Knoxville’s lowest-cost route into a trade is TCAT Knoxville, where a full-time trimester costs $1,541 and Tennessee Promise or Reconnect can cover the tuition; Pellissippi State is the area’s community college. For electricians, the union Electrician Training Academy pays apprentices from day one. South College, Ross and the University of Tennessee cover nursing and health careers. This page compares the 5 Knoxville schools we have profiled.
Knoxville at a glance
- Schools listed
- 5: TCAT Knoxville, the University of Tennessee, 1 union apprenticeship and 2 health colleges
- Lowest-cost route
- TCAT Knoxville, $1,541 a trimester; Pellissippi State, $197 a credit; Tennessee Promise and Reconnect can cover the tuition left after other grants
- Earn while you learn
- Electrician Training Academy: four-year union apprenticeship, $19.41 an hour to start, $3,750 in total costs
- Nursing and health
- Practical nursing at TCAT Knoxville; nursing and imaging at South College; BSN at UT; medical and dental assisting at Ross (30 to 36 weeks)
- Licensed trades
- Contractors on jobs of $25,000 or more; Knox County also requires a home improvement license for remodeling jobs of $3,000 to $24,999
- Local median pay
- Electricians $58,640; HVAC mechanics $56,780; welders $48,040; LPNs $57,960; registered nurses $77,240 (Knoxville area, BLS 2025)
- More in Tennessee
- All Tennessee trade schools, including Northeast State and Ross Johnson City in the Tri-Cities
Facts checked October 2026. Sources are linked in each section and in each school’s profile.
Knoxville Trade Schools and Vocational Schools
Grouped by type, not ranked. Each school links to a full profile with programs, outcomes and sources. Each trade’s pay, length and license are in Trades and licensing.
Public colleges (2)
Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT)
TCAT Knoxville is one of the 22 public colleges of applied technology, teaching full-time clock-hour certificates and diplomas in trades such as welding, HVAC/R, industrial electricity and truck driving, plus nursing aide and practical nursing. Program fees run $75 to $300 a trimester on top of tuition, and the college puts its full cost of attendance, with living costs, at $18,389 to $25,324 a year.
- Length
- Diplomas about a year (a full-time trimester is 432 hours); truck driving and some certificates shorter
- Accredited
- Council on Occupational Education, each college separately
- Federal aid
- Yes, through each college; Tennessee Promise, Reconnect and the Wilder-Naifeh grant
Cost: $1,541 a full-time trimester (2026-27); program fees $75 (nursing aide), $100 (HVAC/R, practical nursing, welding) and $300 (truck driving) a trimester
View school profile →The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
UT is not a trade school, but three career routes fit this page: a CCNE-accredited BSN (four-year, BSN Scholars with UT Medical Center, or a 12-month accelerated track for degree holders), an online RN to BSN and an online Applied Cybersecurity bachelor’s. It also runs an 8-week, $6,249 non-degree culinary certificate, which does not take federal aid.
- Length
- 8 weeks (culinary) to 4 years (bachelor’s); accelerated BSN 12 months
- Accredited
- The Commission on Colleges and Universities (formerly SACSCOC); nursing CCNE
- Federal aid
- Yes for degrees; not for the culinary certificate
Cost: $14,024 a year in tuition and fees for Tennessee residents, $34,478 out of state (2026-27)
View school profile →Paid apprenticeship (1)
Electrician Training Academy (IBEW Local 760 / NECA)
ETAK is the union inside-wireman apprenticeship for the Knoxville area. A union contractor hires you, you are paid from day one ($19.41 an hour to start, rising to $27.50) and you take evening classes for four years alongside 8,000 hours of work, ending at journeyman level. Pellissippi State college credit is included.
- Length
- 4 years (8,000 work hours plus classes)
- Accredited
- None applies (apprenticeship committee)
- Federal aid
- No (you earn wages instead)
Cost: $3,750 for all four years, per ETAK; union dues once working
View school profile →Health colleges (2)
South College
South College began in Knoxville in 1882 and its main campus has its widest program range, including the only paralegal degree (ABA-approved). Practical and registered nursing, radiography, sonography, surgical technology, PTA and physician assistant programs run here, with Hillcrest Healthcare as a clinical partner. Its Tennessee practical nursing pass rate fell to 85% in 2025.
- Length
- Certificates of about 3 to 12 months; associate degrees about 2 years
- Accredited
- The Commission on Colleges and Universities (formerly SACSCOC)
- Federal aid
- Yes; Tennessee HOPE, Aspire, Promise and Reconnect
Cost: $5,775 a quarter (practical nursing, medical assisting) or $7,325 (imaging, PTA, nursing major), plus a $695 technology fee (2025-26)
View school profile →Ross Medical Education Center
Ross’s two Tennessee campuses teach only medical assisting (30 weeks by day or 36 in the evening) and dental assisting (36 weeks), each with a six-week externship. Ross’s Tennessee disclosure warns that its credits may not transfer to other colleges.
