Apply to Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT)
TCAT Age Limits:
- 17 with a high school diploma or GED.
- 18 or over. If students are 18 or over no High School Diploma or GED is required for most programs; however, a regular Highschool/GED/HiSet Diploma is required for Federal Financial Aid. There is no minimum GPA requirement.
- 21 or over for the Commercial Truck Driving program. For program testing and entrance requirements please refer to admissions test requirements.
TCAT Admission Requirements
- All first-time TCAT students must meet eligibility requirements through appropriate scores on the ACT (minimum of 13 for Reading & Math) or SAT tests.
- Students who have not taken ACT or SAT may take the ACCUPLACER tests, offered free of charge through the Chattanooga State Testing Center.
- All TCAT programs except Practical Nursing require the ACCUPLACER Reading & Arithmetic test. (Choose Placement – TCAT Reading & Math.)
(Practical Nursing applicants must instead take the ACCUPLACER Reading & Quantitative Reasoning tests. (Choose Placement – Reading & Math.))
Notes:
- TCAT programs are first come, first served. While you may meet the admission requirements for a particular program, you are not guaranteed a seat in the class.
- Returning students who have previously attended college or already have a college degree should submit a copy of their transcript to the TCAT division office for evaluation, as he or she may be exempt from the admissions test requirement.
TCAT Programs with Additional Admission Requirements and/or Separate Application Process
- Automation Mechatronics
- Car Mechatronics · Commercial Truck Driving · R-BEST
- Medical Assisting
- Massage Therapy
- Practical Nursing · Surgical Technology
To learn more about the admission process to the program for which you are interested, please refer to the chart below.
TCAT Test Admission Requirements Chart
Program | Admissions Test | Additional Requirements |
---|---|---|
Aesthetics | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Collision Repair | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Cosmetology | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Landscape and Turf Management | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Manicurist | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Welding | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Commercial Truck Driving | Driving Permit Test May Be Substituted for ACCUPLACER tests |
Program | Admissions Test | Additional Requirements |
---|---|---|
Air Conditioning/Refrigeration | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Automotive Technology | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Computer Operations Technology | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Diesel Equipment Mechanics | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Industrial Electricity | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Industrial Electronics | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Industrial Maintenance Mechanics | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Machine Tool Technology | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests | |
Motorcycle & Marine Service Tech. | ACCUPLACER Reading and Arithmetic tests |
Program | Admissions Test | Additional Requirements |
---|---|---|
Massage Therapy | ACCUPLACER Test or ACT | Must Be College Level in Reading and Level 2 in Math |
Medical Assistant | ACCUPLACER Test or ACT | Must Be College Level in Reading and Level 2 in Math |
Practical Nursing | ACCUPLACER Test or ACT | Must Be College Level in Reading and Level 2 in Math |
Surgical Technology | ACCUPLACER Test or ACT | Must Be College Level in Reading and Level 2 in Math |
Chattanooga State is a TBR institution and an EOE/AA/Title VI/Title IX Sections 504/ADA employer.
Steps to Apply
Complete the Application
- Online
- Paper - can be printed or picked up/submitted on campus in the TCAT Student Services Department (Room 20 of the TCAT building).
Apply for Financial Aid
All prospective TCAT students who reside in Tennessee are encouraged to apply for the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant by submitting a FAFSA.
Complete the FAFSA at StudentAid.GOV
Chattanooga State code: 003998.
Submit Academic Transcripts & Test Scores.
- Submit official copies of academic transcripts from every institution attended.
- Submit ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER test scores.
- Schedule a placement test if applicable.
Obtain Required Student Credentials
- TigerID – Gym/Health & Fitness Building (Room 180)
- Parking Permit - TCAT Building (Rooms 14 & 20), or Bursar's Office (Student Center, Room 140)
- Other - Some programs require additional permits in order to register. Visit TCAT Building (Room 20) for more info.
Register, Pay & Confirm
- Register for Classes - Using your TigerID and password provided by Chattanooga State, log in to Tiger Web to register for classes.
- Pay Your Tuition & Fees by the registration deadline to avoid having your classes automatically dropped.
- Confirm Your Classes -
Financial Aid students are confirmed if they have enough financial aid to cover their tuition and fees. Financial Aid students should log into TigerWeb, select “Pay My Fees” and confirm that they have enough financial aid to cover their tuition and fees, or pay the difference.
Non-Financial Aid student's classes are automatically confirmed once tuition and fees are paid.
Questions
TCAT Student Services Department at (423-697-4433)