TCA § 63-31-107 — Classes exempt from licensing requirement — Temporary permit

The following persons may provide sleep-related services without being licensed as a polysomnographic technologist under this chapter: A polysomnographic technician may provide sleep-related services under the general supervision of a licensed physician for a period of up to one (1) year from the date of the person's graduation from one (1) of the accredited programs described in § 63-31-106(b)(1), and the board may in its sole discretion grant a one-time extension of up to three (3) months beyond this one-year period; A polysomnographic trainee may provide sleep-related services under the direct supervision of a polysomnographic technologist as a part of the person's educational program while actively enrolled in an accredited sleep technologist educational program (A-STEP) that is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine; A polysomnographic student may provide sleep-related services under the direct supervision of a polysomnographic technologist as a part of the person's educational program while actively enrolled in a polysomnographic educational program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP); A person who is credentialed in one (1) of the health-related fields accepted by the board of registered polysomnographic technologists may provide sleep-related services under the direct supervision of a polysomnographic technologist, for a period of up to one (1) year, while obtaining the clinical experience necessary to be eligible to sit for the examination given by the board of registered polysomnographic technologists; and Respiratory therapists who provide polysomnography services shall be credentialed as a registered polysomnographic technologist by the board of polysomnographic technologists, or as a sleep disorders specialist by the national board for respiratory care, or have undergone a standardized, uniform mechanism to document competency in polysomnography as approved by the Tennessee board of respiratory care with documentation of passage of this mechanism made available at the request of the board of respiratory care. The Tennessee board of respiratory care shall consult with the Tennessee board of medical examiners in the development of this mechanism. The consultation with the board of medical examiners shall be documented and the documentation, including any comments by the board of medical examiners regarding the mechanism developed by the board of respiratory care, shall be filed with the chairs of the health committee of the house of representatives and the health and welfare committee of the senate. Respiratory therapists are not required to have a second license as a polysomnographic technologist. Before providing any sleep-related services, a polysomnographic technician shall obtain a temporary permit from the board. While providing sleep-related services, the technician shall wear a badge that appropriately identifies the person as a polysomnographic technician. Before providing any sleep-related services, a polysomnographic trainee shall give notice to the board that the trainee is enrolled in an A-STEP educational program accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Trainees shall wear a badge that appropriately identifies the trainee as a polysomnographic trainee while providing such services. Before providing any sleep-related services, a person who is obtaining clinical experience pursuant to subdivision (a)(4) shall give notice to the board that the person is working under the direct supervision of a polysomnographic technologist in order to gain the experience to be eligible to sit for the examination given by the board of registered polysomnographic technologists. The person shall wear a badge that appropriately identifies the person while providing such services. Polysomnographic students shall not receive compensation for the sleep-related services they provide and shall wear badges that appropriately identify them as students.