Tennessee AED requirements at a glance
Here is what Tennessee law asks of an AED program, row by row, with the statute behind each answer.
| Requirement | Required? | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Inspect and maintain AEDs | Yes | Owners must maintain and test the AED per the manufacturer's guidelines, with written records of all maintenance and testing (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 68-140-403(1)(B), 68-140-404(4)). The written plan must list maintenance and testing steps and sample log forms (Rule 1200-12-01-.19(2)(f)). |
| Train expected users | Yes | Expected users must finish an approved CPR and AED course (AHA or equal) before using the AED (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 68-140-403(1)(A), 68-140-404(3), 68-140-408). The Department of Health lists approved courses (Rule 1200-12-01-.19(6)). |
| Notify agencies of AEDs | Yes | Through AED placement reporting: see that row. |
| Register the program | No | No state AED registry. The statute's duty to 'register' each AED with the local 911 district or EMS dispatch center is listed under placement reporting (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-140-403(2)). |
| Report AED locations | Yes | Owners must register each AED's existence and location with the local 911 district or EMS dispatch center soon after placement (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-140-403(2)). Before any use, they must give that agency the written plan and a notice of the program, the AED's location and EMS coordination (§ 68-140-404(6); Rule 1200-12-01-.19(1)). |
| Physician medical direction | Yes | Each AED placement must be supervised and endorsed by a physician with an unrestricted Tennessee license, and the physician must be named in the notice to EMS (Rule 1200-12-01-.19(1)(e), (4)). The statute tells the department to set medical supervision rules (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-140-405(5)). About medical direction |
| Report each AED use | Yes | After each use, the owner must report it to the supervising physician (and to the department as the plan requires) (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-140-404(5)). The rule requires a written use report to the responding EMS agency and the physician, with times, responders, patient details and outcome (Rule 1200-12-01-.19(3)). |
| Written plan or records | Yes | Owners must have a written AED plan (placement, authorized users, EMS coordination, maintenance, records, use reports, action plan), follow it, and file a copy with local EMS or the 911 district (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-140-404(1)-(2), (6); Rule 1200-12-01-.19(2)). Written maintenance records are also required (§ 68-140-404(4)). |
| Call 911 when an AED is used | Yes | The owner must make sure anyone who uses the AED on a person in cardiac arrest activates EMS as soon as possible (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 68-140-403(1)(C), 68-140-404(5)). |
| School cardiac emergency plan | Yes | Every local school board and public charter school governing body must adopt a cardiac emergency response plan for each school, with a response team, AED counts, training, yearly sharing and reviews, from 2024-25 (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-2-122(c)). |
| Other requirements | Yes | Program AEDs must meet performance rules: 30 minutes of analysis and shocks, low-battery and loose-electrode warnings, and an internal event record (Rule 1200-12-01-.19(5)). |
| AEDs required at specific sites | Yes | Schools, school sports and some dental offices. See the list below. |
Compare nearby states: Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, or see every state on the AED laws by state table.
Is medical direction required in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee law requires a physician (or another licensed practitioner it names) to be involved in an AED program.
Each AED placement must be supervised and endorsed by a physician with an unrestricted Tennessee license, and the physician must be named in the notice to EMS (Rule 1200-12-01-.19(1)(e), (4)). The statute tells the department to set medical supervision rules (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-140-405(5)).
AED Log’s Medical Direction add-on covers this for $65 per AED per year, on top of your plan: a licensed physician oversees the program, AED Log handles the paperwork, and each covered AED shows that it’s covered.
Training requirements
Yes. Tennessee law requires CPR and AED training for the people expected to use an AED.
Expected users must finish an approved CPR and AED course (AHA or equal) before using the AED (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 68-140-403(1)(A), 68-140-404(3), 68-140-408). The Department of Health lists approved courses (Rule 1200-12-01-.19(6))
School coaches and athletic directors must complete a yearly cardiac arrest course that includes CPR and AED training (§ 68-6-103).
Training still matters: an AED talks the rescuer through each step, but people who have practiced start CPR sooner and hesitate less. Keep each responder’s card current, since most CPR and AED cards last two years. See how long CPR and AED certification lasts.
Inspection and maintenance
Yes. Tennessee law requires AED owners to keep each AED maintained and tested.
Owners must maintain and test the AED per the manufacturer's guidelines, with written records of all maintenance and testing (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 68-140-403(1)(B), 68-140-404(4)). The written plan must list maintenance and testing steps and sample log forms (Rule 1200-12-01-.19(2)(f))
Schools with AEDs must follow these rules too (§ 49-2-122).
