CLARKSVILLE, TN – The Clarksville campus of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) expects to award diplomas this month to the first seven graduates in the college’s Building Construction Technology program, which was first offered in September 2019.
The Clarksville campus has 22 students currently enrolled in the program, with seven expected to graduate, and local businesses are already actively recruiting them, according to Clarksville program instructor Tom Bleyle.
The BCT program offers students formal instruction and hands-on training in carpentry, block, and bricklaying, as well as residential electrical wiring and plumbing. Students who successfully complete the 12-month program will earn a carpentry diploma, with the option to continue another eight months to earn an additional general construction diploma.
Chris Travis, the owner of Travis Electrical Service, said he counts it an honor to serve on the Building Construction and Industrial Maintenance program advisory committees at TCAT.
“Owning a business in the trades, I have seen firsthand the tremendous skills gap and shortage of qualified tradespeople in our country,” Travis said. “It is past time that we encourage more students to seek out quality training in the trades. I applaud the great work that TCAT is doing to prepare quality workers for a rewarding career.”
Anyone interested in the program should complete an online application at https://tcatdickson.edu/future-students/admissions. To request more information and/or a tour of the college facilities, applicants can contact Lisa Sullivan at 934-572-1694 (Clarksville campus) or Cary Oliver at 615-441-6221 (Dickson campus).