2010 Tennessee Code
Title 63 - Professions Of The Healing Arts
Chapter 6 - Medicine and Surgery
Part 2 - General Provisions
63-6-210 - Renewal of licenses Retirement.

63-6-210. Renewal of licenses Retirement.

(a)  Each person licensed to practice medicine in this state shall, pursuant to the renewal system established in subsection (b), biennially apply to the board for a renewal of licensure and shall pay a renewal fee as set by the board. Each application shall be made on a form to be furnished by the board and sent to the licensee well in advance of the scheduled renewal date. The board shall, in its discretion, absent receipt of derogatory information, renew licensure upon application made in due form and upon payment of all required fees and shall issue a new biennial registration certificate.

(b)  (1)  There is hereby authorized the establishment of a system of license renewals at alternative intervals that will allow for the distribution of the license workload as uniformly as is practicable throughout the calendar year. Licenses issued under this renewal system are valid for twenty-four (24) months, and shall expire on the last day of the last month of the license period. However, during any transition period, or at any time thereafter when the board shall determine that the volume of work for any given interval is unduly burdensome or costly, either the licenses or renewals, or both, may be issued for terms of not less than six (6) months nor more than eighteen (18) months. The fee imposed for any license under any renewal system for a period of other than twenty-four (24) months shall be proportionate to the biennial fee and modified in no other manner, except that the proportional fee shall be rounded off to the nearest quarter of a dollar (25¢).

     (2)  No renewal application shall be accepted after the last day of the month following the license expiration date under the renewal system implemented pursuant to this subsection (b). In the event a person fails to timely apply for renewal of licensure as provided in this section, such person's license shall be processed for administrative revocation pursuant to a notice issued to the person, by certified mail, return receipt requested, at the address specified on such person's registration certificate, offering an opportunity for a hearing. When any person practices medicine pursuant to a license that has not been timely renewed, such conduct shall not be considered to be the practice of medicine without a valid license, until such time as the board takes action to administratively revoke the person's license for failure to renew.

(c)  Any person who fails to timely renew licensure and whose license is administratively revoked as provided in this section, may seek licensure reinstatement from the board. The board, in its sole discretion and absent receipt of any derogatory information, may reinstate the license upon good cause being shown, and upon payment of all past due renewal fees, and upon the further payment of a late renewal penalty as set by the board, and the further compliance with whatever other reasonable conditions are deemed necessary by the board.

(d)  Any person licensed to practice by the provisions of this chapter, who has retired or may hereafter retire from practice in this state, shall not be made to register as required by this chapter if such person shall file with this board an affidavit of retirement form furnished by the board. The affidavit shall state the date on which the person retired from practice and such other facts as shall tend to verify such retirement as the board shall deem necessary. If the person thereafter wishes to reenter practice in this state, the person shall apply for licensure reactivation with the board, pay a reactivation fee as set by the board, and shall meet such other reasonable requirements as may be deemed necessary by the board.

(e)  The board shall have the authority to create a renewable inactive licensure status, as it deems appropriate upon payment of an appropriate fee assessment and compliance with the requirements established by the board, for those licensees who actively practice medicine in a state other than Tennessee.

(f)  In order to ensure that the board has the most recent and accurate data on licensees and applicants for licensure within this state, the board shall cooperate with the Tennessee Medical Association by comparing and sharing computer data bases and other physician identification file information, including, without limitation, license numbers, medical education numbers, social security numbers, home and business address information and any other data of a similar, non-confidential nature, for a reasonable charge.

[Acts 1901, ch. 78, § 8; Shan., § 3609a21; mod. Code 1932, § 6926; impl. am. Acts 1947, ch. 9, §§ 2-4, 9; C. Supp. 1950, § 6926; Acts 1976, ch. 473, § 1; T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 63-614; Acts 1984, ch. 937, § 32; 1986, ch. 675, § 5; 1989, ch. 360, §§ 23, 24; 1989, ch. 523, §§ 44, 45; 1993, ch. 404, § 11; 1996, ch. 1043, § 4.]