Written plan and records: Owners must have a written AED plan (placement, authorized users, EMS coordination, maintenance, records, use reports, action plan), follow it, and file a copy with local EMS or the 911 district (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-140-404(1)-(2), (6); Rule 1200-12-01-.19(2)). Written maintenance records are also required (§ 68-140-404(4)).
In practice, that means check the status indicator, the pads’ and battery’s expiration dates and the cabinet on a regular schedule, replace anything used or expired, and keep a dated record of each check. Our AED inspection requirements guide covers the routine, and the free AED inspection checklist is a printable version.
Other Tennessee AED rules
Program AEDs must meet performance rules: 30 minutes of analysis and shocks, low-battery and loose-electrode warnings, and an internal event record (Rule 1200-12-01-.19(5))
High school athletic AEDs need signage and an unlocked spot reachable within three minutes (§ 68-6-105)
School AEDs may not be locked away or in a closed office (§ 49-2-122(e)).
EMS notification, registration and placement reporting
Yes. Tennessee requires AED owners to tell EMS, or another agency the law names, that they have an AED and where it is.
Placement reporting: Owners must register each AED's existence and location with the local 911 district or EMS dispatch center soon after placement (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-140-403(2)). Before any use, they must give that agency the written plan and a notice of the program, the AED's location and EMS coordination (§ 68-140-404(6); Rule 1200-12-01-.19(1)).
Keep the confirmation with your program records, and update it when an AED moves or is replaced. AED Log’s document library keeps registrations, letters and notices with the AEDs they cover.
Notification after an AED is used
Yes. In Tennessee, the rescuer must call 911, and each use has to be reported.
Calling 911: The owner must make sure anyone who uses the AED on a person in cardiac arrest activates EMS as soon as possible (Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 68-140-403(1)(C), 68-140-404(5)).
Reporting the use: After each use, the owner must report it to the supervising physician (and to the department as the plan requires) (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-140-404(5)). The rule requires a written use report to the responding EMS agency and the physician, with times, responders, patient details and outcome (Rule 1200-12-01-.19(3)).
After any use, replace the pads, check the AED and its rescue kit, and write down what happened while it’s fresh. AED Log’s incident reports record whether a shock was advised, how many were delivered, whether CPR was given and when EMS arrived.
AEDs required at specific locations in Tennessee
Yes. Tennessee law requires AEDs at four kinds of sites.
- Every public school (at least one AED) 2024 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 625 (H.B. 2251, Smart Heart Act), amending § 49-2-122 and § 68-6-103 and adding § 68-6-105 and Title 68, Ch. 6, Part 2; effective July 1, 2024
- High school athletic activities, public and private (reachable within three minutes, unlocked and marked) 2024 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 625 (H.B. 2251, Smart Heart Act), amending § 49-2-122 and § 68-6-103 and adding § 68-6-105 and Title 68, Ch. 6, Part 2; effective July 1, 2024
- More AEDs in public school buildings and grounds (as each school’s cardiac plan sets out) 2024 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 625 (H.B. 2251, Smart Heart Act), amending § 49-2-122 and § 68-6-103 and adding § 68-6-105 and Title 68, Ch. 6, Part 2; effective July 1, 2024
- Dental offices that give conscious or deep sedation or general anesthesia (an AED or other defibrillator) Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0460-02-.07
School cardiac emergency plans: Every local school board and public charter school governing body must adopt a cardiac emergency response plan for each school, with a response team, AED counts, training, yearly sharing and reviews, from 2024-25 (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-2-122(c)). Public and private high schools must also keep and rehearse an athletics emergency action plan from Sept. 1, 2024 (§ 68-6-202).
See AEDs in schools by state to compare, and our cardiac emergency response plan template for a starting point.
Does Tennessee's Good Samaritan law protect AED users?
Yes. Under Tennessee law, anyone using an AED in good faith is protected, and so is the AED’s owner, with only the usual exceptions.
What the Tennessee (TN) Good Samaritan law covers: Any person, including licensed medical staff and volunteer rescue squad members, who in good faith gives emergency care at an accident, medical emergency or disaster without a direct charge can’t be held liable for civil damages except for gross negligence. The law names AED use and also covers care at public events such as games, shows and religious gatherings.
AED-specific protection: A person who uses an AED in good faith at an emergency, without charging for it, is protected unless grossly negligent, and training is not required. The entity responsible for the AED program is protected from claims over the AED's use or maintenance unless grossly negligent or willful or wanton. School systems get that protection only if they followed the program rules.
Statutes and sources
Every answer on this page comes from these laws, read on Tennessee’s official legislature or code website.
- Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 68-140-401 to 68-140-409 (Title 68, Ch. 140, Part 4, Automated External Defibrillators): Automated External Defibrillators
- 2019 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 61 (S.B. 314), rewriting § 68-140-406: AED program liability
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-12-01-.19: Automated External Defibrillator Programs (Department of Health, Division of EMS)
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-6-218 (Good Samaritan Law): Good Samaritan Law
- 2024 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 625 (H.B. 2251, Smart Heart Act), amending § 49-2-122 and § 68-6-103 and adding § 68-6-105 and Title 68, Ch. 6, Part 2; effective July 1, 2024: Smart Heart Act
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-2-122: AEDs in public schools; cardiac emergency response plans
- Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 68-6-103, 68-6-105, 68-6-201 to 68-6-202: Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act; AEDs at high school athletics; athletics emergency action plans
- Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-50-804: AEDs in private schools
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0460-02-.07: Anesthesia and Sedation (Board of Dentistry)
Last reviewed against each statute on the state’s official website. This is a plain-language summary for general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so read the statute or ask a lawyer before you rely on it.
Managing a compliant AED program in Tennessee
AED Log keeps the records Tennessee law asks for, and reminds you before anything lapses.
- Monthly AED inspections on a phone, with a dated record of every check (inspection tracking)
- Pad and battery expiration dates, with a warning before each one (expiration tracking)
- Responders’ CPR and AED cards, with an alert before each expires (certification tracking)
- A report for every AED use, so the details are on record (incident reporting)
- Registrations, EMS notices and your written plan, filed with the AEDs they cover (document management)
- Physician medical direction for $65 per AED per year (Medical Direction)
Plans start at $114 a year for one AED, with unlimited users and locations. Start a free trial (no credit card) or talk to us.
Tennessee AED laws FAQ
Are businesses required to have an AED in Tennessee?
Only certain kinds. Tennessee law requires AEDs at some dental offices. Other businesses aren’t required to have one by Tennessee law, and federal OSHA has no AED standard.
Where does Tennessee law require an AED?
Tennessee law requires AEDs in schools, school sports and some dental offices. See the full list, with each statute, on this page.
Do you need medical direction for an AED in Tennessee?
Yes. Each AED placement must be supervised and endorsed by a physician with an unrestricted Tennessee license, and the physician must be named in the notice to EMS (Rule 1200-12-01-.19(1)(e), (4)). The statute tells the department to set medical supervision rules (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-140-405(5)).
Is AED training required in Tennessee?
Yes. Expected users must finish an approved CPR and AED course (AHA or equal) before using the AED. The Department of Health lists approved courses. School coaches and athletic directors must complete a yearly cardiac arrest course that includes CPR and AED training.
Does Tennessee law require AED inspections?
Yes. Owners must maintain and test the AED per the manufacturer's guidelines, with written records of all maintenance and testing. The written plan must list maintenance and testing steps and sample log forms. Schools with AEDs must follow these rules too.
Do you have to register an AED in Tennessee?
There’s no formal registration, but you must report the AED. Owners must register each AED's existence and location with the local 911 district or EMS dispatch center soon after placement (Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-140-403(2)).
What does Tennessee law require after an AED is used?
The owner must make sure anyone who uses the AED on a person in cardiac arrest activates EMS as soon as possible. After each use, the owner must report it to the supervising physician (and to the department as the plan requires).
Are AEDs required in Tennessee schools?
Tennessee law requires AEDs at every public school (at least one AED); high school athletic activities, public and private (reachable within three minutes, unlocked and marked); and more AEDs in public school buildings and grounds (as each school’s cardiac plan sets out).
Do Tennessee schools need a cardiac emergency response plan?
Yes. Every local school board and public charter school governing body must adopt a cardiac emergency response plan for each school, with a response team, AED counts, training, yearly sharing and reviews, from 2024-25 (Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-2-122(c)).
Do gyms in Tennessee need an AED?
No. Tennessee law doesn’t require health clubs or gyms to have an AED.
Do dental offices in Tennessee need an AED?
Tennessee law requires AEDs at dental offices that give conscious or deep sedation or general anesthesia (an AED or other defibrillator).
What does the Tennessee Good Samaritan law cover?
Any person, including licensed medical staff and volunteer rescue squad members, who in good faith gives emergency care at an accident, medical emergency or disaster without a direct charge can’t be held liable for civil damages except for gross negligence.
Does the Tennessee Good Samaritan law protect someone who uses an AED?
Yes. A good-faith rescuer using an AED without charge is protected unless grossly negligent, and the entity responsible for the AED program is protected unless grossly negligent or willful, with no compliance condition since 2019 (§§ 63-6-218, 68-140-406).
Which Tennessee laws cover AEDs?
Tennessee’s AED rules come from Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 68-140-401 to 68-140-409 (Title 68, Ch. 140, Part 4, Automated External Defibrillators); 2019 Tenn. Pub. Acts ch. 61 (S.B. 314), rewriting § 68-140-406; and seven more, each linked to its official text on this page.