- Length
- 30 to 36 weeks, including a 6-week externship
- Accredited
- ABHES
- Federal aid
- Yes; GI Bill, MyCAA and WIOA
Cost: $15,990 tuition plus a $307 technology fee for either program (2023-24, the latest published)
View school profile →No profiled schools on this page match. The public colleges below may still teach it, or see all Tennessee trade schools.
Public colleges: Pellissippi State Community College; Roane State Community College; Walters State Community College; TCAT Knoxville; TCAT Jacksboro; TCAT Harriman; TCAT Morristown; TCAT Oneida/Huntsville. Remington and Strayer have closed their Knoxville campuses.
- A certificate is not a license. Tennessee licenses contractors on jobs of $25,000 or more; for smaller electrical and plumbing jobs, check whether Knoxville and Knox County or the state issues your permit.
- ETAK apprentices must first be hired by a union contractor; ask ETAK about application dates.
- Ross’s Tennessee disclosure warns that its credits may not transfer to other colleges.
- UT’s culinary certificate is not eligible for federal aid.
More in Tennessee: All Tennessee trade schools
Where to start, by goal
| Your goal | Schools to consider | What it leads to |
|---|---|---|
| Electrician | Electrician Training Academy (paid, 4 years); TCAT Knoxville (industrial electricity) | Journeyman level; LLE or local license for small jobs, contractor license at $25,000 |
| HVAC or welding | TCAT Knoxville (HVAC/R, welding) | EPA 608 for HVAC; employer weld tests |
| Truck driver | TCAT Knoxville (truck driving) | Tennessee commercial driver’s license |
| Nurse (LPN or RN) | TCAT Knoxville (practical nursing); South College (LPN, RN); UT (BSN, including a 12-month accelerated track) | NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN and a Tennessee nursing license |
| Medical or dental assistant | Ross (30 to 36 weeks); South College (medical assisting) | National certification |
| Cybersecurity | UT (online Applied Cybersecurity bachelor’s) | Degree plus industry certifications |
These match goals to published program features. They are not rankings.
Costs and financial aid
TCATs charge one flat rate a trimester and community colleges charge by the credit, with no separate in-district rate; private schools charge by the program. These are the prices each school published, with the date.
| Route | Example | Cost | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCAT | TCAT Knoxville | $1,541 a full-time trimester, plus $75 to $300 in program fees | 2026-27 |
| Community college | Pellissippi State, Roane State, Walters State | $197 a credit for Tennessee residents, $342 out of state, plus fees | 2026-27 |
| Apprenticeship | Electrician Training Academy | $3,750 for all four years while you earn $19.41 an hour and up | 2026 |
| Health college | Ross; South College | Ross medical or dental assisting $15,990 plus $307; South College $5,775 to $7,325 a quarter plus a $695 technology fee | 2023-24; 2025-26 |
| University | UT Knoxville | $14,024 a year in tuition and fees for residents; culinary certificate $6,249 | 2026-27 |
Books, tools, uniforms, program fees and licensing exam fees are often extra. Ask any school for the total in writing before you sign. School prices are from our school profiles, where the original sources are linked.
Paying for training
- Tennessee Promise: a last-dollar scholarship that covers tuition and mandatory fees not paid by other grants at any of the 13 community colleges and 22 TCATs, for students starting right after a Tennessee high school. You apply in your senior year, file the FAFSA, attend a meeting and do community service each year.
- Tennessee Reconnect: the same last-dollar help for adults who want an associate degree, technical degree or diploma at a community college, or a diploma or certificate at a TCAT. It pays what is left of tuition and mandatory fees after Pell and other state aid.
- Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant: up to $2,000 a year ($667 a trimester in 2026-27) for TCAT certificate and diploma students, with no grade or income requirement. File the FAFSA.
- HOPE Scholarship: $1,600 a semester at a community college (2026-27) for recent Tennessee graduates with a 21 ACT or a 3.0 high school GPA; also usable at eligible four-year and private colleges such as South College.
- Federal aid: the schools on this page take Pell Grants and federal loans through the FAFSA, except the union electrical apprenticeship, which is a paid job and does not use federal aid.
- Paid apprenticeships: electrical apprentices such as those at the Electrician Training Academy in Knoxville are paid from day one and pay little or no tuition.
Trade pathways and licensing
How each trade works in Tennessee, how long training takes, what it pays and which license you need. Pay is the Knoxville-area median annual wage for all experience levels (BLS 2025, via O*NET OnLine).
