§ 63-7-110 — Practical nurse licensure

(a) By Examination. An applicant for a license to practice practical nursing shall be required to pass a written examination as prescribed by the board. The board shall issue a license to practice practical nursing to an applicant who successfully completes the examination. (b) Without Examination. (1) The board may issue a license to a licensed practical nurse who has been duly licensed in another state or territory if, in the opinion of the board, the individual meets the practical nurse qualifications that, at the time of the applicant's graduation, were in effect in this state. (2) (A) When the board receives a completed application for licensure from an applicant who is licensed in another state or territory, then the board shall, within forty-five (45) days from the date the board receives the completed application: (i) Render a decision on the application; or (ii) Inform the applicant of the need to appear before the board. (B) As used in this subdivision (b)(2), "completed application" means an application that satisfies all statutory and board rule requirements. (c) Temporary Permits. The board may issue a temporary permit to a practical nurse duly licensed according to the laws of another state and who has made application for a permanent license in Tennessee. A permit issued under this subsection (c) shall be valid for a single period of six (6) months. (d) (1) Notwithstanding a law to the contrary, a graduate practical nurse may engage in the practice of practical nursing without a license for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) calendar days from the date of receipt of the first authorization to take the NCLEX-PN examination if: (A) The graduate practical nurse's practice occurs in a healthcare institution licensed under title 33 or 68, or an affiliate of the institution; (B) The graduate practical nurse is at all times working under the supervision of an individual licensed in this state to practice as a professional or registered nurse. The graduate practical nurse shall provide the healthcare institution or affiliate of the institution in which the nurse is practicing with the following: (i) Proof of the first authorization to take the NCLEX-PN examination; and (ii) Proof of graduation from an approved school of nursing within the previous ninety (90) days; (C) The supervising individual described in subdivision (d)(1)(B) is limited to supervising no more than one (1) graduate practical nurse at a time; and (D) The graduate practical nurse is prohibited from: (i) Being deemed a licensed practical nurse pursuant to this section; and (ii) Using another title or identifying as anything but a "graduate practical nurse" in a clinical setting. (2) As used in this subsection (d): (A) "Graduate practical nurse" means an individual who: (i) Holds a diploma or degree from an approved school of nursing that entitles the individual to take the NCLEX-PN licensing examination; and (ii) Has received authorization to take the NCLEX-PN examination; (B) "NCLEX-PN" means the national council licensure examination for practical nurses; and (C) "Supervision" means that the graduate practical nurse's supervising individual is located in the same unit as the graduate practical nurse when the graduate practical nurse is performing duties pursuant to this subsection (d).

Legislative History

Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 443, s 4, eff. 5/22/2023. Amended by 2022 Tenn. Acts, ch. 954, s 2, eff. 4/29/2022. Acts 1967, ch. 78, § 19; 1976, ch. 501, § 6; 1978, ch. 678, § 2; 1981, ch. 462, § 8; T.C.A., § 63-747; Acts 1982, ch. 712, § 5; 2005, ch. 387, § 5.