Licensing

The Office of Licensure is responsible for protecting Tennesseans who receive mental health, substance abuse, and personal support services. The goal is to ensure licensed providers adhere to state laws and departmental rules in the care and services they provide.

The Office of Licensure:

  • Conducts unannounced inspections and follow-ups of licensed facilities and services
  • Conducts investigations of licensed, and unlicensed, service providers following reports of inadequate care or violation of rules
  • Maintains files and records on all alcohol and drug/mental health facilities and personal support service agencies across Tennessee
  • Provides consultation and technical assistance to licensed providers and individuals/entities seeking information to become a licensed provider
  • Works to protect your interests against unlicensed service providers

If you have questions or wish to report suspected violations or submit a complaint, please call, email, or fax the information to the appropriate contact:

Toll-Free Call: 866-797-9470
Email: LicensureInv.Fax@tn.gov
Fax: 615-401-7644

Regional Office Contact Information

East Tennessee:
520 West Summit Hill Dr
Suite 502
Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 594-6551
Fax:  (844) 340-4482		 Middle Tennessee:
500 Deaderick Street
Andrew Jackson Building 5th Fl
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 532-6590
Fax :  (615) 532-7856		 West Tennessee:
951 Court Avenue
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 543-7442
Fax:  (844) 844-5538

Licensure Category Definitions

  • “Alcohol and Drug Abuse D.U.I. School Services” means an intervention program providing assessment, education and, if indicated, appropriate treatment referral, for offenders of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs.
  • “Alcohol and Drug Outpatient Detoxification Treatment Facilities” means organized outpatient services for service recipients to systematically reduce or eliminate the amount of a toxic agent in the body until the signs and symptoms of withdrawal are resolved.
  • “Alcohol and Drug Non-Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Facility” means a licensed outpatient facility which offers treatment services to service recipients with alcohol and/or drug abuse or dependency disorders that can include but not be limited to assessment, referral, counseling, and education.
  • “Alcohol and Drug Non-Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Facility” means a licensed outpatient facility which offers treatment services to service recipients with alcohol and/or drug abuse or dependency disorders that can include but not be limited to assessment, referral, counseling, and education.
  • "Nonresidential Office-Based Opiate Treatment facility (OBOT)” is a service entity prescribing products containing buprenorphine, or products containing any other controlled substance designed to treat opioid use disorder by preventing symptoms of withdrawal to fifty percent (50%) or more of its patients and to one hundred fifty (150) or more patients.
  • “Opioid Treatment Program (OTP)” or “Non-Residential Substitution-based Treatment Center for Opiate Addiction” includes standalone clinics offering methadone, products containing buprenorphine such as Subutex and Suboxone, or products containing any other formulation designed to treat opiate addiction by preventing symptoms of withdrawal, with the goal of the service recipient becoming free from any drug which is not medically indicated.
  • “Alcohol and Drug Residential Detoxification Treatment Facilities” means intensive 24-hour residential treatment for service recipients to systematically reduce or eliminate the amount of a toxic agent in the body until the signs and symptoms of withdrawal are resolved.
  • “Alcohol and Drug Halfway House Treatment Facility” means a transitional residential program providing services to service recipients with alcohol and/or drug abuse or dependency disorders with the primary purpose of establishing vocational stability and counseling focused on re-entering the community.
  • “Alcohol and Drug Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Facility” means a residential program for service recipients at least 18 years of age, which offers highly structured services to service recipients with the primary purpose of restoring service recipients with alcohol and/or drug abuse or dependency disorders to levels of positive functioning and abstinence appropriate to the service recipient.
  • “Alcohol and Drug Residential Treatment Facilities for Children and Youth” means a residential program which offers 24-hour treatment to service recipients under 18 years of age with the primary purpose of restoring service recipients with alcohol and/or drug abuse or dependency disorders to abstinence and levels of positive functioning appropriate to the service recipient.
  • “Mental Health Day Treatment Services for Adults” means a non-residential program that provides a treatment and/or rehabilitation of at least (3) hours duration per program day for adult service recipients.
  • "Mental Health Intensive Day Treatment Services for Children and Youth” means a non-residential program that provides a treatment and/or rehabilitation of at least 3 hours duration per program day for children and youth service recipients.
  • "Mental Health Children's Therapeutic Nurseries" provide therapeutic treatment for children ages 2-6 with emotional or behavioral problems in a nursery school setting.
  • "Mental Health Supportive Living" means any licensed facility providing housing in the community for individuals diagnosed with a mental illness or a co-occurring substance use disorder.
  • “Mental Health Supportive Residential Facility” means a licensed mental health residential program that provides 24-hour residential care with a treatment and rehabilitation component less intensive than required in a Residential Treatment Facility.
  • “Crisis Stabilization Unit” (CSU) means a facility licensed to provide short-term stabilization, up to 96 hours, for adults ages 18 and older with a serious mental illness who agree to receive services voluntarily at the CSU and meet admission criteria.
  • “Mental Health Residential Treatment Program for Adults” means a licensed mental health treatment program that offers 24-hour intensive, coordinated, and structured services for adult service recipients
  • "Mental Health Residential Treatment for Children and Youth" means a licensed facility providing 24-hour residential treatment and habilitation to persons under 18 years of age who are seriously emotionally disturbed (SED).
  • “Psychosocial Rehabilitation” means a consumer-centered program of services for adult service recipients to enhance and support the process of recovery.
  • “Personal Support Services” means licensed facility providing one (1) or more of the following services: (a) Self-care assistance; (b) Household assistance; (c) Personal assistance and/or (d) Education services.