Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions

Foreign students must present proof of permanent residency in the United States. The Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology are authorized to enroll immigrants/permanent resident students who provide the school with a resident alien card (Form 1-551) or other acceptable document to verify permanent resident status. The school is not approved by INS to accept foreign nationals.

Possibly. An individual may be given credit for skills and knowledge obtained in high school or at another post-secondary institution. If you think you are eligible for advanced placement credit, see Placement Tests and Transfer Credit for more information.
 

To begin the application process, visit the Admissions page and follow the instructions for how to apply.

Many TCATs offer high school students the opportunity to earn dual enrollment credit (credit at high school and credit at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology). Opportunities for dual enrollment vary by campus.

Eligible students must have completed at least the sophomore year of high school with a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Requests for exceptions may be submitted to the Student Services Coordinator of the college.

In order to apply for dual enrollment, be sure to select “Dual Enrollment HS Students Only” on your application for admission. Also submit a completed application form authorized by TSAC regarding Dual Enrollment and a written recommendation from the high school principal, teacher, or counselor.

Students earning a diploma in a full-time program must wait a minimum of six months before being allowed to enroll in another program. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Admission to the FOUR RIVERS REGIONAL PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM is open to anyone 18 years old or older who have met the following criteria for enrollment:

• Complete and return the Tennessee College of Applied Technology application form.
• Submit evidence of high school graduation or GED equivalency.
• Candidates making or having acceptable entrance scores will be given a nursing packet that must be completed:

1. Four Rivers Regional application form
2. Three Letters of Work Reference (If there is no work history, qualifying character references will be accepted)
3. Official College, University or Technology school transcripts of previous education
4. Copy of current Immunizations

• Candidates completing above requirements will be sent a letter of invite to a mandatory orientation session. (Other paperwork will be completed at this time)
• Physical exam within three months of the start of the program. Medical clearance is required for preexisting conditions that could hinder performance. Examples: back injury, asthma, recurrent bronchitis, etc.
• Must have the ability to communicate and relate to persons of diverse ethnic, cultural, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Must be able to exhibit positive mental attitudes during periods of increased activity in stressful situations.
• The applicant shall exhibit good emotional and physical health.
• The applicant shall possess desirable qualities, attributes, and the ability to benefit from instruction.
• All who enter the health care field require the currently recommended series of Hepatitis B vaccines or a signed declination statement. (Refer to the most current adult immunization schedule available.)
• Submit credentials for review and recommendation by the Nursing Advisory Committee.
• A Nursing Advisory Committee will consider all qualifying applicants and recommend eligible applicants for acceptance into the FOUR RIVERS REGIONAL PRACTICAL NURSING PROGRAM. Acceptance into the Practical Nursing Program is not automatic, even though the applicant may be academically qualified and recommended by the Advisory Committee.
• Report for enrollment upon notification by letter from the school.

Class size is limited by clinical and classroom space as well as faculty availability. All admission criteria must be met before an applicant will be considered for a class. A letter from the College will notify applicants whether or not they are accepted into the Nursing Program.

The Math Component focuses on math skills needed for health care fields, including basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, decimals, ratio and proportion, household measures, general math facts, etc.

The Reading Comprehension Component provides scenarios to measure reading comprehension, identifying the main idea, finding meaning of words in context, passage comprehension, making logical inferences, etc.

The Critical Thinking Component (not scored) is intended to provide the student and faculty with a brief “snapshot” of critical thinking ability in usual situations encountered in health care settings and has the following sub-categories: problem solving; biases and ethical dilemmas; argument analysis; and analysis of data.

The HESI is timed exam.

We will provide students with a calculator and scratch paper for the exam.

Students can purchase an Admission Assessment Exam Review book online at: https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9780323353786?role=student. Use promotion code #92633 for a 25% discount and free shipping. 

Students may also visit https://evolve.elsevier.com/studentlife/hesi.html.

Approved nursing entrance exam scores must be within two years of the class starting.

We currently accept 3 nursing entrance exams.  You only have to take and pass 1 of the 3 to be considered for the class.

• HESI – score of 70% on both the Math and Reading Comprehension Components
• ACT – scores of 19 in math and reading are acceptable for those less than 20 years old when the class starts
• Compass – 50 in Math (Pre-Algebra) and 80 in Reading (Compass is no longer given at the TCATs)

Passing scores are valid for two years for the Practical Nursing program. 

Best scores are accepted, not necessarily latest.  Math and Reading scores must come from the same entrance exam.

For our Day September 2017 class, the deadline is 3 p.m. on July 21, 2017.

For our Evening/Weekend October 2017 class, the deadline is 3 p.m. on August 23, 2017.

If you have taken an approved nursing entrance exam previously at this College, you must come to TCAT Covington and submit updated contact information, so that we can pull your scores and provide you with a Nursing Packet. If you tested at another testing center, it is your responsibility to get the official passing scores to TCAT Covington and complete updated contact information and receive a Nursing Packet.  Complete passing scores must be hand delivered to TCAT Covington. You must come in on Thursdays to submit your scores and update contact information.  We will not accept faxed scores.

Candidates wishing to enter Four Rivers Regional Practical Nursing Program must pass an approved entrance exam (as listed below). Upon successful completion of this requirement, the candidate will be handed a nursing packet to be completed by a specified date. This packet explains the requirements that must be submitted in order for the candidate to be invited to orientation.  Requirements consist of:

• Official high school /GED and college transcripts
• Proof of immunizations
• Letters of references (only current ones accepted) 
• College and nursing applications

If all requirements have been submitted by the designated deadline, a candidate will receive a letter of invitation to orientation in the mail.  Orientation is mandatory. Upon successful completion of these steps, the candidate will be submitted to the practical nursing advisory board committee who will select the students for the upcoming class. All candidates will receive an official letter in the mail in regards to whether they were selected for the program or not. Those candidates accepted in the program are responsible for contacting the college to confirm acceptance of this position or an alternate may/will be asked to fill the seat.

Approved Entrance Exams

We currently accept 3 nursing entrance exams.  You only have to take and pass 1 of the 3 to be considered for the class.

• HESI – score of 70% on both the Math and Reading Comprehension Components
• ACT – scores of 19 in math and reading are acceptable for those less than 20 years old when the class starts
• Compass – 50 in Math (Pre-Algebra) and 80 in Reading (Compass is no longer given at the TCATs)

Passing scores are valid for two years for the Practical Nursing program. 

Best scores are accepted, not necessarily latest.  Math and Reading scores must come from the same entrance exam.

The HESI exam cost is $40. The HESI exam is one test with the parts all inclusive. NO partial tests will be given. You must come to the college and pay the non-refundable/non-transferable testing fee of $40 in cash (no checks or credit/debit cards accepted) to reserve a testing date and time. Limited seating is available. 

You must register for the HESI on Thursdays only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At registration, you will be notified of your testing date and time.

Please allow 3 hours for the testing process.

Your application will be reviewed and you will be notified as to whether you are accepted into the program. If you are accepted but the program is full, your name will be placed on a waiting list according to your application’s date of completion. You will be notified when a vacancy occurs. If you refuse the first vacancy, Student Services may delay your entry into the next available slot. If you refuse a second offer of vacancy, you will be removed from the waiting list entirely.

If your desired program has a long waiting list, you will periodically receive letters from Student Services to determine your continued interest. If you do not respond to the letter in an appropriate time period, you will be removed from the waiting list.