CPE Financial Aid

Paying for education is an investment in your future, and we want to help make it possible. UTC’s Center for Professional Education offers several funding options that may help reduce the cost of your program.

If you have questions about eligibility or the application process, contact CPE at 423-425-4344 or [email protected].

If you are currently a UTC undergraduate or graduate student and are interested in enrolling in a CPE program, please contact CPE before applying for financial aid to confirm eligibility and available options.

Payment Plans:

CPE understands that paying for professional development all at once may not always be possible. To help make our programs more accessible, we offer payment plan options for select courses.

Payment plans allow students to divide tuition into multiple payments over the duration of the program.

Payment plans are currently available for:

If you are interested in using a payment plan, contact the CPE Registration Team at 423-425-4344 or [email protected].

How Payment Plans Work

Contact the CPE Registration Team to request a payment plan and review the terms and conditions.
Submit the required initial deposit and administrative fee to reserve your seat.
Complete and return the payment plan agreement form provided by CPE.
Remaining payments will be divided into scheduled installments based on the program timeline.

Students are responsible for submitting installment payments by the listed due dates.

Eligibility
Payment plans are subject to approval and must meet the following requirements:

Course tuition must be at least $500.
A minimum 25% deposit is required at registration.
A $35 administrative fee applies.
The remaining balance will be divided into two or three installments.
Payment plans may include up to four total payments.

Payment Schedule

Payments must be received by 5:00 PM ET on the scheduled due date.
Due dates may fall on the 1st, 15th, or last day of the month, depending on the plan.
If a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, payment is due the prior business day.
Discount codes must be applied at the time of registration and cannot be applied later.

Accepted Payment Methods
Payments may be made:

By credit or debit card
In person or by phone through the CPE Registration Team
Cash is accepted in person.
Checks are not accepted.

Students should confirm their daily card spending limits with their financial institution if needed.

Important Policies

Payment plans are offered as a convenience and are not guaranteed.
All payments and fees are non-refundable.
Once enrolled, your seat in the program is reserved.
Late or missed payments may result in removal from the program without a refund and may affect eligibility for future payment plans.

If CPE cancels a program, students will receive a full refund.

Ready to Get Started?
To request a payment plan or learn more about your options, contact the CPE Registration Team at 423-425-4344 or [email protected]

Discounts

CPE offers select discounts to help make professional development more accessible. Available discounts may vary by program.

Southeast Tennessee SHRM Member Discount
Members of Southeast Tennessee SHRM receive a 10% discount on CPE-facilitated SHRM Exam Prep courses.
To receive the discount code or confirm eligibility, contact CPE at 423-425-4344 or [email protected].

Corporate Discounts
Organizations interested in enrolling multiple employees may qualify for a corporate discount.
To learn how your company can participate, contact CPE at 423-425-4344 or [email protected].

Discount Guidelines

Discounts cannot be combined with other promotions or offers.
If multiple discounts are available, the highest applicable discount will be applied.
Discounts are valid for individual registrations only, unless otherwise specified.
Promotional or flash sale discounts may have limited availability and expiration dates.

Employer Payment Options

Many employers support professional development by covering the cost of employee training. CPE offers several ways for organizations to pay for employee enrollment.

Option 1: Employer Payment at Registration
Employers may pay for an employee’s course directly through the CPE registration site using a credit card.
Employees may also choose the invoice option at checkout, allowing the employer to submit payment separately by check.

Option 2: Employer Education Voucher
Employers may provide an education or tuition voucher authorizing payment for an employee’s enrollment.
The voucher must include:

Student’s name
Employer name and address
Course(s) the student will enroll in
Total amount approved for payment

Once the voucher is received, CPE will process the student’s enrollment and invoice the employer directly.

Please note: CPE cannot accept vouchers with payment restrictions such as:

Payment is issued only after the course is completed
Payment is dependent on final grades or course outcomes

To learn more or if you have any questions, contact CPE at 423-425-4344 or [email protected]

Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loan

The UTC Center for Professional Education (CPE) partners with Sallie Mae to offer private student loan options that may help cover the cost of select programs.

These loans are designed for career training programs and can help students spread tuition costs over time.

