Tennessee Code Title 68. Health, Safety and Environmental Protection § 68-2-704

(a) The district health director shall be a health professional who possesses the necessary education and experience in public health administration as determined by the state department of health and approved by the department of human resources. If the district health director is a qualified physician, the district health director may also serve as district health officer. The district health director shall have compensation paid, all or in part, by the state department of health.

(b) The district health officer shall be a doctor of medicine or osteopathy, schooled and experienced in public health work and licensed to practice in the state of Tennessee. The district health officer shall have compensation paid, all or in part, by the state department of health.

(c) Any person who undertakes to hold the position of district health officer, without being qualified as provided in this section, commits a Class C misdemeanor.

(d) The district health director and district health officer shall have the same responsibilities and powers as the county health director and the county health officer, respectively, as provided in §§ 68-2-603, 68-2-608 and 68-2-609.