Section 68-57-102 - Alternative qualifications for employment - Exemption of federal employees(a) In addition to individuals identified in § 68-57-101, a person may be employed upon providing sufficient evidence that, prior to May 21, 2007, the person was at any time employed as a surgical technologist for not less than eighteen (18) months in the three (3) years preceding May 21, 2007, in a hospital, medical office, surgery center, or an accredited school of surgical technology, as defined by this chapter. An individual who has begun the appropriate training to be a surgical technologist as defined by this section, prior to May 21, 2007, shall be eligible for employment as a surgical technologist; provided, that the training is completed by May 21, 2010. Persons qualified to be employed as surgical technologists pursuant to this subsection (a) shall complete fifteen (15) hours of continuing education or contact hours annually to remain qualified for employment and shall submit verification of having completed such continuing education or contact hours requirements to their employers. The submission of current certification by the NBSTSA shall satisfy this requirement.(b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a surgical technologist in the service of the federal government is exempt from this chapter while performing duties related to such employment.Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 391, s 4, eff. 7/1/2013.Acts 2004, ch. 532, § 3; 2005, ch. 159, § 1; 2007 , ch. 208, § 1.