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The Tennessee Board of Regents establishes the admissions requirements for age, status, counseling, and testing. The Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology maintain an open-door policy for admission into most occupational programs, however, educational requirements for program admission may vary from program to program. Most programs will admit students with a special education High School Diploma or a Certificate of Attendance. Students are informed by the instructor that job placement in some fields may not be obtained without a regular high school diploma. Due to licensing requirements, some programs require a regular high school diploma, GED or HiSET.
Persons seeking admission to the College must be at least 18 years of age or have a high school diploma or equivalent. Prospective students are encouraged to apply at any time. Steps to apply are as follows:
Foreign Nationals/Non-Immigrants, may enroll as students, regardless of immigration status, if they otherwise meet TCAT program enrollment requirements. The College is not a participant in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) or SEVIS and does not process F and/or M student visas or issue I-20 documents. Non-immigrants who wish to enroll at the College should consider whether enrolling at the College will negatively impact their visa status prior to enrolling at the College.
In addition to meeting the TBR TN residency requirements, to be eligible for state-funded financial aid or other assistance, prospective students must meet the requirements of the Tennessee Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA, T.C.A. 4-58-101 et seq.), which requires proof of identity and U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Resident status, or lawful presence in the U.S. Contact the Student Services office at the College for information about acceptable documentation for purposes of EVEA verification.
The completed online application for enrollment will be added to the program interest list when the College receives the application. The applicant will be notified about this action by email. After that, periodic emails may be sent to those with applications on lengthy interest lists to confirm their continued interest in the program. When an opening becomes available, a notification will be emailed to the students on the interest list. Once confirmed, an orientation email will be sent. Suppose the applicant declines or does not respond to the notification of an opening in the desired program. In that case, the TCAT will remove the application and the prospective student will need to reapply.
Before, or upon, the first day of attendance at TCAT, each new student will participate in a group orientation session, which acquaints him or her with institutional policies, functions, and personnel. The orientation process is an ongoing program which involves departmental orientation, safety policies, and development of work attitudes, habits, and behaviors which help the student to use the resources available to him/her most effectively while at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology. Applicants who cannot attend their assigned orientation should reschedule with Student Services in advance. Those failing to attend their assigned orientation who still desire to attend may need to reapply.
In addition to the general admission criteria, specific educational and physical requirements must be met by applicants, either with or without an accommodation, in the following programs:
| Central Sterile Processing | H.S. Diploma, GED or HiSET; Passing score on HESI; Clinical sites will require a Satisfactory Physical with all required immunizations; Pass Drug Screen; and background check. Costs for clinical site requirements are the responsibility of the student. |
| Cosmetology | H.S. Credits or GED score of 450 or a passing HiSET score. Provide official H.S or GED or HiSET transcript prior to enrollment. |
| Dental Assisting | H.S. Diploma, GED or HiSET, HESI pre-enrollment score; Clinical sites will require a Satisfactory Physical with all required immunizations; Pass Drug Screen; and background check. Costs for clinical site requirements are the responsibility of the student. |
| Practical Nursing | H.S. Diploma, GED or HiSET; Anatomy and Physiology pre-requisite, Medical Math, and Passing score on the HESI; Three References. Clinical sites will require a Satisfactory Physical with all required immunizations, a Pass Drug Screen, and background check. Costs for clinical site requirements are the responsibility of the student. |
| Surgical Technology | H.S. Diploma, GED or HiSET, HESI pre-enrollment score; Clinical sites will require a Satisfactory Physical with all required immunizations, a Pass Drug Screen, and background check. Costs for clinical site requirements are the responsibility of the student. |
The HESI Admission Assessment is a computerized entrance exam for the Allied Health programs. A minimum score of 50 in math and 60 in reading sections are required for admission to Central Sterile Processing and Dental Assisting. Minimum scores of 80 in both the reading and math sections are required for admission to Practical Nursing. Minimum scores of 70 in both the reading and math sections are required for admission to Surgical Technology. HESI scores are considered valid for a maximum of two years. The test may be taken twice each trimester. A fee is required to take the HESI exam. Please contact the Nursing or Student Services Departments for the fee amount.
Nursing and Allied Health Liability Insurance
All nursing and allied health students are required by clinical affiliates to purchase special liability insurance applicable to their program. More information may be found through the Nursing Handbook.
TBR Student Health Insurance Exchange
Other Tennessee College of Applied Technology students interested in obtaining health insurance coverage can access information about the TBR Student Health Insurance Exchange online at https://www.ahix.com/ or by calling 1-800-647-4104.
Technical College Learning Support Policy (TBR Policy 2.03.00.04) requires that students who do not present valid ACT, SAILS, or other approved valid assessment scores, that demonstrate college readiness based upon established cut scores, or other documentation will be placed into the appropriate learning support course for applied mathematics, graphic literacy, and reading for information as defined by the academic program requirements.
Students with transferable college-level coursework may be exempt from the Technology Foundations Learning Support course or completing assessments.
Institutions will provide or may require, assessment(s) to allow students to challenge placement into Technology Foundation Learning Support if they have not met established criteria.
A first-time or transfer student, entering without valid assessment score or college level coursework not meeting transferable requirements will be enrolled into the appropriate subject area Technology Foundation Learning Support course along with the paired technical college program coursework or may be given the option of challenge testing to place into the technical college program without learning support.
The purpose of learning support is to enhance academic success in technical college programs and increase the likelihood of program completion that will prepare students for career success in their chosen field of study.
Those students who wish to transfer to another Tennessee College of Applied Technology will need to consult with the Student Services Office concerning the date they expect to enroll in their new Tennessee College of Applied Technology. Students transferring from Tennessee College of Applied Technology must follow the records policy to have their records sent to other institutions. Financial aid records do not automatically follow students; please see Financial Aid personnel for assistance.
It is expected there will be very limited transfer between programs since every attempt is made to place the student into a suitable area at the time of initial enrollment. When a student who is currently enrolled needs to transfer to a new training program because of a change in career objectives, the Student Services Office will coordinate with the instructors and the student in making the transition to another program and in ensuring the change is appropriate to the student's interests and qualifications. Students must have a passing average in the program they desire to transfer from before the transfer will be considered. When the transfer choice is made, the President must approve the transfer. It is expected that generally this will occur during the first term of the student's training.
A student who previously attended Tennessee College of Applied Technology who either withdrew or whose attendance was otherwise terminated must re-apply for admission by completing a new enrollment application. Due to processing of financial aid, students desiring to enroll in a new program of study and use financial aid, or did use financial aid in a prior term, may experience a 60-day waiting period for re-admittance.
Ability to Benefit is the U.S. Department of Education established criteria, through a provision of the Higher Education Act, that must be met by a person who does not have either a regular high school diploma, General Education Diploma (GED), or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) Exam to receive federal financial aid. All students must meet the admission requirement(s) for their programs of study; students without a high school diploma who are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance and wish to apply for federal student aid may be admitted under Ability to Benefit provisions set forth by the Department of Education.
