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PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 884
SENATE BILL NO. 502
By Haile, Bailey, Bowling, Reeves, Hatcher, Seal
Substituted for: House Bill No. 658
By Tim Hicks, White, Helton-Haynes, Boyd, Farmer, Hale, Sherrell, Crawford, Russell, Powell,
Cepicky, Hawk, Alexander
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 24 relative to athletic trainers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-24-101, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
As used in this chapter:
(1) "Athletic injury" means any injury sustained by a person as a result of such
person's participation in exercises, sports, games, or recreation requiring physical
strength, agility, flexibility, range of motion, speed, or stamina, or comparable athletic
injury that prevents such person from participating in such activities;
(2) "Athletic trainer" means a healthcare provider with the qualifications
prescribed in this chapter who, upon the advice, consent, and oral or written
prescriptions or referrals of a physician licensed under this title, carries out the
practice of prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, disposition, treatment,
or rehabilitation of athletic injuries, and, in carrying out such functions, is authorized to
use physical modalities, such as heat, light, sound, cold, electricity, or mechanical or
therapeutic devices, and healthcare procedures related to prevention, recognition,
evaluation, management, disposition, rehabilitation, and treatment;
(3) "Board" means the board of athletic trainers;
(4) "Board of certification" or "BOC":
(A) Means the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer, Inc.; and
(8) Includes any predecessor entity of the Board of Certification for the
Athletic Trainer, Inc.; and
(5) "Healthcare procedure":
(A) Means a course of action intended to achieve a result in the
delivery of health care; and
(8) Includes:
(i) Rectal core thermometer administration in an emergent
situation;
(ii) Blood glucose monitoring;
(iii) Wound closure that is limited to the closure of a superficial
laceration using a dermal adhesive pursuant to a written or oral
standing order from a physician;
SB 502
(iv) Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection administration that
is limited to the following medications, which may only be obtained,
transported, provided, or administered when providing athletic training
services and pursuant to the approval of and guidelines established by
a supervising physician:
(a) Epinephrine 1: 1000, in liquid medication form or in
an auto-injector device, for treatment of anaphylaxis;
(b) Naloxone, for treatment of drug overdose;
(c) Glucagon, for treatment of diabetic emergency; and
(cl) Flu vaccine, for administration to a person nine (9)
years of age or older;
(v) Intravenous injection administration when done with proper
training and education, which must include a minimum of four (4)
continuing education hours or coursework from a degree program
showing education and understanding of intravenous administration,
that is limited to the following medications, which may only be
obtained, transported, provided, or administered when providing
athletic training services and pursuant to the approval of and
guidelines established by a supervising physician:
(a) For use in a diabetic emergency, dextrose fifty
percent (50%) and dextrose twenty-five percent (25%); and
(b) For use in fluid administration, saline solution and
lactated Ringer's solution.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-24-103, is amended by deleting the
section and substituting:
(a) A person shall not represent themselves or claim to be an athletic trainer or
perform any of the activities of an athletic trainer without first obtaining a license under this
chapter.
(b) This chapter does not prevent a person from serving as an athletic training
student or a similar position if such service is not primarily for compensation and is carried
out under the supervision of a licensed athletic trainer and physician licensed under this title.
Such supervision must be provided under the guidelines of the board of certification and
approved by the board.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-24-104(a)(2), is amended by deleting
the subdivision and substituting:
(2) Satisfactorily completed all of the board of certification qualifications and be
certified as an athletic trainer in good standing by the BOC and approved by the board.
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-24-104(b), is amended by deleting the
language:
An out of state applicant from a state not having a licensure or certification act will be
eligible to take the jurisprudence examination if certified by the NATA Board of Certification,
Inc., and approved by the board. •
and substituting:
An out-of-state applicant from a state not having a current licensure or certification act
or an expired license or certificate in good standing at time of expiration will be eligible to
take the jurisprudence examination if certified by the board of certification and approved by
the board.
SECTION 5. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-24-105(a)(2), is amended by deleting
the subdivision and substituting:
(2) The applicant is entitled to an athletic trainer's license if the applicant:
(A) Possesses the qualifications enumerated in § 63-24-104;
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SB502
(8) Completes and passes the certification requirements and examination of
the board of certification or its equivalent as determined by the board;
(C) Completes the jurisprudence examination administered and selected by
the board, to the board's satisfaction;
(D) Pays the licensure fee as prescribed in § 63-24-106; and
(E) Has not committed an act that constitutes grounds for denial of a license
under§ 63-24-107.
SECTION 6. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 24, Part 1, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
This chapter does not, and shall not be construed to, authorize an athletic trainer to
engage in the practice of medicine, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, chiropractic, physical
therapy, or nursing.
SECTION 7. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.
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SENATE BILL NO. 502
PASSED: April 16, 2026
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\ RANDY McNALl~
SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
CAMERON--sEXTON,SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APPROVED this c;-u2,._ day o f - - - , 2026
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BILL LEE, GOVERNOREvery fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.