There is a newer version of this Section
2021
2020 (you are here)
2019
2018
2017
Other previous versions
View our newest version here

2020 Tennessee Code
Title 39 - Criminal Offenses
Chapter 17 - Offenses Against Public Health, Safety and Welfare
Part 1 - Miscellaneous
§ 39-17-112. False Academic Degrees

Universal Citation: TN Code § 39-17-112 (2020)
Previous Next
  1. It is an offense for any person to knowingly issue, sell or manufacture a false academic degree. As used in this subsection (a), “person” includes any individual, corporation, firm, company, partnership or association.
  2. It is an offense for an individual to knowingly use or claim to have a false academic degree to obtain:
    1. Employment;
    2. A promotion in employment; or
    3. Admission to a college, university or other institution of higher learning.
  3. As used in this section, “false academic degree” shall mean any degree issued that meets one of the following criteria:
    1. Issued without requiring any student academic work;
    2. Issued based solely on the student's life experience or portfolio without requiring any post secondary work submitted to and evaluated by faculty with appropriate academic degrees from an institution that is:
      1. Accredited by a regional accrediting agency or other accrediting agency recognized by the United States department of education; and
      2. Authorized to operate in Tennessee pursuant to title 49, chapter 7, part 20, relative to the authorization of post secondary institutions, or is exempted from authorization by § 49-7-2004; or
    3. Issued using more than twenty-five percent (25%) of required credits based on the student's life experience or portfolio.
  4. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an otherwise properly accredited and authorized institution from issuing honorary degrees recognizing distinguished individuals for service to the state, an institution or community.
  5. A violation of subsection (a) is a Class A misdemeanor.
  6. A violation of subsection (b) is a Class C misdemeanor.
Previous Next
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Tennessee may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.