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BY PATRICIA HENDERSON
TCAT Elizabethton
Each student enrolling full-time in a program of study must complete an assessment through the Technology Foundations lab, a requirement of the Tennessee Board of Regents. The policy is stated in the TCAT Elizabethton Student Handbook.
This assessment is conducted within the first weeks of enrollment following orientation. Students are assessed using the ACT WorkKeys Curriculum, an interactive, computer-based curriculum in workplace documents, applied mathematics, and graphic literacy.
It is a means of assessing the achievement and aptitudes of students for various occupations and is used to provide personalized counseling and program placement services to students.
The test score provides a guide for the Technology Foundations’ instructor and faculty to determine the capability of a student and how they will best be placed in a program of study. When deficiencies are found, the student is required to attend the Technology Foundations program on a part-time basis at the beginning of their training until desired levels are achieved.
The Tennessee Board of Regents requires a high school diploma or HiSET/GED for admission to the Practical Nursing Programs. The Tennessee Board of Nursing requires Practical Nursing applicants to take HESI Test as a measure of their ability to be successful in the program. The HESI Assessment Test is administered as part of the application process for admission to the Practical Nursing Program at TCAT Elizabethton. The HESI Assessment Test may be exempt with proof of an Associate, Bachelor, or Master’s degree. Students that graduate in the current year may also be exempt from testing if they have a 19 or better in all areas of the ACT test.
Students attending the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Elizabethton who do not have a high school diploma or HiSET (High School Equivalency Test) are encouraged to prepare to take the HiSET test. TCAT Elizabethton is a testing site for the HiSET Test, the high school diploma equivalency test. Achievement of the diploma often means improved employment opportunities, receipt of financial assistance, and improved personal self-esteem.
Students that don’t have a high school diploma or HiSET are not eligible for federal financial aid (FAFSA). The HiSET test is given in the Tech Foundations Computer Lab at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Elizabethton.
Exams for the National Commission for Certifying Agencies nationally accredited certifications for allied health professionals are administered in Tech Foundations. They include: Certified Phlebotomy Technician; Certified Medical Administrative Assistant; Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist; and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist.
ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) exams are segmented by sub-specialty such as automobile, medium/heavy truck, truck equipment, school bus, collision repair, and more. There are 40-plus exams available to discern the automotive service technicians’ knowledge of job-related skills.
The Student Services Coordinators are responsible for conducting student orientations to acquaint new students with policies, functions, and personnel of the institution. Students are notified of an orientation date and attend orientation prior to entry. Practical Nursing students attend a Practical Nursing orientation conducted by the Student Services Coordinators and the Director of the Practical Nursing Program.
The objective of the orientation program is to ensure that all students are informed of all areas of service available. Orientation includes information about the policies and procedures, serves to answer and clarify any questions new students may have, emphasizes the students’ responsibilities, and introduces students to the administration, support services and faculty.
TCAT Elizabethton is a drug-free, smoke-free campus.