Medical Occupations - As enacted, requires the board of medical examiners to register an applicant as a registered surgical assistant if the applicant maintains current credentials as a surgical assistant issued by the American Board of Surgical Assistants and satisfies other necessary requirements; removes December 31, 2019, as the deadline by which an applicant for registration as a surgical assistant must register with the board in order to be registered on the basis of certain practical experience. - Amends TCA Title 63, Chapter 6.

SB 174 amends Tennessee law to update requirements for surgical assistants seeking board registration. It adds the American Board of Surgical Assistants (ABSA) as an accepted credentialing body alongside the National Commission for Certification of Surgical Assistants, allowing applicants to maintain current ABSA credentials. The bill also removes the December 31, 2019, deadline for applicants to register based on practical experience, making registration more flexible. This change directly affects surgical assistants in Tennessee seeking state licensure, effective March 25, 2025. The law modifies Tennessee Code Annotated § 63-6-219(b)(1) and (b)(3).