Dry needling in Tennessee: the rules for physical therapists

Tennessee's PT rules list dry needling in the practice of physical therapy, and rule 1150-01-.22 sets the training you need first.

Allowedfor PTs

50 hours of foundation instruction (usually covered in PT school) plus 24 hours of in-person dry needling instruction from a board-approved coursetraining before you start

Rules to know

All the instruction must be in person, not online or by video conference.
The 24 hours cover technique, indications and contraindications, documentation, adverse effects, psychomotor competency and OSHA bloodborne pathogens. Courses must state which body regions they cover.
New PTs must wait 1 year after licensure unless their entry-level education already met the requirements.
The board keeps a list of approved courses.
OTs: Tennessee also lets OTs dry needle the upper limb after the same structure of training (rule 1150-02-.21).

Official sources

A plain-language summary, last checked October 24, 2026. Dry needling rules change often and some states regulate it through board statements rather than law, so confirm with your board before you dry needle. OTs and athletic trainers have their own rules.

Dry needling courses in Tennessee

6 upcoming in-person courses. Make sure a course's hours and format meet Tennessee's rules before you register.

November 2026

Sat–Sun, Nov 7–8, 2026 · 2 days DN3: Dry Needling – Level 3 Price on provider site · Franklin IAMTDry Needling Details and registration
Fri–Sun, Nov 20–22, 2026 · 3 days Dry Needling 1 (DN-1) $895 · Nashville AAMT· Nashville, TNDry Needling Details and registration

December 2026

Fri–Sun, Dec 4–6, 2026 · 3 days Dry Needling (SFDN1) $1,295 · 27 contact hrs · Nashville Structure & Function· Lipscomb University AthleticsDry Needling Details and registration

January 2027

Sat–Sun, Jan 16–17, 2027 · 2 days Advanced Dry Needling for Head & Neck (SFDN-HN) $999 · Nashville Structure & Function· Wolfe Physical TherapyDry Needling Details and registration
Fri–Sun, Jan 22–24, 2027 · 3 days Dry Needling 2 (DN-2) $895 · Nashville AAMT· Nashville, TNDry Needling Details and registration

February 2027

Sat–Sun, Feb 20–21, 2027 · 2 days Advanced Dry Needling: Lumbo-Pelvic-Hip Complex (SFDN-LPH) $895 · Brentwood Structure & Function· Resilient Health & PerformanceDry Needling Details and registration

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Common questions

Can physical therapists dry needle in Tennessee?

Yes. Tennessee's PT rules list dry needling in the practice of physical therapy, and rule 1150-01-.22 sets the training you need first.

How much training do PTs need to dry needle in Tennessee?

50 hours of foundation instruction (usually covered in PT school) plus 24 hours of in-person dry needling instruction from a board-approved course.