Scott Carothers

Scott Carothers is the Academic Director of the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) headquartered in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee (Nashville area). In 2007, he was hired and tasked with creating the Certified Tile Installer (CTI) program and in 2012, he was part of the team that created the Advanced Certifications for Tile Installers (ACT) program.

For eighteen years, he has been providing training and education to others in the tile industry. Carothers has been involved in the ceramic tile industry for over 44 years and was the owner of a successful retail store and installation firm prior to coming to CTEF.

Carothers served as President and Chairman of the Board of the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA), Chairman of the NTCA Technical Committee, named the NTCA Tile Person of the Year in 2005 and received the NTCA Ring of Honor in 2013. He is a voting member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) Handbook, and NTCA Technical Committees.

Scott has authored over 185 articles in tile industry print magazines including Floor Covering Installer, Tile, TileLetter, and eMagazine/Newsletter publications such as Floor Trends & Installation and TIleLetter along with covering numerous topics on the CTEF Blog, thereby sharing his knowledge and installation experience with his readers. Additionally, he recently retired from being a presenter and trainer for the NTCA Workshop and Regional Training programs and the NTCA Technical Hotline.

He may be contacted at scott@tilecareer.com or 864-222-2131.

CTEF Tile Tip

A Recipe for Failure

Even the most expertly prepared tile substrate can fail when Mother Nature turns up the heat

Scott Carothers

October 13, 2025

A flawless-looking exterior tile installation quickly became a total loss after extreme heat and wind caused catastrophic bond failure—underscoring the importance of respecting environmental conditions, manufacturer guidelines, and movement joint requirements on outdoor projects.

two columns at the main entrance of a new hotel

The Tile Industry Gets Another Black Eye

Scott Carothers

July 14, 2020

All across the U.S., there are thousands upon thousands of beautiful, high-quality, and long-lasting tile installations which should be highlighted as examples of the work done by qualified labor as included in the TCNA Handbook. However, when the very sad examples of extremely poor work are seen, they should be reviewed and presented as a learning tool for the tile placer who needs to improve his or her skills.

Is Your Laser Really Square For Your Tile Installation Project?

Scott Carothers

June 3, 2020

The combination of technology and the tile installer's need to create a square layout and project long straight lines, brought the laser to the tile world.

CTEF Tile Tip: Risk Assessment, Safety, and PPE

Scott Carothers

May 6, 2020

These new mandates changed the way silica-based materials are handled on the jobsite and are designed to ensure that all persons working on a project are safe.

Flooring Contractors Need a Balanced Level

Scott Carothers

April 13, 2020

One of the many skills used by qualified labor is knowing that the tools being used are accurate along with the maintenance required to keep them functioning properly.

Scott Carothers

March 27, 2020

When we ask who has the last word in the use of tile-related products or procedures, we need to begin with a firm foundation.

What is a Non-Linear Expansion Joint?

Scott Carothers

February 5, 2020

When the topic of expansion joints is discussed, it many times causes confusion.

CTEF Tile Tip: Is a Balanced Tile Layout Really Difficult to Achieve?

Scott Carothers

December 19, 2019

In order to deliver an eye-pleasing tile installation, the tile mechanic needs to follow all the tile industry standards and best practices when possible. One of these requirements calls for the tile to be centered and balanced.

Scott Carothers

October 15, 2019

Grout has a specific function and when used correctly, it does a great job. Unfortunately, too many tile placers seem to be unclear where grout is to be used and where it should not to be used.