) (1) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions visiting medical faculty licensed in a country other than the United States and employed full time by a college or university operating an accredited medical school in Tennessee are exempt from the requirement of a license; provided, that the visiting faculty member is a graduate of a medical school, a recognized medical authority approved by the board and the practice of the visiting faculty member is limited to and is incidental to the visiting faculty member's employment at an accredited medical school in Tennessee. Such person is entitled to engage in private practice; provided, that the person enrolls and satisfactorily participates in a three-year residency program approved by the board. No physician authorized under this subsection (b) to engage in private practice shall continue to engage in private practice of any form after a period of three (3) years unless such person meets all the requirements of licensure set forth in § 63-6-207 . (2) It is the responsibility of the dean of the medical school to apply to the board for an exemption for each such visiting faculty member. Such application for exemption shall be filed annually, and an individual applicant may not receive an exemption for a period in excess of two (2) years od of three (3) years unless such person meets all the requirements of licensure set forth in § 63-6-207 . (2) It is the responsibility of the dean of the medical school to apply to the board for an exemption for each such visiting faculty member. Such application for exemption shall be filed annually, and an individual applicant may not receive an exemption for a period in excess of two (2) years. It is also the responsibility of the above-named dean to notify the board upon termination of a visiting faculty member's responsibilities. (3) The board may impose a fee to accompany each application for exemption. (1) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions visiting medical faculty licensed in a country other than the United States and employed full time by a college or university operating an accredited medical school in Tennessee are exempt from the requirement of a license; provided, that the visiting faculty member is a graduate of a medical school, a recognized medical authority approved by the board and the practice of the visiting faculty member is limited to and is incidental to the visiting faculty member's employment at an accredited medical school in Tennessee. Such person is entitled to engage in private practice; provided, that the person enrolls and satisfactorily participates in a three-year residency program approved by the board. No physician authorized under this subsection (b) to engage in private practice shall continue to engage in private practice of any form after a period of three (3) years unless such person meets all the requirements of licensure set forth in § 63-6-207 . (2) It is the responsibility of the dean of the medical school to apply to the board for an exemption for each such visiting faculty member. Such application for exemption shall be filed annually, and an individual applicant may not receive an exemption for a period in excess of two (2) years. It is also the responsibility of the above-named dean to notify the board upon termination of a visiting faculty member's responsibilities. (3) The board may impose a fee to accompany each application for exemption. Acts 1901, ch. 78, § 1; 1905, ch. 111, § 1; Shan., § 3609a13; Code 1932, § 6918; impl. am. Acts 1947, ch. 9, §§ 2-4, 9; mod. C. Supp. 1950, § 6918; Acts 1977, ch. 285, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 63-605; Acts 1982, ch. 905, § 3; 1984, ch. 937, §§ 27, 28; 1989, ch. 523, §§ 39, 40; 1990, ch. 1055, § 2; 1994, ch. 732, § 1; 1995, ch. 329, § 5; 2003 , ch. 262, § 1. ## Nearby sections - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-101 Creation - Composition - Administrative support - Consultants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-101.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-102 Appointment - Terms - Vacancies - Removal](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-102.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-103 Officers - Quorum](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-103.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-104 Meetings - Compensation - Disposition of receipts - Operating expenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-104.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-105 Online registry for medical spas - Annual fee authorized](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-105.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-106 Mandatory disclosure of career fatigue for initial licensure prohibited](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-106.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-107 [Effective upon rule promulgation. See Compiler's notes] Online registry of physicians willing to enter into a collaborative agreement with a physician assistant - Registry requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-107.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-201 License requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-201.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-202 Unlawful activities of itinerant physicians or vendors - Penalties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-202.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-203 Penalties](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-203.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-204 "Practice of medicine" defined - Construction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-204.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-205 Practice of naturopathy](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-205.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-206 Penalty for unlawful issuance of licenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-206.md) - [Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-207 Application for certificate - Special training licenses - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital global collaboration license](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-207.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_TN_T63_C6_S63-6-201. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.