1.4 The Tennessee Law Examination, Reciprocity, Reinstatement & Retired Licenses

A Second, Shorter Tennessee Paper

Alongside the national theory examination, PSI administers a Tennessee Law examination for aestheticians. Graduates entering the profession for the first time do not normally take it — they take the national theory paper, which already contains a Tennessee licensing block. The law examination exists for people who already hold or once held a license and need to prove they know current Tennessee rules.

Who sits it

Three groups are routed to the Tennessee Law examination plus the PSI National practical examination:

1. Licensees under age 65 who wish to activate a retired license. Rule 0440-01-.10(2)(a) requires a written request to the Board, retaking and passing the practical and law portions, and payment of the license fee. Under 0440-01-.10(2)(b) the Board may waive the retest requirement if it finds the licensee's experience and previous training sufficient to protect the public.
2. Licensees whose licenses have expired for three years or more. Reinstatement requires the law and practical portions.
3. Out-of-state licensees seeking a Tennessee license by reciprocity, with Board approval.

The reduced examination fee for reinstatement reflects the shorter paper: the Board's fee table lists reinstatement theory at $35.00 and reinstatement practical at $35.00, against $67.00 each for the full initial examinations.

Tennessee Law Examination Content Outline

Topic I covers cleaning and disinfecting of implements and equipment, cleaning and disinfecting of the work environment, and sanitary procedures and pathogens — in other words, Chapter 0440-02.

Topic II covers meeting licensure requirements and licensed duties, renewal, Board responsibilities and disciplinary actions, displaying the license, salon owner and manager responsibilities, change of address, and displaying the sign pertaining to clients' rights.

The reference materials PSI names for this paper are exactly the primary sources: Rules Chapter 0440-01 (Licensing), Rules Chapter 0440-02 (Sanitary Rules), and T.C.A. Title 62, Chapter 4 — the Tennessee Cosmetology Act of 1986. The examination is closed book. Because 80% of the items sit in one narrow topic, this is the rare licensing examination where reading the actual rule chapters end to end is a realistic and highly efficient strategy; both chapters were revised effective December 24, 2025, so make sure you are reading the current version from the Secretary of State's rule compilation and not a classroom photocopy.

Reciprocity into Tennessee

Tennessee grants a license to applicants who have substantially met the qualifications for licensing in Tennessee. The mechanics matter:

• The reciprocity fee is $100.00, and Rule 0440-01-.13(9) states that the fee must be received along with the applicant's initial application documents. A reciprocity application received without the fee is incomplete and will not be considered.
• Applicants must request license certification from every state in which they have been licensed, sent directly from that board.
• Tennessee has a minimum hour requirement — 750 hours for aesthetics — and requires a theory and practical examination for all license types.
• If an applicant completed fewer hours than Tennessee requires, the Board accepts proof of work history instead: practising as a licensee for at least one of the last three years, or at least two of the last five years. Acceptable documentation includes tax returns showing the occupation, or letters from previous employers on company letterhead stating occupation and dates of employment.
• The Board advises allowing roughly three to four weeks for processing after the online application and license certifications are in.

A reciprocity applicant does not automatically escape testing. Where the Board requires it, the applicant sits the Tennessee Law examination and the PSI National practical examination.

Expired, Retired and Reinstated: Getting the Terms Right

These three states are tested and candidates routinely confuse them.

One more trap: paying attention to the address of record. Rule 0440-01-.17(2) requires every aesthetician licensee to notify the Board in writing within thirty (30) days of any change in mailing address, and electronic notification satisfies the rule. Renewal notices are courtesy items; a licensee who moves, never updates the address, and then misses a renewal has no defence. Rule 0440-01-.17(1) further requires that every renewal include the applicant's current address, phone number and, if available, email address.