Surgical Technologist / Tennessee
2026 data Tennessee board official source

Tennessee Surgical Technologist License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Assists in surgical operations under the supervision of surgeons.

What the Tennessee data shows for Surgical Technologists

Becoming a licensed surgical technologist in Tennessee means clearing a defined set of hurdles: 1,000 training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam, plus a background history check. Tennessee regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

Upfront cost is $100 on a 2-year cycle. Tennessee doesn't require continuing education for this license, so upkeep costs stay confined to the renewal fee itself.

Tennessee evaluates out-of-state credentials case-by-case rather than through a published reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Surgical Technologist · Tennessee

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training D
1,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Tennessee

Education / Training Hours
Certificate/Degree
1,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Surgical Technologist All Tennessee licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Tennessee licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Surgical Technologist in Tennessee? ▼
In Tennessee, the license path calls for 1000 education/training hours, a passing exam score, and a $100 initial fee. A criminal background check is required as well.
How do I get certified as a Surgical Technologist in Tennessee? ▼
Certification as a surgical technologist in Tennessee means clearing the state's checklist: 1000 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Tennessee licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Surgical Technologist license to Tennessee from another state? ▼
Tennessee evaluates out-of-state surgical technologist licenses on a case-by-case basis. Many professions are covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability. Contact the Tennessee licensing board for specific reciprocity details.
Does Tennessee require a background check for Surgical Technologist licensing? ▼
A criminal background check is mandatory for surgical technologist licensing in Tennessee. The state licensing board sets the disqualifying-offense criteria and review process.

Related Guides

What to do with this surgical technologist license

Surgical Technologist in Tennessee is one requirement row in a surgical technologist-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Tennessee licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.