Admissions Requirements for Applicants
Age
Applicants must be 16 years of age or a dual/joint enrolled high school student 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 and final GPA) that reflects the student has met the attendance, academic, and/or assessment requirements for the state’s board of education or equivalent agency.
- High school diplomas/transcripts must be issued from a state-recognized secondary institution.
- Applicants with diplomas from secondary schools located outside the United States must have their transcripts translated and evaluated for equivalency by an approved outside evaluation organization such as National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
- High school Certificate of Attendance or other certificates, credentials, or documents where the student did not complete all required coursework or testing required for a high school diploma in that state are only recognized for programs not requiring a high school credential or equivalency.
2. Submission of an official transcript reflecting that the student has passed an examination or completed a program 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 or other official documentation of military service indicating high school graduate or equivalent.
4. Submission of an official transcript from one or more previously attended postsecondary institutions (accredited by an accepted accrediting agency) reflecting the successful completion (C or better) of a minimum of 12 semester or 18 quarter credit hours of coursework at the postsecondary level (excluding CDL completion), or successful completion of a college level math and English course may exempt the applicant from submitting an official high school, home school, or high school equivalency (GED, HISET, Career Plus HSE) transcript. Exception: Students who request a HOPE Scholarship evaluation or students who will receive veteran educational benefits must submit all transcripts from ALL colleges attended. College transcripts may also be required to satisfy financial aid requirements.
5 Applicants who were homeschooled who attended a recognized accredited program must submit:
- Annual progress reports or a final transcript for the equivalent of the homeschooled student’s junior and senior years;
- The final progress report or transcript must include the graduation date and final GPA.
6. Applicants who attended an non-accredited high school or homeschool must submit an official transcript in one of the following:
- Official Scores from an assessment instrument meeting college established required minimums;
- Successful completion of 12 semester or 18 quarter credit hours (C or better) of college coursework for credit that appears on an official college transcript.
Placement Testing
All program applicants must meet minimum placement requirements to determine regular or provisional admission status. Previous college or technical school coursework completed at an accredited institution will be reviewed for placement status. Non-degree seeking students (Special Admit) are required to meet placement test score requirements per individual course registration. Technical colleges may accept one or multiple official assessment measures on the following validated assessment instruments if the scores meet the required minimums. A student possessing an associate’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution shall be exempted from placement requirements. Accepted assessment instruments are:
- SAT, ACT/Pre-ACT, PSAT, Georgia Milestones Literature and Composition or Georgia Milestones American Literature and Composition (English admission requirement only)
- High School GPA of 2.0 or higher
- GED Math and Reading (earned since January 2014) must meet the minimum passing score used for placement into any certificate, diploma, or degree program
- HISET Math, Reading, or Language Arts must meet the minimum passing score used for placement into any certificate, diploma, or degree program
- Accuplacer
- Compass/Asset
- Official transcripts from a regionally or nationally accredit postsecondary institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education documenting equivalent program level English and Math coursework completed may be used in place of placement exams
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 before the first day of the initial term of admission. Placement test scores received after the first day of the semester may 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 is tested while in high school, the student is eligible to retest one time free of charge before admission.
Health
All applicants should be physically able to perform ordinary class and clinical laboratory functions that are required by the program of study. Some programs of studies require special immunizations or the submission of medical reports. These documents will be requested directly from the applicable department.
Transfers from Other Institutions
An official college transcript for all previously attended institutions in which transfer credit is sought is required for consideration of transfer credit. Students who have attended college outside the United States must have their transcripts evaluated on a course-by-course basis by an approved outside evaluation organization such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
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 semester 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 and Alabama residency for 12 months before the first day of classes 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 licenses and state ID cards can be accepted under certain conditions. It must be a Real ID and not contain any of the verbiages 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 semester 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 semester. 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 of Georgia. 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-Citizen is defined as a person eligible for Federal Title IV programs by the United States Department of Education Federal Student Aid. For more information refer to https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/eligibility/requirements/non-us-citizens.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 and/or post-secondary credit is required for all programs, except for Commercial Truck Driving. Students with foreign post-secondary transcripts who seek transfer credit or credit for placement requirements must have the transcript evaluated on a course-by-course basis for United States equivalency. The evaluation of those records must be performed by an independent credential evaluation company such as the National Association of Credential Evaluation (NACES).