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SB 2243

Medical Occupations - As introduced, reduces from 45 to 35 days, the amount of time the board of physician assistants has to either render a decision on a licensure application submitted by an individual licensed, registered, or certified as a physician assistant in another jurisdiction or inform the licensure applicant from another jurisdiction of the need to appear before the board. - Amends TCA Title 4; Title 7; Title 24; Title 33; Title 38; Title 49; Title 53; Title 55; Title 56; Title 63; Title 68; Title 71 and Chapter 1042 of the Public Acts of 2024.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026)

Tennessee reduces physician assistant out-of-state licensure decision deadline from 45 to 35 days to accelerate healthcare provider credential verification and market entry.

Placed on Senate Health and Welfare Committee calendar for 3/17/2026
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Bill Summary · SB 2243

Legislative bill overview

SB 2243 accelerates Tennessee's physician assistant licensure process for out-of-state applicants by reducing the decision timeline from 45 to 35 days. The bill also amends multiple Tennessee code sections, suggesting broader regulatory modernization across medical occupations and related fields.

Why is this important

Faster licensure decisions can reduce barriers to healthcare provider mobility and address potential workforce shortages by enabling qualified out-of-state PAs to practice more quickly. However, the compressed timeline may affect the board's ability to conduct thorough background reviews and verification of credentials.

Potential points of contention

  • Adequacy of review period: Whether 35 days provides sufficient time for the board to verify licenses, credentials, and backgrounds from other jurisdictions without compromising due diligence
  • Interstate reciprocity consistency: Unclear whether this aligns with other states' timelines and whether reciprocal agreements exist to facilitate faster processing
  • Scope of broader amendments: The modifications to 12 Tennessee code titles warrant clarification—whether they represent standalone regulatory improvements or if they're bundled to expedite passage of the primary PA licensure change

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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