Tennessee Code Title 68. Health, Safety and Environmental Protection § 68-1-901

(a) The director of the medical care division shall be duly licensed in accordance with the laws of Tennessee to practice medicine in Tennessee, and shall have been engaged in the active practice of the director's profession for not less than five (5) years immediately preceding the director's appointment.

(b) It is the duty of the commissioner of health, in conjunction with the director of the medical care division, and after consultation with the public health council [repealed] of the department of health, to appoint such assistants and employees as may be necessary to carry on the work of the medical care division, and all the assistants and employees shall hold office and receive compensation in accordance with provisions of title 4, chapter 4, governing the tenure and compensation of like employees in other departments.