Professional Licensure Disclosures
Columbia State Community College offers courses, certificate programs and associate degrees that may lead to professional licensure and/or certification. Completion of these programs require student participation in the state of Tennessee. Academic Paths listed below at Columbia State meet requirements of the state of Tennessee to test for certification and apply for licensure when required by TN for employment in that occupation. Requirements for licensure or certification and eligibility for employment in other states may vary. Columbia State has made every effort to ensure the information listed below is correct; however, state requirements may change following the publication of this information. This webpage is updated every year in May – June. Columbia State offers additional programs and courses that may lead to professional or industry recognized licensure or certification. If such award was not a TN state requirement for employment at the time of webpage update those additional programs will not be listed below.
Students pursuing one of the programs below who live outside of Tennessee or plan to move to another state are warned there may be additional requirements needed to obtain licensure or certification in another state. Consult the appropriate state licensing/certification board to determine if the chosen program of study will meet the requirements in the state(s) where you intend to seek employment. Columbia State has not determined requirements if requirements are met for licensure in all states or territories of the United States. Please contact the appropriate licensing board in the state where you intend to seek licensure regarding the requirements if that state is not included in description below. Students needing additional information can contact the Columbia State program officials via email provided.
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician - Upon successful completion, the candidate is eligible to receive a Technical Certificate and challenge the National Registry exam to obtain National Certification as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and apply for a Tennessee State license as an AEMT. Information is available from the Tennessee Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services Board. Initial AEMT License Requirements in TN are available online. For additional information from a Columbia State program official email Greg Johnson at gjohnson27@ColumbiaState.edu.
Table: Professional Licensure by State
Emergency Medical Technician - Upon successful completion, the candidate is eligible to receive a Technical Certificate and challenge the National Registry exam to obtain National Certification as an Emergency Medical Technician and apply for a Tennessee State license as an EMT. Information is available from the Tennessee Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services Board. Initial EMT License Requirements in TN are available online. For additional information from Columbia State a program official email Greg Johnson at gjohnson27@ColumbiaState.edu.
Table: Professional Licensure by State
Medical Laboratory Technology – Upon successful completion of the program students are awarded the Associate of Applied Science degree and qualify for testing with certifying bodies such as the American Society of Clinical Pathologists Board of Registry resulting in MLT (ASCP) credentials and/or with American Medical Technologists resulting in MLT (AMT) credentials. MLT Licensure in TN is controlled by the Tennessee Department of Health, Medical Laboratory Board. For additional information from a Columbia State program official email Lisa Harmon at lharmon4@ColumbiaState.edu.
Table: Professional Licensure by State
Nursing - Students who successfully complete the planned learning activities in the Nursing Program's curriculum earn the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. The Columbia State Nursing graduate is eligible to apply to the Tennessee State Board of Nursing to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) pending individual approval from the state board of nursing. The Tennessee State Board of Nursing (TBON) provides online information for application and licensure for Nursing in Tennessee. For information regarding application and licensure in other states, NC-SARA provides a list with websites/contacts for State Boards of Nursing within the United States. Tennessee is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), allowing graduates to apply for multi-state licensure. With a multi-state license, one may practice in other NLC states and territories without additional licensing requirements. For additional information from a Columbia State program official, email Dr. Amy Huff at ahuff4@ColumbiaState.edu.
Table: Professional Licensure by State
Paramedic - Upon successful completion, the candidate is eligible to receive a Technical Certificate and challenge the National Registry exam to obtain National Registry Certification and Tennessee Paramedic licensure. Information is available from the Tennessee Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services Board. Initial Paramedic License Requirements in TN are available online. For additional information from Columbia State program officials email Greg Johnson at gjohnson27@ColumbiaState.edu.
Table: Professional Licensure by State
Respiratory Care - Upon successful completion of the program students are awarded the Associate of Applied Science degree, are eligible sit for both the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) exams administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), and are eligible to apply for licensure by the Tennessee Department of Health, Board of Respiratory Care. The TN Board of Respiratory Care provides online information for application and licensure. For additional information from a Columbia State program official email Program Director Cindy Smith at csmith172@ColumbiaState.edu.
Table: Professional Licensure by State
Veterinary Technology - Upon successful completion of the program students are awarded the Associate of Applied Science degree, are eligible for the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), and to apply for licensure by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners as a Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician (LVMT) in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health, Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners provides online information for application and licensure for Veterinary Medical Technicians. For additional information from Columbia State program officials email VetTech@ColumbiaState.edu.
Table: Professional Licensure by State