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TCAT Dickson to open LPN program in Houston County with $2 million THEC grant
Summary
TCAT Dickson said it will open a one-year licensed practical nurse (LPN) program at the county's former 911 building, funded through a $2 million Tennessee Higher Education Commission grant, plus free CPR and grocery assistance tied to the grant.
Levi Mayer, vice president of academics at TCAT Dickson, told commissioners that TCAT received a $2,000,000 rural health care grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission and plans to open a one-year Licensed Practical Nurse program in Houston County using the county's old 911 building. The first cohort is planned to begin in August 2026 and will enroll 20–24 students per year, Mayer said.
The nut graf: TCAT officials said the move aims to address a statewide shortage of practical nurses — Mayer cited a growing number of LPN jobs and a low candidate-to-opening ratio — by offering local training, free CPR certification and career exploration for high-school students, and grocery assistance for rural health-care students during training.
Mayer said there are about 1,054 LPN job openings in Tennessee and annual job growth near 1.81%; he said only about three applicants appear per 100 openings in the cited statistic. The LPN program will include 1,296 clock hours and is intended to fit a schedule that attracts recent high-school graduates. TCAT will offer free CPR certification and career-exploration sessions to Houston County high-school students and employees; the THEC grant will also provide grocery assistance to enrolled rural-health students during their year-long training.
Mayer reported historical program performance for TCAT’s LPN track: a 96% program completion rate, 96% placement of completers into nursing fields, and a 100% licensure pass rate for their graduates. He asked commissioners and the public to help spread the word to potential students and community partners.
Discussion was primarily informational. Commissioners did not take formal action on the program during the meeting; county staff and TCAT representatives said they had received approval to begin spending grant funds and would proceed with coordination and outreach for enrollment.
Mayer urged outreach to local high schools and the community so enrollment would meet the program’s capacity and ensure sustainability. He said the first cohort is planned to start the first Monday in August 2026 and that cohorts thereafter would run annually.
No formal county appropriation or contractual vote was recorded for the program at this meeting; commissioners thanked the presenters and encouraged promotion of the program to students and local employers.
