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Maintenance technicians who work in Tennessee have many duties and responsibilities that keep equipment and systems running smoothly every day.
They use their specialized skills and training for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing equipment and systems in places like medical facilities, apartment buildings, and other businesses.
Maintenance technicians are also responsible for adhering to safety standards and performing routine preventive maintenance.
They learn the comprehensive skills that they need by following the steps to becoming a maintenance technician in Tennessee.
Anyone who wants to work in this growing field needs to know these steps to become a maintenance technician in Tennessee.
Article Table of Contents
Steps to Become a Maintenance Technician in Tennessee
Following the steps to becoming a maintenance technician in Tennessee is important for people who choose this career.
These steps help people to get started in their careers and can help them advance their careers.
Step 1: Get a High School Diploma or GED
Getting a high school diploma or earning a GED is the first step towards having a career as a maintenance technician in Tennessee.
Students can take courses that may help them when they start their training program and their career.
Step 2: Understand the Difference between Maintenance Technicians and Similar Jobs
Several careers have duties and responsibilities that are similar to those of maintenance technicians.
It is important for anyone who wants to become a maintenance technician in Tennessee to know the difference between these careers.
It can help people choose the right training program and career path for their needs and interests.
Maintenance technicians usually work in building maintenance, for medical facilities, apartment management companies, and for smaller businesses.
Maintenance mechanics often work at production or manufacturing facilities.
Industrial maintenance technicians usually work at large facilities.
They install, maintain, and repair commercial and industrial machinery.
Step 3: Complete a Maintenance Technician Training Program
Completing a training program is an important step for people who want to become maintenance technicians in Tennessee.
Training programs give students the knowledge and skills that they need to start working at an entry-level job.
Students can complete a maintenance technician training program within a matter of months, not in two to four years.
Tennessee does not require maintenance technicians to have a degree.
Employers set their own rules regarding education and training program requirements.
Step 4: Earn a Certification
Maintenance technicians in Tennessee often have a certification.
It helps them to specialize in an area that they are interested in and can help them earn a higher salary.
The Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals offers the Certified Maintenance and Reliability Technician credential.
People who want to become certified must meet the eligibility requirements and pay the fees.
The certification assesses the knowledge and skills of maintenance technicians in the areas of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance.
Earning the credential shows that you demonstrate competency as a multi-skilled maintenance technician.
Maintenance technicians who work in apartment buildings often earn the Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) credential.
The certification demonstrates that you have specialized knowledge and skills in electrical systems and HVAC systems.
It shows that you have expertise in preventive maintenance, inspections, and making repairs in single apartments or in multiple apartment complexes.
Step 5: Apply for Jobs
Start looking at jobs for maintenance technicians in Tennessee while you are in the process of completing your training program.
Apply for jobs that you qualify for so that you can start work as soon as you complete your training.
People who are applying for their first maintenance technician job should apply for entry-level jobs.
Do not waste time applying for jobs that have advanced skill requirements or that require several years of experience.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Maintenance Technician in Tennessee
No specific license is required for maintenance technicians who work in Tennessee.
People who have an interest in a specialized area or who want to show expertise in a specialized area may earn a license.
One example is getting an HVAC license.
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance gives information on the licenses that some maintenance technicians may need if they work as contractors.
Some examples include Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) and Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) licenses.
Maintenance Technician Programs in Tennessee
The schools that offer training programs for maintenance technicians in Tennessee give students the knowledge and basic skills that they need for an entry-level maintenance technician job.
University of Tennessee Knoxville
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, offers an 18-month Maintenance Technician program.
It focuses on providing an overview of the knowledge and skills that students need to become maintenance technicians.
Some things that students learn about include electrical, mechanical, and fluid systems.
They learn about PLC equipment and communication, Workholding principles, and troubleshooting.
They also learn about inspection techniques.
The cost of the program is $1,795. Books and other learning materials are included in the cost of the program.
University of Memphis
The University of Memphis offers a self-paced 250-hour Maintenance Technician program.
Students can complete the program in 18 months.
Students who enroll in the program gain the knowledge and skills that are required of entry-level maintenance technicians in Tennessee.
The online program includes topics on the skills that maintenance technicians need, how systems and machines function, troubleshooting, performing inspections, and safety.
All learning materials are included in the program cost.
The tuition is $1,795.
Southwest Tennessee Community College
Enroll in the maintenance technician program at Southwest Tennessee Community College and learn the basic skills and knowledge that you need for a successful career as a maintenance technician in Tennessee.
The 18-month program gives students an overview of the skills that they need, including the principles of power transfer and rigging safety, PLC Equipment and Communication, and Safety.
Some program topics include mechanical systems, manual machining, hydraulics and pneumatics, safety, and inspections.
Students receive a 43-piece Maintenance Technician’s Tool Kit.
All learning materials are also included in the $3,095 program cost.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| University of Tennessee | 1331 Circle Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37916 |
| University of Memphis | 3720 Alumni Ave, Memphis, TN 38152, United States |
| Southwest Tennessee Community College | 5983 Macon Cove, Memphis, TN 38134, United States |
Salary
Maintenance technicians in Tennessee earn an average salary of $56,541.
The salary that maintenance technicians earn depends on things like their education, training, and certifications.
The salary that maintenance technicians earn also depends on their experience and their location.
Maintenance technicians who work in Memphis earn an average salary of $56,675.
People who work as maintenance technicians in Taft, Tennessee earn an average of $58,151.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nashville | $55,338 |
| Memphis | $54,329 |
| Knoxville | $48,217 |
| Chattanooga | $51,638 |
| Clarksville | $53,962 |
| Murfreesboro | $57,523 |
| Franklin | $53,718 |
| Johnson City | $43,047 |
| Jackson | $57,522 |
| Hendersonville | $55,425 |
Regional Salary in Tennessee
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 2,750 | $48,430 | $23.28 | $72,250 | $30,820 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 1,010 | $47,260 | $22.72 | $68,740 | $30,790 |
| Cleveland, TN | 530 | $48,000 | $23.08 | $70,270 | $28,520 |
| Jackson, TN | 1,070 | $47,060 | $22.62 | $63,260 | $30,820 |
| Johnson City, TN | 790 | $43,020 | $20.68 | $61,350 | $27,440 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 1,330 | $48,540 | $23.34 | $74,130 | $30,450 |
| Knoxville, TN | 4,580 | $47,340 | $22.76 | $64,990 | $33,010 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 6,860 | $49,450 | $23.77 | $72,080 | $33,190 |
| Morristown, TN | 690 | $46,860 | $22.53 | $63,530 | $29,020 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 10,820 | $50,480 | $24.27 | $68,740 | $35,750 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of degree do I need to work as a maintenance technician in Tennessee?
Maintenance technicians in Tennessee do not have to earn a degree.
They need to complete a training program.
Do maintenance technicians in Tennessee have to earn a certification?
Maintenance technicians who work in Tennessee do not have to earn a certification.
People who earn a certification are more likely to stand out from other job applicants.
Where do maintenance technicians in Tennessee work?
People who work as maintenance technicians in Tennessee work in various settings.
Some of them work for apartment management companies, while others work in healthcare facilities, small businesses, or other buildings.
Industrial maintenance technicians work in larger facilities such as factories or production facilities.
Maintenance Technician by State