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:

Practical Nursing

Accreditation

  • National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN)

Certifications

  • Tennessee Board of Nursing – Approved

Machine Tool Technology

Accreditation

  • National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS)

Certifications

  • NIMS certifications

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration

Accreditation

  • HVAC Excellence

Certifications

  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Electrical
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Electric Heat
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Gas Heat
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Oil Heat
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Air Conditioning
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Light Commercial Air Conditioning
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Heat Pump
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - System Diagnostics & Troubleshooting
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Basic Refrigeration & Charging Procedures
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Carbon Monoxide Safety
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Residential & Light Commercial Hydronic Heat
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Fuel Oil Combustion
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Natural Gas Combustion
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Combustion Appliance Zone
  • HVAC Excellence/ESCO - Carbon Monoxide & Combustion Analysis

Diesel Powered Equipment Technology

Accreditation

  • National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF)

Certifications

  • ASE Medium Truck Technician Certification
  • General public can take the certification test with two years of work experience in field

Dental Assisting

Accreditation

  • Tennessee State Board of Dentistry

Certifications

  • Eligible to take the national Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) exam
  • Eligible to apply for state Registered Dental Assistant (RDA)

Automotive Technology

Accreditation

  • National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF)

Certifications

  • National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) – Multimeter 525-596 certifications