Electrical
Tennessee licenses electrical contractors, plus limited licensed electricians in some towns. Most electricians start as apprentices or helpers with a contractor, often while taking TCAT or community college classes. For your own jobs under $25,000, the state’s limited licensed electrician (LLE) license (by trade exam) is required only where the town uses the state’s Division of Fire Prevention for permits and inspections. Many cities and counties run their own electrical licensing and permits, so check with yours first. Jobs of $25,000 or more need an electrical contractor license from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, with a business and law exam and a trade exam.
- Length
- About a year (TCAT) to 4 years (paid apprenticeship)
- Knoxville-area median pay
- $58,640 electricians
- License
- LLE (jobs under $25,000, where the state issues permits) or electrical contractor license ($25,000 and up); local rules in many cities
Schools on this page: Electrician Training Academy (IBEW Local 760 and NECA, 12 East Tennessee counties, with Pellissippi State credit); TCAT Knoxville (industrial electricity).
Sources: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors license pages; our school profiles.
Step-by-step guides: How to become an electrician in Tennessee
HVAC, welding and truck driving
Plumbing follows the same pattern: a limited licensed plumber (LLP) license for jobs under $25,000 where the state issues permits, and a plumbing or full mechanical contractor license for jobs of $25,000 or more. HVAC contractors need a license (CMC-C trade exam) at $25,000 and up, and HVAC technicians need federal EPA 608 certification to handle refrigerants. Remodelers need a home improvement license for home jobs of $3,000 to $24,999 in nine counties, including Davidson, Shelby, Knox and Hamilton. Welders and carpenters need no state license.
- Length
- Certificates of a trimester to diplomas of about a year
Schools on this page: TCAT Knoxville (HVAC/R, welding, truck driving) and the other East Tennessee TCATs.
A school certificate is not a license. Tennessee contractor exams are run by Prov from 1 July 2026, and the board lists licensed exam prep providers on its site. Sources: Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors license pages; our school profiles.
Step-by-step guides: HVAC schools in Tennessee · Welding schools in Tennessee · Plumbing schools in Tennessee
Nursing and healthcare
Nurses are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Nursing after the NCLEX. Every TCAT runs a board-approved practical nursing program; in 2025 their first-time NCLEX-PN pass rates ranged from 79% to 97%, against a state average of 87.89%. Check each program’s approval, accreditation and recent pass rate before you apply. Medical and dental assistants usually earn national certification.
- Length
- 30 weeks (medical assisting by day) to about a year (practical nursing) and 4 years (BSN)
Schools on this page: TCAT Knoxville (nursing aide, practical nursing); South College (nursing, imaging, surgical technology, PTA, physician assistant); UT (BSN); Ross (assisting).
South College’s Tennessee practical nursing pass rate was 85% in 2025, down from 94% to 96% in 2021-24. Sources: our school profiles.
Step-by-step guides: How to become a surgical tech in Tennessee
Frequently asked questions
What are the best trade schools in Knoxville?
It depends on the trade. TCAT Knoxville is the lowest-cost route for welding, HVAC, industrial electricity, truck driving and practical nursing. For electricians, the Electrician Training Academy runs a paid four-year union apprenticeship. South College, Ross and UT cover nursing and health careers. We list schools by type, not by rank.
How much does trade school cost in Knoxville?
A full-time trimester at TCAT Knoxville costs $1,541 in tuition and fees in 2026-27, plus $75 to $300 in program fees, and Tennessee Promise or Reconnect can cover the tuition left after other grants. Ross lists $15,990 for medical or dental assisting (2023-24), and the union electrical apprenticeship costs $3,750 over four years while you earn wages.
How do I join the electrical apprenticeship in Knoxville?
The Electrician Training Academy (IBEW Local 760 and the East Tennessee Chapter of NECA) runs the four-year inside-wireman apprenticeship for 12 East Tennessee counties. A union contractor hires you, you earn $19.41 an hour to start, rising to $27.50, and you take evening classes; total costs are $3,750.
How do I become an electrician in Tennessee?
Most Tennessee electricians start as an apprentice or helper with an electrical contractor, often while taking a TCAT electrical program or, in the Knoxville area, through the union’s four-year paid apprenticeship. To do jobs of your own under $25,000, you need the state’s limited licensed electrician (LLE) license by exam where the town uses the state for permits, or the local license where the city runs its own; jobs of $25,000 or more need an electrical contractor license from the Board for Licensing Contractors.
Does Remington College still have a Knoxville campus?
No. Remington’s Knoxville campus has closed; its Tennessee campuses are now in Nashville and Memphis. Strayer’s Knoxville campus is also no longer in its catalog.
Facts checked October 2026. School facts come from each school’s profile on this site, where the original sources are linked; public college links from the Tennessee Board of Regents. Licensing rules are from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (contractor, LLE, LLP and home improvement license pages), read November 2026, with aid amounts from the College Foundation of Tennessee and tnreconnect.gov. Pay figures are Knoxville-area median annual wages from BLS 2025 data, via O*NET OnLine.