Franklin Technology Center

What Franklin Technology Center does

Franklin Technology Center (FTC) is a public adult education institution operating under the Joplin School District in Joplin, Missouri. Founded in 1937 as a vocational education provider and renamed to its current form in 1996, FTC delivers nine career and technical programs across three campus locations in Joplin: six healthcare tracks (Practical Nursing, RN Diploma, Dental Assisting, Respiratory Care, CNA, and Phlebotomy Technician) and three trade tracks (Automotive Technology, HVAC, and Welding), supplemented by ed2go online continuing education courses. The institution operates what is described as the second-oldest Practical Nursing program in Missouri and serves adult learners seeking short-cycle, certification-ready credentials aligned to regional employer demand.

The business model is tuition-driven, with program fees ranging from $820 (CNA) to $14,750 (Practical Nursing) and program durations of 6 to 10 months. Revenue is supplemented by federal Title IV financial aid, WIOA workforce-development funding (FTC is an approved WIOA provider), the Missouri Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant ($500 voucher), and institutional partnerships. Programs are structured to prepare students for industry-recognized certifications including NCLEX-PN/RN, ASE, AWS, EPA 608, and AMCA. The underlying technology stack is conventional and education-focused: Canvas LMS for classroom management, ATI Testing for nursing assessment, and Pearson VUE for certification exam delivery, with no proprietary AI/ML systems in evidence.

FTC's regulatory and partnership architecture is a defining structural feature. The institution holds multi-layered accreditation: Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE), Missouri State Board of Nursing approval for the PN and RN Diploma tracks, and Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) approval for the Respiratory Care program delivered through the FTC-MSSU Consortium with Missouri Southern State University. Additional partnerships span the Missouri Job Center (referral pipeline), ed2go (online channel), and multiple certification bodies (AMCA, ASE, AWS, TMU, EPA). Leadership transitioned in July 2024 with Nathan Fent appointed Director, and the institution is currently in a COE Reaffirmation of Accreditation cycle concluding in August 2026.

Name

Franklin Technology Center

Legal name

Franklin Technology Center - Adult Education

Website

https://franklintechnologycenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Franklin Technology Center is a public adult education institution under the Joplin School District in Joplin, Missouri, delivering nine healthcare and trade certificate programs across three campuses, preparing adult learners for industry-recognized credentials in nursing, automotive, HVAC, and welding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career and Technical Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare & Clinical Professional Certifications (EDAAANAI), Nursing & Allied Health Certification Prep (CNA, EMT/Paramedic, Radiology, Sonography, PT/OT) (EDANAIAB), Nursing Assistant (CNA) & Patient Care Technician (PCT) (EDAOAJAB)

Keywords

• Career technical education
• Nursing certificate programs
• Skilled trades training
• Adult education services
• Vocational healthcare training

Headquarters

HQ city

Joplin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Direct tuition charges for certificate and diploma programs. Tuition varies by program length and complexity, ranging from $820 for CNA to $14,750 for Practical Nursing. Additional fees include application fees, textbooks, supplies, and technology fees.
2. Federal Student Aid: Title IV federal financial aid including Pell Grants and Direct Stafford Loans. Students complete FAFSA to determine eligibility. School code 013568. FSA funds released after entrance counseling and promissory note completion.
3. WIOA Funding: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding for eligible participants. Programs including Welding and Practical Nursing are WIOA-approved, allowing participants to use workforce development funds for training costs.
4. Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant: Missouri state workforce grant program for eligible career training programs. Students may qualify for this state-funded grant to offset tuition costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Franklin Technology Center is a public adult education institution offering career and technical education certificate and diploma programs in healthcare (Practical Nursing, RN Diploma, Dental Assisting, Respiratory Care, Certified Nursing Assistant, Phlebotomy Technician) and skilled trades (Automotive Technology, HVAC, Welding). Programs prepare students for industry certifications and licensure exams (NCLEX-PN, NCLEX-RN, ASE, AWS, EPA 608, AMCA) with hands-on training at multiple Joplin, Missouri campus locations.

