Nursing & Allied Health

​The goal of Chattanooga State's Nursing & Allied Health division is to prepare health care practitioners who can perform their duties at a professional level, ensure the safety of their patients, and be a benefit to their community.

Degrees and Certificates

All Nursing & Allied Health students must first apply to ChattState. After completing the college application, students interested in applying to a selective admission Nursing & Allied Health program must visit the specific program webpage for their respective application process.

Prospective Students

Nursing & Allied Health students must demonstrate a high level of academic success in the required pre-requisite and general education courses. The majority of successful NAH candidates complete most, if not all, of their general education requirements prior to applying to a NAH program. In order to be successful in NAH, prospective students should attend information sessions (required for some programs), read and be familiar with program information available on the website, and meet with their assigned academic advisor any time they have questions or concerns about their degree plan. View the profile summary for last years accepted applicant pool.

FAQs

What programs are available and how many students are accepted each year?

(*please note that the accepted numbers below are estimates and subject to change)

  • Advanced Emergency Medical Technician - 24 (certificate)
  • Advanced and Entry Pharmacy Technician – 25 (certificate)
  • Computer Tomography – 25 (Advanced Certificate)
  • Dental Assisting – 36 (certificate)
  • Dental Hygiene – 24
  • Emergency Medical Technician – 84 (certificate)
  • Health Information Management – 20
  • Health Science – unlimited
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – 40 (Advanced Certificate)
  • Mammography – 25 (Advanced Certificate)
  • Nuclear Medicine Technology – 20 (offered as both an AAS and Advanced Certificate)
  • Paramedic – 24 (certificate)
  • Physical Therapist Assistant – 24
  • Radiation Therapy – 20 (Advanced Certificate)
  • Radiologic Technology – 32
  • Registered Nursing – Day Main Campus 110, Day Kimball campus 15, Night 50, Transition 24
  • Respiratory Care – 25
  • Sonography – 25 (Advanced Certificate)
  • Surgical Technology 24 students
  • Veterinary Technology - 24
How do I get started?

If you are not a current student at Chattanooga State, please complete a College application online and complete all admission requirements. Once admitted to the college, you will be assigned an Academic Advisor who will help create your Academic Plan.

When should I turn in my program application?

Each program has an application checklist that will guide you regarding when and what information is required.  Attending an information session will also help answer questions regarding the application process, requirements, TEAS and point calculations.

Can I apply to more than one program?

Yes, however, each program has different requirements so follow the application checklist carefully.

What courses are required for degree programs?

Each program has different general education course requirements.  In some programs, all general education courses must be complete prior to starting the program.  Likewise, some programs give points for courses completed, but not all have to be complete to apply.  Attending a program information session will help clarify a specific program point calculation process.

How are students selected into a career program?

Program selection is a competitive process based on an objective point system.  Points are awarded based on completion of general education courses, grades awarded in those specific courses, TEAS test results, and/or any other materials that may be required for specific programs.  Attending a program information session will help clarify a specific program point calculation process.

How many points do I need to be accepted?

There isn’t an exact number of points needed to be accepted.  The applicant pool is filtered according to total points and ranked accordingly.  Students scoring the highest number of points are considered for the program.  Attending a program information session will help clarify the details.

