Travel Behavioral Health Jobs in Tennessee
0% state income tax. NLC Compact for psych RNs. 77 of 95 counties are designated mental health shortage areas. Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville & Chattanooga — $65–$90/hr.
Tennessee is NLC Compact — Psych RNs Can Start Immediately
Tennessee is a full member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), covering all 41 compact states. If your primary state of residence issued you a multistate RN license, you can work in Tennessee without a separate Tennessee license. This applies to psychiatric RNs, crisis nurses, and community mental health nurses. Non-nursing BH clinicians (LCSW, LPC, LP, LADAC) must obtain Tennessee-specific licensure.
Tennessee Eliminated Its Income Tax — Hall Tax Repealed January 2021
Tennessee\'s Hall Tax on investment income was fully repealed effective January 1, 2021. Tennessee has never taxed wages or salaries — and now taxes no income at all. For travel behavioral health clinicians, this means every dollar of contract pay starts as take-home pay, before federal taxes. Compare this to California (9.3%+ on wages), New York (6.85%+), or Illinois (4.95%). A Nashville LCSW at $80/hr earns approximately $6,000+/year more in after-tax income than the same rate in California.
Tennessee Behavioral Health Credential Guide
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Tennessee Board of Social Work Examiners. Requires MSW from CSWE-accredited program + 3,000 supervised clinical hours + passing ASWB Clinical exam. Top-tier TN social work license — allows independent practice.
Licensed Professional Counselor
TN State Board of Professional Counselors. Requires master's in counseling or related field + 3,000 supervised hours + NCE or NCMHCE exam. Standard counseling license for most TN outpatient and community BH positions.
LPC — Mental Health Service Provider
Tennessee-specific advanced LPC designation enabling fully independent practice without supervision. Separate TN Board application required. Travel LPCs with MHSP designation qualify for higher contract rates and independent contractor arrangements.
Licensed Psychologist
Doctoral-level license (PhD, PsyD, or EdD). TN Board of Examiners in Psychology. Required for neuropsychological testing, psychological evaluations, and forensic assessments in Tennessee court and corrections settings.
Licensed Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor
Tennessee-specific SUD credential. Board of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors. Required for substance use disorder treatment programs, DUI programs, and court-mandated SUD services in TN. Distinct from CADC/LADC used in other states.
Psychiatric Registered Nurse
NLC Compact — bring your multistate home-state license. No separate TN RN license required. Psych RNs are in demand across inpatient psychiatric units, crisis stabilization units, and community mental health centers statewide.
Tennessee Behavioral Health Facilities
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Academic BH / ResearchTennessee's premier academic medical center operates a comprehensive behavioral health program including eating disorders, inpatient psychiatry, and one of the Southeast's leading research programs in mood disorders and PTSD. Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital is a 100+ bed inpatient facility with active travel BH clinician placements.
Memphis Mental Health Institute
State Hospital / TDMHSASState-operated psychiatric hospital under the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). Primary Medicaid and safety-net BH hub for the Memphis area. High-volume inpatient psychiatric care for adults and adolescents. Travel psych RN demand is consistent year-round.
Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute
Forensic Unit / ChattanoogaTDMHSAS-operated state psychiatric hospital serving southeast Tennessee. Includes a forensic psychiatric unit serving court-ordered evaluations and not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity patients. Travel psych RNs with forensic experience are particularly valued here.
Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute
Crisis Stabilization / Geriatric PsychAnother TDMHSAS facility in the Nashville metro. Specializes in crisis stabilization, acute inpatient psychiatry, and geriatric psychiatry. Serves as a key safety valve for Nashville's busy ED-to-psychiatric admission pipeline. Active travel nurse program.
Pathways of Tennessee
Rural BH / West TennesseeA community mental health center (CMHC) serving rural west Tennessee. FQHC-affiliated partnerships expand access across 15+ counties. Pathways operates outpatient, crisis, and residential BH services — strong demand for LCSW and LPC travel clinicians willing to serve rural populations.
Cherokee Health Systems
Integrated Care / National ModelOne of the nation's most cited models for integrated primary care and behavioral health. Cherokee operates 27+ locations across east Tennessee. Their co-located BH-primary care model is nationally recognized. Travel LCSW and LPC positions here offer a distinct integrated care experience unlike traditional psychiatric settings.
Open Tennessee Behavioral Health Positions
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Tennessee Behavioral Health Pay by Role & City
Estimates include tax-free housing and meals stipend. 0% Tennessee income tax applies to all markets.
| Role | Nashville | Memphis | Knoxville | Chattanooga |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psych RN | $2,200–$2,700/wk | $1,900–$2,400/wk | $1,900–$2,300/wk | $2,000–$2,500/wk |
| LCSW | $70–$85/hr | $62–$78/hr | $60–$75/hr | $63–$80/hr |
| LPC | $65–$80/hr | $58–$72/hr | $55–$70/hr | $60–$75/hr |
Tennessee Rural Behavioral Health Shortage
77 of 95 Tennessee counties are federally designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (MHPSA) — over 80% of the state. Rural communities in east Tennessee, the Cumberland Plateau, and west Tennessee are the most severely underserved.
Rural premium pay: Travel BH clinicians accepting rural TN placements can negotiate a shortage premium of +15–25% above urban Nashville rates. For a LCSW, this means $75–$90/hr in a rural shortage area vs. $70–$85/hr in Nashville.
Tennessee Promise rural BH initiative allocates state and federal funds to expand BH access in shortage counties, creating a pipeline of funded travel and per-diem BH positions at CMHCs, FQHCs, and state-operated facilities in rural Tennessee.
NHSC loan repayment: NHSC-approved sites in TN shortage counties offer student loan repayment for LCSW, LPC, and LP clinicians who commit to 2-year service agreements. Travel clinicians converting to permanent placements may be eligible.
Tennessee Travel Behavioral Health — FAQ
Does Tennessee have a state income tax?
Is Tennessee NLC compact for nurses?
What is an LPC-MHSP in Tennessee?
What is the pay for travel behavioral health jobs in Nashville?
How many Tennessee counties are mental health shortage areas?
What is the difference between LCSW and LICSW in Tennessee?
Find Your Tennessee Behavioral Health Assignment
CatSol places LCSW, LPC, and psych RN travelers at Vanderbilt, TDMHSAS state hospitals, Cherokee Health Systems, and rural CMHCs across all 95 Tennessee counties. 0% income tax. Start fast.