Qualifications
SMTI will first determine eligibility by the following: A candidate must have:
- Birth Certificate
- Social Security card
- Valid Drivers License
- Five (5) Years work history
- DD214 (veterans only)
You Must be a permanent resident of the USA
Once this is completed, the candidate will need the following before starting:
- DOT (Department of Transportation) Physical
- Urine drug test
Tennessee Driver License Policy
New Qualification Requirement in Place as of
May 29, 2004
Tennessee has a new law requiring proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency in order to obtain a Tennessee driver license. This new policy, which went into effect May 29, 2004, requires first-time applicants as well as new and returning residents of Tennessee to show documents confirming they are a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
When applying for a Tennessee driver license, applicants must now provide:
- Proof of U.S. Citizenship or Lawful Permanent Residency
- Two proofs of identity
- Two proofs of Tennessee residency
- Proof of social security number (if never issued a social security number a sworn affidavit stating that is required)
In addition to first-time applicants, new and returning residents, anyone issued a Tennessee driver license since January 1, 2001 will also be required to provide
documentation they are either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident at the time of their first renewal. If an individual is unable to provide proof of U.S.
citizenship or lawful permanent residency, they will not qualify for a renewal of their driver license. These individuals may qualify for a Certificate for Driving.
Certificates for Driving will be available beginning July 1, 2004.
Acceptable documents proving an applicant is a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Official Birth Certificate issued by a U.S. state, jurisdiction or territory (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Swain's Island, Guam);
- U.S. Government-issued Certified Birth Certificate
- U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad (DS-1350 or FS-545)
- Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the U.S. (FS-240)
- Valid or expired U.S. Passport
- Certificate of Citizenship (N560 or N561)
- Certificate of Naturalization (N550, N570 or N578)
- Unexpired U.S. Active Duty/Retiree/Reservist Military ID Card (DOD DD-2)
- U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-197, I-179)
- INS I-551 Permanent Resident Alien Card
- Foreign passport stamped by the U.S. Government indicating that the holder has been “Processed for I-551”
- Permanent resident Re-entry Permit (I-327)
- Temporary I-551 stamp on Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, with photograph of the applicant.
- U.S. Department of Receptions and Placement Program Assurance Form (Refugee) and I-94 stamped refugee.
- Form I-94 Record of Arrival and Departure stamped Asylee, Parolee or Parole, refugee, asylum, HP (humanitarian parolee or PIP (public interest parolee).
A list of acceptable documents showing positive proof of identity and proof Tennessee residency is found in the Tennessee Driver Handbook.
(NOTE: Due to the large file size of the handbook, download time may be slow. As an alternative, please visit our HTML chart of acceptable documents
that may be used as proof of identity and proof of Tennessee residency).
For more information please contact the department toll free at 1-866-368-6335 or send an e-mail to cfd.help@state.tn.us.