What programs have an information session?
  • Advanced Pharmacy Technician (strongly encouraged)
  • Dental Assisting (required)
  • Dental Hygiene (required)
  • Emergency Medical Technician/AEMT (required)
  • Health Information Management (required)
  • Nuclear Medicine Technology (required)
  • Physical Therapist Assistant (required)
  • Radiation Therapy (required)
  • Radiologic Technology (required)
  • Registered Nursing (strongly encouraged)
  • Respiratory Care (required)
  • Sonography (strongly encouraged)
  • Veterinary Technology (strongly encouraged)
Which programs require the TEAS test?
  • Dental Hygiene  
  • Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Radiologic Technology
  • Registered Nursing
  • Respiratory Care
What is the deadline date for each program?
  • Advanced Emergency Medical Technician - July 31st (Fall) and January 15th (Spring)
  • Advanced and Entry Pharmacy Technician – rolling admission
  • Computer Tomography – June 1st (priority deadline)
  • Dental Assisting – June 15th
  • Dental Hygiene – May 1st
  • Emergency Medical Technician – July 31st (Fall) and January 15th (Spring)
  • Health Information Management – May 1st
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – June 1st (priority deadline)
  • Mammography – June 1st (priority deadline)
  • Nuclear Medicine Technology – March 1st
  • Paramedic – June 30th
  • Physical Therapist Assistant – 1st Monday in March
  • Radiation Therapy – April 1st
  • Radiologic Technology – May 1st
  • Registered Nursing – March 1st (Day/Night) and January 15th (Transition)
  • Respiratory Care – May 15th
  • Sonography – March 15th
  • Surgical Technology - November 15th  
  • Veterinary Technology – November 1st
How long is the program once you are accepted?
  • Advanced Emergency Medical Technician - 1 semester
  • Advanced Pharmacy Technician – 2 semesters
  • Computer Tomography – 1 semester
  • Dental Assisting – 3 semesters
  • Dental Hygiene – 5 semesters
  • Emergency Medical Technician – 1 semester
  • Entry Level Pharmacy Technician – 1 semester 
  • Health Information Management – 4 semesters
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – 1 semester
  • Mammography – 1 semester
  • Nuclear Medicine Technology – 4 semesters (AAS), 3 semesters (certificate)
  • Paramedic – 3 semesters
  • Physical Therapist Assistant – 4 semesters
  • Radiation Therapy – 3 semesters
  • Radiologic Technology – 5 semesters
  • Registered Nursing – 4 semesters (Day), 5 semesters (Night), 3 semesters (Transition)
  • Respiratory Care – 5 semesters
  • Sonography – 3 semesters
  • Surgical Technology - 4 semesters
  • Veterinary Technology – 4 semesters
Can I work while in a program?

While working is certainly a possibility, students who work 20 hours per week or less are generally most successful.

Which programs require an interview before acceptance?
  • Advanced and Entry Pharmacy Technician
  • Dental Assisting
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Health Information Management
  • Nuclear Medicine Technology
  • Paramedic
  • Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Radiation Therapy
  • Radiologic Technology
Which programs require observation hours as part of the acceptance process?
  • Dental Assisting
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Nuclear Medicine
  • Physical Therapist Assistant
  • Radiation Therapy
  • Radiologic Technology (extra credit)
  • Sonography
If I have disabilities, can I still pursue a career in Nursing and Allied Health?

The Division of Nursing & Allied Health complies with Section 504 of the Americans with Disability Act (1990). Visit Disability Services for more information.

Division News

A ChattState dental student cleans a patient's teeth.

Empowering Students, Transforming Smiles: ChattState Dental Students Aid Underserved Communities at Free Clinic

March 6, 2024 | Payton Potter | Student Success

CHATTANOOGA, TN -- A group of Chattanooga State Community College students in January traveled to Knoxville to participate alongside other colleges in a Remote Area Medical (RAM) dental clinic, which provides free dental care to patients in need. 



All told, 674 volunteers from 18 school...

read more about Empowering Students, Transforming Smiles: ChattState Dental Students Aid Underserved Communities at Free Clinic

Jim Coleman, Lauren Fox, and Rachel Harris stand side-by-side.

Faculty Chairs of Excellence Awarded to 3 Educators at Chattanooga State

November 30, 2023 | Payton Potter | Faculty Spotlight

CHATTANOOGA, TN -- Chattanooga State Community College this week took time to honor three outstanding faculty members for their professional aptitude and dedication to quality in education. 



In two ceremonies attended by students directly affected by the educators, Kristi Argenbright,...

read more about Faculty Chairs of Excellence Awarded to 3 Educators at Chattanooga State

Request Information

Contact the Nursing & Allied Health main office at 423-697-4450.