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Review the programs of study and any program-specific admission requirements. Complete the FAFSA to apply for the Pell grant, TN Promise scholarship, the TN Reconnect and the Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant.Admissions
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The calendar for the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Shelbyville is based on three equal trimesters that include a minimum of 216 instructional days. The three trimesters are:
Fall: September, October, November, December
- Acceptance offers for a Fall trimester start are made the second week of July.
Spring: January, February, March, April
- Acceptance offers for a Spring trimester start are made the second week of November.
Summer: May, June, July, August
- Acceptance offers for a Fall trimester start are made the second week of March.
Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Shelbyville
Student Services Office
2905 US 231 North
Shelbyville, TN 37160
admissions@tcatshelbyville.edu
931-685-5013
General Admission Requirements
- Program enrollment is based on a first-come, first-served basis by date of completed application. (A completed application includes all items required for enrollment.)
- Persons seeking admission to a college must be at least 18 years of age or have a high school diploma or equivalent. For full-time programs, the applicant must declare an occupational objective and demonstrate reasonable potential for achieving that objective.
- All persons who are required to register for the Federal Draft under 50 U.S.C. App. Section 453 are not eligible to enroll in any post-secondary school until they have registered with selective service.
View the Full Admissions Policy
Program-Specific Admission Requirements
Educational and admission requirements vary from program to program.
Practical Nursing – Part Time Evenings
This program is designed to give the student both theory and clinical experience in the nursing field in order to meet criteria to pass the National Council License Exam (NCLEX) and practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Upon completion of the course, the graduate will be able to understand the role of the practical nurse on the nursing team, practice nursing safely and understand related information, appreciate health as related to the individual, the family, and the community, demonstrate skill in understanding behavior in relation to patients, co-workers, family and friends, recognize scientific principles which form a background for nursing, demonstrate communication skills in observing and reporting, demonstrate competency in theory and clinical performance, recognize the need for continued self-direction in personal and vocational growth and give nursing care to clients under the supervision of a registered nurse, licensed physician, dentist, opthalmologist or optometrist.
Start Dates for Upcoming Practical Nursing Cohorts:
Part-time, Evening Franklin County Extension Campus
May 2026 (Summer 2026). *Deadline to apply and have all mandatory admissions requirements submitted is April 17, 2026. Acceptance offers will be made through April 18, 2026.
September 2027 (Fall 2027) *Deadline to apply and have all mandatory admissions requirements submitted is August 20, 2027. Acceptance offers will be made from July 12, 2027 through August 21, 2027.
*TCAT Shelbyville’s Part-time, Evening Franklin County Campus Practical Nursing program operates as a sixteen (16) month “cohort”. A “cohort” is a group of students banded together or treated as a group in a diploma program of study.
Class Schedule for Practical Nursing Cohorts:
- The Part-time, Evening Practical Nursing cohorts meet Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (until clinical practice begins). Prior to beginning clinical practice, an alternate schedule will be provided by the instructor. Clinicals are held in Winchester, Tullahoma, and Fayetteville.
- Transferring of Anatomy & Physiology Credits: If you have already taken Anatomy and Physiology from a Tennessee college or university that is Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), or Commission on Occupation Education (COE) accredited, your credits may transfer to TCAT Shelbyville. The official college transcript must indicate a grade of B or above in Anatomy & Physiology I and Anatomy & Physiology II, with a successful completion date no more than 5 (five) years prior to starting a TCAT Shelbyville Practical Nursing cohort program.
**TCAT Shelbyville no longer offers the Math Challenge Exam (MET).
Disclosure: Students who withdrawal or terminate from another Tennessee College of Applied Technology Practical Nursing program, seeking enrollment into one of TCAT Shelbyville’s programs, will be required to start at the beginning of a practical nursing cohort. TCAT Shelbyville Practical Nursing students that do not successfully complete a trimester, will be allowed to return at the beginning of the unsuccessful term, for one occasion only.
Handbook:The Practical Nursing handbook can be found below. This handbook will provide information regarding the classroom and outline policies, rules, and regulations.
Requirements for Clinical Rotations:
Hepatitis B (series of 3 shots)
TDaP (due every 10 years)
COVID (series of two Moderna or Pfizer and one booster) or (JJSN and one booster) or (an approved Medical Exemption from a physician)
Influenza (due annually)
QuanitiFERON Gold -serum test (due annually) *We do not accept TB skin test
MMR x 2 (or titer showing proof of immunity)
Varicella x 2 (or titer showing proof of immunity)
Proof of Medical Insurance
Physical (due annually)
BLS (American Heart Association) Provider Course -Only
*Nursing students are required to pass a Urine Drug Screen and a Criminal Background check
Truck Driving
This program is designed to provide classroom work, yard and road driving experiences. Students are taught to drive defensively and gain the knowledge necessary to operate the vehicle as well as abide by all local, state and federal regulations. Students will be prepared for both the written and skills portions of the commercial driver's license (CDL) examination.
