Verified October 8, 2026 against the practice act, board rules and sources cited below. The board decides every application. All states
What chiropractors miss in Tennessee
- Dry needling is listed in the chiropractic scope of practice rule (0260-02-.02) without a separate board registration.
- DCs who matriculated in 2000 or later need a bachelor's degree or equivalent.
- New licensees complete a 6-hour board-approved course on risk management, professional boundaries and Tennessee jurisprudence within six months before or after licensure.
Can a chiropractor licensed in another state get a Tennessee license by endorsement?
Licensure by criteria (reciprocity) requires a valid unrestricted license elsewhere for two full years, documentation of practice length and any discipline, the Tennessee education requirements, and a passing SPEC score. A criminal background check from the board's vendor and verifications from every licensing state are also required.
- Endorsement route available
- 2 years of practice required
Citation: Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0260-02-.04(2), 0260-02-.05
Which exams does Tennessee require?
Applicants pass the NBCE examination as directed by the board, with 375 on each part and on Physiotherapy; the rules do not list which parts. No separate jurisprudence exam is listed, but new licensees take a 6-hour course on risk management, boundaries and Tennessee law. SPEC is required on the reciprocity route.
- NBCE Physiotherapy exam
- No state jurisprudence exam
- SPEC for some applicants
Does Tennessee regulate chiropractic assistants?
Therapy assistants must be certified: 50 hours of approved instruction, a board-approved exam, and 1,200 hours of supervised clinical internship completed within a year of the exam. Graduates may work under supervision during the internship.
- Certified Chiropractic Therapy Assistant
How often does a Tennessee chiropractic license renew?
Twenty-four board-approved CE hours each calendar year, with up to 2 in CPR and 3 in practice management; DCs who practice acupuncture need 6 acupuncture hours a year. Renewal is due by the expiration date on the license.
- 24 CE hours per cycle
Licensing in Tennessee?
We file the application, send your NBCE scores and verifications, and carry the board correspondence. License by endorsement is $499. Not sure which route fits? The readiness review answers that for every state you want.