Product overview

Franklin Technology Center is an adult education institution offering career and technical education programs in healthcare and trade/technical fields. The portfolio includes nine distinct programs: six healthcare programs (Practical Nursing, RN Diploma, Dental Assisting, Respiratory Care, Certified Nursing Assistant, and Phlebotomy Technician) and three trade/technical programs (Automotive Technology, HVAC, and Welding). All programs are certificate or diploma programs designed to prepare students for industry certifications and employment. The institution also provides specialized training through a third-party partnership with ed2go for online non-credit courses. Programs are delivered at multiple campus locations including the Memorial Education Center main campus and MSSU Extension Campus for health sciences programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Practical Nursing Certificate program preparing students for the NCLEX-PN licensing exam. The 1232-clock-hour program includes 928 theory hours and 304 clinical hours covering nursing skills, pharmacology, maternal/child nursing, and mental health nursing. Tuition: $14,750; total with fees and textbooks: $17,700.
• RN Diploma

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates prepared for NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN licensing exams
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Missouri Southern State University (MSSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partnership for Respiratory Care Education. FTC-MSSU Consortium for Respiratory Care Education offers Associate of Science in Respiratory Therapy degree at MSSU campus. Programs are accredited by Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care. FTC also maintains extension campus at MSSU Health Sciences Building for Dental Assisting and Respiratory Care programs.
• Missouri Job Center / Workforce Investment Board of Southwest MissouricoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWIOA-approved training provider. Career Services resources provided through WIB Southwest Missouri. Contact at 730 S Wall Avenue, Joplin, MO 64801. Programs including Welding and Practical Nursing are WIOA-approved, allowing eligible participants to use workforce development funds.
• Missouri State Board of NursingcoreOthersRegulatory approval body for nursing programs. Practical Nursing program holds full approval (reaffirmation through 2026). RN Diploma program holds initial program approval. Contact: P.O. Box 656, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0656, Telephone (573) 751-0080.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Crowder College: Public community college in Neosho, MO offering career and technical education programs including healthcare and trades. Direct regional peer to FTC, and FTC Director Nathan Fent previously served as CTE Director at Crowder College.
• Universal Technical Institute: National for-profit provider of automotive, diesel, welding, and HVAC training with industry manufacturer partnerships. Closest direct peer for FTC's Automotive Technology, HVAC, and Welding trade programs in terms of curriculum and certification outcomes.
• Nichols Career Center: Missouri career and technical education center referenced in Dental Assisting Program Coordinator Krissy Whitledge's education background. Offers comparable healthcare and trade training to FTC's portfolio.
• Ozarks Technical Community College: Springfield, MO-based public community college with extensive career and technical education programs in healthcare and skilled trades. Closest large-scale CTE competitor serving the same Southwest Missouri workforce market as FTC.
• Carthage Technical Center: Technical school in Carthage, MO offering CTE programs in healthcare and trades. Listed as FTC Director Nathan Fent's prior teaching affiliation, indicating direct overlap in program offerings and student population.

Broad incumbents

• Missouri State University: Comprehensive public university in Springfield, MO that hosts FTC's extension campus and Respiratory Care consortium, with FTC Director Fent previously serving as instructor. Operates broader academic programs but is FTC's primary higher-education partner.
• Lincoln Tech: National for-profit career college chain offering diploma and degree programs in automotive, HVAC, welding, and healthcare fields. Comparable in program mix to FTC but operates at significantly larger national scale.
• ECPI University: For-profit university offering career-focused programs in healthcare, technology, and trades. Comparable certificate and diploma structure to FTC's healthcare and trade programs but with multi-state, larger-scale operations.
• Concorde Career Colleges: National for-profit health-focused career college offering diploma and degree programs in nursing, dental assisting, respiratory therapy, and other healthcare fields. Closest scaled peer for FTC's six-program healthcare portfolio.

Regional players

• Labette Community College: Community college in Parsons, KS just across the state border from FTC's Missouri service area. Multiple FTC nursing instructors (DeAnn Kellogg, Stephanie Morton-Moore) are Labette ADN graduates, evidencing cross-state student and instructor overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/joplinschooldistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/franklin-technology-center

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Franklin Technology Center