Academic Catalog > Admission > Required Academic Criteria > Assessment/Testing

Assessment/Testing

The ability of a student to succeed in a program at a Technical College is greatly determined by the math and language skills possessed by that student. Georgia Piedmont Technical College is committed to assisting each student to achieve at their maximum potential. All students applying for diploma, degree, and certificate programs must be assessed prior to acceptance to a program of study at a Georgia Piedmont Technical College. Students will then be admitted in accordance with the academic standards applicable to that program.

All Technical Colleges must utilize ACCUPLACER, the TCSG-approved assessment instruments, when evaluating students for program readiness. However, in the place of ACCUPLACER, Georgia Piedmont Technical College may accept a student’s official entrance score on a validated assessment instrument (such as SAT, ACT, COMPASS, or ASSET) if the scores meet the college program’s required minimums. If a student’s SAT or ACT scores do not meet the college’s program minimums for regular admission, a student must be assessed using one of the TCSG-approved instruments. Assessment results will be valid for placement purposes for a period of 60 months and are transferable to any TCSG college. Each Technical College will develop its own retesting policy and charges may apply.

Official transcripts from a regionally or nationally accredited postsecondary institution recognized by the United States Department of Education documenting equivalent program-level English and math coursework successfully completed (C or better) may be used in lieu of completing the corresponding portion of the TCSG- approved assessment instrument.

All students enrolled in learning support courses during the Fall 2011 semester (and semesters forward) who complete learning support courses with a minimum final grade of ‘C’ are considered exempt from the requirement to pass the ACCUPLACER exit examination and will be eligible to enroll in college level English and math courses. Students that have completed learning support classes prior to the Fall 2011 semester, must take, and successfully pass, the ACCUPLACER exit examination.

Students who are unable to successfully pass the ACCUPLACER exit examination will be required to re-enroll in the appropriate level of learning support courses. Students who are required to re-enroll in learning support courses and subsequently pass these courses with a final grade of C or higher will, then, be exempt from the requirement to pass the ACCUPLACER exit examination.