About the TCAT //

Governance and Accreditation

The Tennessee Board of Regents

The Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology are governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) system. The TBR is the largest higher education system in Tennessee, governing 40 post-secondary educational institutions. The TBR system is comprised of thirteen community colleges and twenty-seven technology colleges.

Chancellor Flora Tydings
Tennessee Board of Regents
1 Bridgestone Park, Third Floor
Nashville, TN 37214
http://www.tbr.edu

The activities of the Tennessee Board of Regents System are coordinated with the Tennessee Higher Education System in an effort to achieve unity in the programs of higher education in Tennessee.

Robert Smith
Interim Executive Director
9th Floor, 312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue
Nashville, TN 37243
https://www.tn.gov/thec/

Advisory Committees

Advisory committees provide information and recommendations to assist administrative and instructional staff members in the effective operation of the college; assessing the needs of the students and local industry; and keeping abreast of the latest equipment, methods, and technologies.

The ultimate goal of advisory committees is to make valuable recommendations for the development of new programs and to remain current in already established programs. 

College Accreditation

Tennessee College of Applied Technology is accredited by Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE).

Council on Occupational Education
7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite 325
Atlanta, GA
30350
770-396-3898 (Local)
800-917-2081 (Toll-Free)
http://www.council.org

The COE, originally founded in 1971 as a regional accrediting agency of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, is the successor to the Commission on Occupational Education Institutions (COEI). In 1995, the Council became a national accrediting agency. In 2006, the Council celebrated its 35th year of assuring quality and integrity in career and technical education. The Council's accreditation process is conducted on behalf of more than 181,000 students across the nation who pursue careers in a variety of technical fields.

Program Accreditations and Certifications

Some TCAT programs are accredited by external organizations. In addition, students in certain programs may be required or have the opportunity to sit for certified examinations to demonstrate expertise. The following is a list of accreditations and certifications by program:

Truck Driving

Accreditation

  • Council on Occupational Education
  • Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security: CDL Division

Certifications

  • Class A CDL
  • Class B CDL

Practical Nursing

Accreditation

  • National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN)

Certifications

  • Students who successfully complete the 1296 hour program are eligible to sit for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCLEX) licensing exam.

Machine Tool Technology

Accreditation

  • National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS)
  • Council on Occupational Certification

Certifications

  • National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS)

Residential/Commercial/Industrial Electricity

Accreditation

  • Council on Occupational Education

Certifications

  • EPA Section 608 Certification

Diesel Powered Equipment Technology

Accreditation

  • National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF)
  • Council on Occupational Education

Certifications

  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Drive Train
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Diesel Engines
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Brakes
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Suspension and Steering
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Electrical/Electronic Systems
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Preventive Maintenance
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Hydraulics

Cosmetology

Accreditation

  • Tennessee Board of Cosmetology (Approved)
  • Council on Occupational Education

Certifications

  • Students who successfully complete the program with 1500 hours of instruction are eligible to sit for the Tennessee state cosmetology licensing exam.

Automotive Technology

Accreditation

  • National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF)
  • Council on Occupational Education

Certifications

  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Automatic Transmission/Transaxle
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Brakes
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Electrical/Electronic Systems
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Engine Performance
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Engine Repair
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Heating and Air Conditioning
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Manual Drive Train and Axles
  • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) - Suspension and Steering

Administrative Office Technology

Accreditation

  • Council on Occupational Education

Certifications

  • Microsoft Office Specialist, Word
  • Microsoft Office Specialist, Excel
  • Intuit Quickbooks Certified User
  • Certified Medical Administrative Assistant
  • Certified Billing and Coding Specialist