1. (1) Accreditation and Certification: the assistant commissioner may approve an independent accrediting or certifying organization if the assistant commissioner finds, based on the totality of the information provided, that the independent accrediting or certifying organization provides accreditation or certification that is substantially equivalent to the accreditation or certification provided by the independent accrediting or certifying organizations approved by the commissioner. Approval by the assistant commissioner shall be valid for a period of two (2) years from the date of approval, at which time the independent accrediting or certifying organization shall make a new request for approval. An independent accrediting or certifying organization shall provide the following information on a form approved by the assistant commissioner in its request for approval:

   1. (a) The name of the independent accrediting or certifying organization;
   2. (b) The phone number, mailing address and e-mail address—if applicable—of the independent accrediting or certifying organization;
   3. (c) A list of other states that have approved the independent accrediting or certifying organization to provide accreditation or certification of debt resolution services companies or similar organizations;
   4. (d) The number of years that the independent accrediting or certifying organization has offered accreditation or certification for debt resolution services companies or similar organizations;
   5. (e) A complete list of the standards that accredited or certified companies must meet; and
   6. (f) Such other information as the assistant commissioner may request in order to determine that the independent accrediting or certifying organization is substantially equivalent to the accreditation or certification provided by the independent accrediting or certifying organizations approved by the commissioner.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 47-18-5805 and 47-18-5808. Administrative History: New rules filed March 17, 2026; effective June 15, 2026.