Getting licensed to practice as a physician assistant in Tennessee means applying through the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants, completing primary source verification of your credentials, and then enrolling with payers so you can bill. Here's how it works — and how Rivon handles Tennessee licensing and credentialing for you.
Official TN boardApply, renew, or look up a license on the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants websiteHow to get licensed in Tennessee
- 01Confirm eligibility and gather documents — diploma, training verification, PANCE / NCCPA certification, current licenses, DEA, and a complete work history.
- 02Submit the application to the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants, with all fees and supporting documents.
- 03Primary source verification — the board confirms your education, training, licensure, certification, and background (including the NPDB) directly with each source.
- 04Board review and issuance — once the file is complete and verified, Tennessee issues your license.
- 05Enroll with payers and keep the license current — track the renewal cycle and CE/CME so it never lapses.
Licensing board
Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants
The TN board sets Tennessee's application, documentation, fees, and renewal requirements.
Board websiteEstimated application fee
$335
An estimate; confirm current fees with the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants. Amounts vary by license type and change over time.
Typical timeline
~45 days
From a complete file to issuance — driven mostly by how fast primary sources respond. A clean, error-free application is the best way to stay near the low end.
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Renewing your Tennessee PA license
Once you're licensed, the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants requires you to renew on a set cycle. Here are the renewal rules as the board publishes them.
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years (birth-month cycle)
- Deadline
- Renew every two years in your birth month, on or before the expiration date on the license; online renewal opens 60 days before expiration and notices are mailed 60 days ahead
- Renewal fee
- $175 biennial renewal plus $10 state regulatory fee (Rule 1130-01-.06) (late fee: $50, for renewals received after expiration but before the last day of the following month)
- Continuing education (CE)
- 100 hours of CME satisfactory to the Board in the 2 years before renewal
- At least 2 hours on controlled substance prescribing (all licensees, with or without DEA registration)
- How to renew
- Online through the Tennessee Department of Health Licensure and Regulatory System (LARS)Open the renewal portal
- NoteThe Board has proposed a higher renewal fee; confirm the current amount in LARS when you renew
- NoteRetired status is available by affidavit and carries no renewal fee
- NoteSupervision / collaboration documentation with the supervising physician must stay current
- NoteTennessee CSMD registration and DEA registration are separate obligations
Last verified October 3, 2026 from the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants. As published by the board; confirm current requirements before renewing.
SourcesTennessee Department of Health - Physician Assistant licensure (renewal and CME)Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1130-01 - General Rules Governing the Practice of a Physician Assistant (fees, renewal)
Renewal tracking
Never miss a Tennessee renewal
Rivon tracks your license expiration, CEhours and DEA, and reminds you before you're due.
Physician Assistant credentialing & payer enrollment in Tennessee
A Tennessee license lets you practice; credentialing lets you get paid. Before a health plan will reimburse you, it verifies your license, training, and history. Here's what that usually involves:
- 01Keep your NPI record (NPPES) current — your name, practice address, and taxonomy code should match your Tennessee license exactly.
- 02Complete your CAQH ProView profile: upload your Tennessee license and other documents, attest, and authorize each plan to view it. Re-attest every 120 days.
- 03Apply to each commercial health plan you want to join in Tennessee. Each runs its own credentialing review using your CAQH data.
- 04If you'll see Medicaid patients, enroll with Tennessee Medicaid (and any Medicaid managed-care plans you'll work with).
- 05If you'll bill Medicare, enroll through PECOS.
- 06If you'll work in a hospital or surgery center, apply for privileges there — each facility credentials you separately.
New to CAQH? Read our CAQH ProView guide for setup, your CAQH ID, and re-attestation.
How Rivon handles Tennessee licensing & credentialing
On the Rivon platform, your Tennessee license, DEA, and certifications live in one record with always-on monitoring that flags every renewal weeks early — so nothing lapses with the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants. Document AI reads each credential and fills the profile without retyping, and licensing & credentialing pipelines run primary source verification and payer enrollment in parallel.
Prefer to hand it off? Rivon's white-glove team manages the entire Tennessee application end to end — gathering documents, completing verification, and shepherding payer enrollment — while you watch progress in real time.
Tennessee physician assistant licensing FAQ
How long does it take to get a PA license in Tennessee?
Most Tennessee physician assistant applications take about 45 days once the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants has a complete file, though timelines vary with how quickly primary sources (schools, prior boards, the NPDB) respond. Submitting a complete, error-free application is the single biggest way to avoid delays.
Which board licenses physician assistants in Tennessee?
Physician assistants in Tennessee are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants, which verifies education, training, exams, and background before granting a license.
How much is the Tennessee physician assistant application fee?
As an estimate, the Tennessee physician assistant application fee is around $335. Fees change and vary by license type — always confirm the current amount directly with the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants before you apply.
How do I renew my Tennessee PA license?
In Tennessee, renewals are filed with the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants. How to renew: Online through the Tennessee Department of Health Licensure and Regulatory System (LARS). Renewal cycle: Every 2 years (birth-month cycle). Deadline: Renew every two years in your birth month, on or before the expiration date on the license; online renewal opens 60 days before expiration and notices are mailed 60 days ahead. Renewal fee: $175 biennial renewal plus $10 state regulatory fee (Rule 1130-01-.06) (late fee: $50, for renewals received after expiration but before the last day of the following month). Continuing education: 100 hours of CME satisfactory to the Board in the 2 years before renewal. Required topics include At least 2 hours on controlled substance prescribing (all licensees, with or without DEA registration). This is as published by the board (last verified October 3, 2026); confirm before renewing. Rivon tracks the expiration date and flags it well before it's due.
How many CE hours do I need to renew a PA license in Tennessee?
100 CE hours. The Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants publishes the requirement as: 100 hours of CME satisfactory to the Board in the 2 years before renewal. Required topics include At least 2 hours on controlled substance prescribing (all licensees, with or without DEA registration). Last verified October 3, 2026; confirm with the board before renewing. Rivon tracks your CE hours against the requirement so you're not caught short.
How do I look up or verify a Tennessee physician assistant license?
Use the license lookup (verification) tool on the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants's official website. It shows whether a license is active and when it expires.
What does physician assistant credentialing involve in Tennessee?
Credentialing is how health plans and facilities verify your qualifications before you can bill them or practice with them. In Tennessee that usually means an up-to-date NPI record, a complete and attested CAQH ProView profile, an application to each plan you want to join, and — if you'll bill them — Tennessee Medicaid enrollment and Medicare enrollment through PECOS.
Do I need a Tennessee license to practice telehealth there?
Generally yes. Licensure follows where the patient is located, so to treat patients in Tennessee — including by telehealth — you typically need a Tennessee license unless a specific exception applies.
Can Rivon handle Tennessee physician assistant licensing and credentialing for me?
Yes. On the Rivon platform you can track every Tennessee license and renewal with always-on monitoring and run credentialing with primary source verification. Or hand it to Rivon's white-glove team, which manages the Tennessee application and payer enrollment end to end.