Broad Units of Study include Public/Customer/Employee/Employer Relations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, CDL Regulations, Local, State & Federal Traffic Laws, Emergency Equipment Use, Road Atlas and Highway Routes, Instruments and Cab Controls, Engine & Air Brake Systems, Industry Related Paperwork, Weather Conditions, Hazard Perception, Emergency Maneuvers, Use of Clutch/Transmission/Gear Patterns, Coupling & Uncoupling Trailers, Defensive Driving Procedures and On the Road Driving.
The Truck Driving Program meets Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. until 2:15 p.m at 224 Eagle Blvd, Shelbyville, TN 37160.
2026 Truck Driving Program Cohorts
Spring Cohort #1: January 5th – February 25th
Spring Cohort #2: February 24th – April 23rd
Summer Cohort #1: May 4th – July 9th
Summer Cohort #2: July 8th – August 27th
Fall Cohort #1: September 3rd – October 28th
Fall Cohort #2: October 27th – December 21st
- Fees will be assessed at orientation for a drug test and Moving Violation Report
- Fees will be assessed upon enrollment for tuition and insurance
- Have a good driving record (You must obtain a copy of your State Department of Safety Moving Violation Report prior to beginning the program.) This must indicate no more than 3 speeding tickets and/or at-fault accidents in the last three years and no DUI convictions in the last 5 years.This document will need to be provided to the Truck Driviing instructor.
- Upon enrollment into the program, a drug test fee will be charged and the student will be referred to a test site by the college.
- Student will be subject to random drug tests while enrolled.
*The curriculum is covered in five weeks, at which point, students are skill tested, and may obtain their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Students that obtain their CDL, and have secured documented full-time employment may opt-out of the remaining class hours while still receiving a certificate of completion.
Students who do not pass their CDL exam, or who are not employed at the end of the five weeks, must complete the remaining required hours.
Practical Nursing - Full Time Days Main Campus
This program is designed to give the student both theory and clinical experience in the nursing field in order to meet criteria to pass the National Council License Exam (NCLEX) and practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Upon completion of the course, the graduate will be able to understand the role of the practical nurse on the nursing team, practice nursing safely and understand related information, appreciate health as related to the individual, the family, and the community, demonstrate skill in understanding behavior in relation to patients, co-workers, family and friends, recognize scientific principles which form a background for nursing, demonstrate communication skills in observing and reporting, demonstrate competency in theory and clinical performance, recognize the need for continued self-direction in personal and vocational growth and give nursing care to clients under the supervision of a registered nurse, licensed physician, dentist, opthalmologist or optometrist.
Start Dates for Upcoming Full-time, Daytime Shelbyville Main Campus Cohort:
September 2026 (Fall 2026). *Deadline to apply and have all mandatory admissions requirements submitted is August 21, 2026. Acceptance offers will be made from July 13, 2026 through August 22, 2026.
September 2027 (Fall 2027). *Deadline to apply and have all mandatory admissions requirements submitted is August 20, 2027. Acceptance offers will be made from July 12, 2027 through August 21, 2027.
*TCAT Shelbyville’s Full-time, Daytime Shelbyville Main Campus Practical Nursing program operates as a twelve (12) month “cohort”. A “cohort” is a group of students banded together or treated as a group in a diploma program of study.
Class Schedule for Practical Nursing Cohorts: The Full-time, Daytime Practical Nursing cohort meets Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. (until clinical practice begins). Prior to beginning clinical practice, an alternate schedule will be provided by the instructor.
Transferring of Anatomy & Physiology Credits: If you have already taken Anatomy and Physiology from a Tennessee college or university that is Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), or Commission on Occupation Education (COE) accredited, your credits may transfer to TCAT Shelbyville. The official college transcript must indicate a grade of B or above in Anatomy & Physiology I and Anatomy & Physiology II, with a successful completion date no more than 5 (five) years prior to starting a TCAT Shelbyville Practical Nursing cohort program.
**TCAT Shelbyville no longer offers the Math Challenge Exam (MET).
Disclosure: Students who withdrawal or terminate from another Tennessee College of Applied Technology Practical Nursing program, seeking enrollment into one of TCAT Shelbyville’s programs, will be required to start at the beginning of a practical nursing cohort. TCAT Shelbyville Practical Nursing students that do not successfully complete a trimester, will be allowed to return at the beginning of the unsuccessful term, for one occasion only.
Handbook:The Practical Nursing handbook can be found below. This handbook will provide information regarding the classroom and outline policies, rules, and regulations.
Requirements for Clinical Rotations:
Hepatitis B (series of 3 shots)
TDaP (due every 10 years)
COVID (series of two Moderna or Pfizer and one booster) or (JJSN and one booster) or (an approved Medical Exemption from a physician)
Influenza (due annually)
QuanitiFERON Gold -serum test (due annually) *We do not accept TB skin test
MMR x 2 (or titer showing proof of immunity)
Varicella x 2 (or titer showing proof of immunity)
Proof of Medical Insurance
Physical (due annually)
BLS (American Heart Association) Provider Course -Only
*Nursing students are required to pass a Urine Drug Screen and a Criminal Background check