Admissions Requirements for Applicants
Age
Applicants must be 16 years of age or older or dually/jointly enrolled high school students in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade for college admission. The minimum age for admission in certain programs is greater than 16 years of age. The age requirement for certain programs may be different due to professional accreditation standards or applicable state or federal laws. Consult the Program Descriptions section for specific age requirements for each program of study.
Required Academic Criteria
Applicants must satisfy one of the following academic readiness paths unless otherwise specified by the program’s standards.
1. High School Graduates must submit an official high school transcript (including graduation date) that reflects the student has met the attendance, academic, and/or assessment requirements for the state’s board of education or equivalent agency.
- Secondary schools must be accredited by an agency included on the TCSG approved accreditation agency list.
- Applicants with diplomas from secondary schools located outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated for equivalency by an approved outside evaluation organization.
- High school diplomas from unaccredited institutions, Certificates of Attendance or special education diplomas (including those with other names) are not recognized for admission purposes.
2. Submission of an official transcript reflecting the student has passed an examination the state recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma (e.g. GED, HISET, Career Plus HSE).
3. Service members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, or Navy may submit an official copy of their DD Form 214 indicating high school graduate or equivalent.
4. Submission of an official transcript from each post-secondary institution previously attended (accredited by an accepted accrediting agency), reflecting the successful completion (C or better) of a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter credit hours of coursework at the degree level, may be exempt the applicant from submitting an official high school, home school or GED transcript.
5. Applicants who were home schooled in the state of Georgia and did not attend a recognized accredited program must submit:
a. Certificate of Attendance form from the local superintendent’s office or a Declaration of Intent to utilize a Home Study Program from the Georgia Department of Education verifying that the parent or legal guardian complied with the requirements of home study programs as referenced in O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690.
b. Annual progress reports or a final transcript for the equivalent of the home-schooled student’s junior and senior years (the final progress report or transcript must include the graduation date).
6. Applicants who were home schooled outside the state of Georgia and did not attend a recognized accredited program must submit:
a. Annual progress reports or a final transcript for the equivalent of the home-schooled student’s junior and senior years (the final progress report or transcript must include the graduation date); and
b. One of the following:
- PSAT, SAT or ACT scores that meet or exceed the TCSG system and college minimum score requirements for program readiness.
- Accuplacer placement scores that meet or exceed the TCSG system and college minimum score requirements for program readiness.
Placement Testing
All program applicants must meet minimum placement requirements to determine regular or provisional admission status. Previous college or technical school course work completed at an accredited institution will be reviewed for placement status. ** Due to COVID 19 West Georgia Technical College will not require placement testing for traditional student applicants through Summer Semester 2022. Please check the Admission website, or contact an Admissions Counselor for updated information.
Non-program seeking students are required to meet placement test score requirements per individual course registration.
Retest Policy
Applicants who complete the ACCUPLACER test with West Georgia Technical College are eligible to retest after a minimum waiting period of seven days. The retest fee is $15 per test section. All testing must be completed prior to the first day of the initial term of admission. Placement test scores received after the first day of the initial term may not be accepted and will not be used for placement purposes. If a student has test scores that are over five years old at the time of admission or readmission, the student may retest one time free of charge. If a student’s test scores are less than five years old and/or they have taken classes at West Georgia Technical College within the past five years, the student is not eligible to retest. If a student tested while in high school the student is eligible to retest one time free of charge prior to admission.
Health
All applicants should be physically able to perform ordinary class and laboratory functions that are required by the program of study. Some programs require special immunizations or the submission of medical reports.
Transfer from Other Institutions
An original official college transcript is required for consideration of transfer credit. A course appearing as transfer credit on an official transcript is not eligible for transfer credit. Students who have attended college outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated by an outside professional credential evaluation service before any credit will be considered for transfer (suggested agencies).
In-State Residents
A student must be a United States Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen, and a resident of the state of Georgia for 12 months immediately preceding the first day of classes for a given term to qualify as an “in-state resident” for admission and tuition purposes.
Residents of Chambers, Cleburne and Randolph counties in Alabama will be considered “in-state residents” for admission and tuition purposes. Residents of these counties must also provide documentation of lawful presence to be considered for tuition reciprocity.