Loan Features

Fixed or variable interest rate options
Flexible repayment terms (5–15 years)
No penalty for early repayment
Online account management and customer support
U.S.-based loan origination and servicing

To review current interest rates and additional details, visit: www.salliemae.com/ratesheet

Repayment Options
Borrowers may choose one of the following repayment options:

Deferred Repayment
No scheduled payments while enrolled in the program. Payments begin six months after leaving school.

Fixed Repayment
Pay a small fixed amount each month while enrolled (for example, $25/month), which may reduce the overall loan cost.

Interest Repayment
Pay monthly interest while enrolled. This option may reduce the total cost of the loan compared to a deferred repayment plan.

Interest Rate Discounts
Sallie Mae offers potential interest rate reductions for eligible borrowers:

0.25% rate reduction for enrolling in automatic payments
0.5% rate reduction for selecting Fixed Repayment
1% rate reduction for selecting Interest Repayment

Applying for a Sallie Mae Loan
To apply for the Smart Option Student Loan, follow these steps:

Visit: https://www.salliemae.com/sosl/00352998
Click “I Am Ready to Apply for a Loan.”
Select your role:
1. Student
2. Cosigner
3. Parent/Sponsor
Choose Career Training School.
Select University of Tennessee Chattanooga – Center for Professional Education.
Select Smart Option Student Loan.
Complete the application (approximately 15 minutes).

Once your application is submitted, a UTC representative will contact you within 1–2 business days regarding next steps.

Important Note
Some programs fill quickly. If you plan to apply for a student loan, begin the loan application process early to allow enough time for approval and enrollment.

To learn more or if you have any questions, contact CPE at 423-425-4344 or [email protected]

Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA)

The Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a federal workforce development program that may cover the cost of job training for eligible individuals.

WIOA funding is typically available to:

Individuals who have been laid off or dislocated from employment
Individuals whose household income is at or below federal poverty guidelines
Individuals seeking a second-chance opportunity
Eligible youth, adults, and dislocated workers seeking job training

The UTC Center for Professional Education (CPE) is listed on the Eligible Training Providers List (ETPL), meaning several CPE programs qualify for WIOA funding consideration.

Programs Currently Approved for WIOA Funding

How to Apply for WIOA Funding

Complete the WIOA interest form by visiting the local AJC website, then select "Connect with Us."
After submitting the form, a WIOA coordinator will contact you within 1–2 weeks to begin the application process.
For faster service, you may visit the American Job Center (AJC) in person or schedule an appointment:

American Job Center
4501 Amnicola Highway
CBIH Building – 2nd Floor, Suite 240
Chattanooga, TN
423-894-4354

Important Information
The WIOA application and approval process may take several weeks, so applicants are encouraged to begin the process early.

Please note:

UTC Center for Professional Education cannot determine WIOA eligibility.
Eligibility decisions are made solely through the official WIOA application process.
CPE staff cannot advise applicants on their eligibility or funding status.

Once your WIOA funding is approved and paperwork is completed, a UTC representative will contact you with instructions for enrolling in your program.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Course Funding & Employment Opportunities

Local healthcare organizations partner with UTC’s Center for Professional Education to sponsor students in the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program.

Qualified students may have their CNA training paid for in full. In return, students agree to begin full-time employment with the sponsoring employer upon completion of the program.

Participating employers may include:

Life Care Centers of America
Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation

Eligibility
To qualify for employer-sponsored CNA training, students must:

Be at least 18 years old
Have a high school diploma or GED
Be willing to work full-time for the sponsoring employer for up to one year after completing the program

Learn More
To learn more about employer sponsorship opportunities and determine if you qualify, schedule a call with our Program Coordinator.

UTC Employee Transfer Vouchers

UTC faculty and staff may use a departmental transfer voucher to pay for eligible CPE programs.

When registering for a course, select the invoice option at checkout. CPE will then coordinate payment through a transfer voucher with the appropriate departmental approval.

For questions about using a transfer voucher, contact CPE at 423-425-4344 or [email protected]

1098-T & Other Tax Information

Non-credit bearing courses do not qualify for a 1098-T. Learn more here: Qualified Ed Expenses | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)