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~tate of utennessee
PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 76
HOUSE BILL NO. 62
By Representative Cepicky
Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 224
By Senators Taylor, Watson
AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49 and Title 63, 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 (2), is amended by deleting
the subdivision and substituting:
(2) "Athletic trainer" means a person with specific qualifications as set forth in this
chapter, who, upon the advice, consent, and oral or written prescription or referral of a
physician licensed under this title, carries out the practice of prevention, recognition,
evaluation, management, disposition, treatment, or rehabilitation of athletic injuries; and
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 24, is amended by adding
the following as a new section:
(a) An athletic trainer may use dry needling, as defined in § 63-13-103, and
physical modalities, such as heat, light, sound, cold, electricity, or mechanical devices,
for the prevention, recognition, evaluation, management, disposition, rehabilitation, and
treatment of athletic injuries.
(b) An athletic trainer shall only practice in those areas in which an athletic trainer
is competent by reason of training or experience that can be substantiated by records or
other evidence found acceptable by the board in the exercise of the board's considered
discretion.
(c) An athletic trainer shall obtain such training and certification in the practice of
dry needling as the board may require by rule. The practice of dry needling by an athletic
trainer under this chapter does not constitute the practice of acupuncture under chapter
6, part 10 of this title.
(d) The board is authorized to promulgate rules to effectuate this section. The
rules must be promulgated in accor{jance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures
Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5.
SECTION 3. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-24-111 (a), is amended by adding
the following as a new subdivision:
(7) Establish minimum competency requirements that an athletic trainer must
demonstrate in order to practice dry needling;
SECTION 4. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-24-111, is amended by adding the
following as a new subsection (b) and redesignating the existing subsection (b) accordingly:
(b)
(1) The minimum competency requirements, as described in subdivision
(a)(7), must include:
(A) At least fifty (50) hours of instruction, which must include each
of the following areas: HB62
(i) Musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems;
(ii) Anatomical basis of pain mechanisms, chronic pain,
and referral pain;
(iii) Trigger points; and
(iv) Universal precaution; and
(8) At least twenty-four (24) hours of dry needling specific
instruction, which must include each of the following areas:
(i) Dry needling technique;
(ii) Dry needling indications and contraindications;
(iii) Dry needling documentation;
(iv) Management of adverse effects;
(v) Practical psychomotor competency; and
(vi) Bloodborne pathogens protocol.
(2) The board shall approve the schools and organizations that provide
sufficient instruction to satisfy this subsection (b).
SECTION 5. For the purpose of promulgating rules, this act takes effect upon becoming
a law, the public welfare requiring it. For all other purposes, this act takes effect September 1,
2025, the public welfare requiring it.
2 HOUSE BILL NO. 62
PASSED: March 17, 2025
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CAMElfflN SEXTON, SPEAKER
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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SPEAKER OF THE SENATE
APPROVED this :J.6f1:-. day of (V\o,v:ch 2025
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BILL LEE, GOVERNOR