Lawful Presence
TCSG Procedure 6.2.2p: “Each college shall be responsible for the verification of the lawful presence in the United States of every successfully admitted student applying for Georgia resident tuition status as required by state and federal immigration laws.”
How can a student verify lawful presence?
• Students who file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and are eligible for federal student aid will have their lawful presence verified as part of the FAFSA process.
• A clear copy of an original or certified U.S. Birth Certificate showing the student was born in the U.S. or a U.S. territory, A U.S. Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (DS-1350) or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240). The copy must very clearly show the raised or written seal to be acceptable.
• A U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS form N-550 or N-570).
• A U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS form N-560 or N-561).
• A current U.S. Passport.
• Unexpired Georgia and select out of state Driver’s license and state ID cards can be accepted under certain conditions. It must be a Real ID and not contain any of the verbiage in the State DL/ID requirements for Acceptance found below. If the copy received has the top portion of the card cut off the document will not satisfy lawful presence.
• A current military ID (service member only, not dependent). Documented using the Confirmation of Review of Military ID Worksheet - A photocopy is not acceptable.
• A current, valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form I-151 or I-551). We require both the front & back sides of your Permanent Resident Card to be submitted. It must not expire before the first day of class of the term the student will start classes.
State DL/ID Requirements for Acceptance
Alabama Must NOT be marked “FN”
Alaska Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
California Must NOT be marked “Limited Term.” Instruction Permits, Commercial Learner’s Permits, and temporary licenses cannot be accepted.
Delaware Must NOT be marked “Limited Term” or “Temporary”
Florida Must NOT be marked “Temporary”
Georgia Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Idaho Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Iowa Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Kentucky Must NOT be marked “Not for REAL ID purposes”
Louisiana Must NOT be marked “Limited Term”
Maryland Must NOT indicate “T” restriction
Proof of GA Residency.
Any student who cannot be verified as lawfully present in the United States is not eligible to be considered for in-state tuition, regardless of how long he or she has lived in Georgia. In addition to being lawfully present in the United States, students must meet the in-state tuition requirements as outlined in TCSG Board Policy and Procedure V.B.3 to warrant an in-state classification. Students that are initially classified as out-of-state, and successfully petition to have their residency changed to in-state, also have to meet the verification requirement.
Out-of-State Residents
An out-of state resident is a United States Citizen or Eligible Non-Citizen, who has not been a resident of the state of Georgia for 12 months preceding the first day of classes for a given term. An out-of-state resident shall be enrolled on a space available basis and shall not displace any student desiring to enroll who is a resident of the State. An out-of-state resident will be charged tuition at two times the rate of in-state residents. A student initially enrolled as an out-of-state resident may complete a Change of Residency Request Form with the Office of Student Affairs 12 months after becoming a resident of the state. Official documentation of state residency will be required. In-state residency for admission and tuition purposes will begin the academic semester following the one-year anniversary date of documented initial Georgia residency.
International Students
Eligible Non-Citizens may qualify as an “in-state resident” or “out-of-state resident” for admission and tuition purposes as defined in the In-State Residents and Out-of-State Residents sections of this catalog.
Eligible Non-Citizens must meet the Federal Title IV definition, a United States permanent resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551); or a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or the holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) showing any one of the following designations: Refugee, Asylum Granted, Parolee (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired); “Victim of human trafficking,” T-Visa holder (T-1, T-2, T-3, etc…), or Cuban Haitian Entrant. Persons with a F1 or F2 student visa, a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa do not meet the definition of an Eligible Non-Citizen. West Georgia Technical College is not authorized to accept students residing in the United States while on a student visa, and does not issue I-20 VISAS. Any other international student, determined eligible for admission, shall be enrolled on a space available basis and shall not displace any student desiring to enroll who is a resident of the State. An international student will be charged tuition at four times the rate of in-state residents.
Furnish an official English translation of all secondary transcripts. Documentation of U. S. high school equivalency is required for all programs, except Commercial Truck Driving. Students with foreign postsecondary transcripts who are seeking transfer credit, or for credit to be used for placement requirements, must have the transcript evaluated on a course by course basis for U. S. equivalency. The evaluation of those records must be performed by an independent credential evaluation company that is a member of The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
International students residing outside the United States who are enrolled exclusively in online courses are not required to provide residency documentation.