2024-2025 Catalog

Admission Requirements

Admission to a Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) college is a multi-step process which consists of evaluation of prior academic experience and assessment for postsecondary readiness of eligible applicants.

General admissions requirements for admission in to the degree, diploma, or certificate programs are listed below.

Note:

All Nursing, Allied Health, and Health Technology programs have additional admission requirements. These requirements are outlined in the individual program curriculum under Academic Affairs, Divisions of Health Technology and Nursing and Allied Health.

Age:

Individuals 16 years of age or older or dually enrolled high school students in the 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grades who seek access to quality instruction at the post-secondary level are eligible for admission. The minimum age for admission in certain programs is greater than 16 years of age.

Education:

To be admitted by Georgia Northwestern Technical College, applicants must satisfy one of the following academic readiness paths:

  • 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 Certificates 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 not recognized for admission purposes.
  • 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).
  • Submission of an official transcript from each of one or more previously attended post-secondary institutions (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.
  • Applicants who were home schooled in the state of Georgia and did not attend a recognized accredited program must submit:
    • 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.
    • 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).
  • Applicants who were home schooled outside the state of Georgia and did not attend a recognized accredited program must submit:
    • 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 one of the following:
      • SAT or ACT scores that meet or exceed the TCSG system and college minimum score requirements for program readiness.
      • ACCUPLACER or Compass placement scores that meet or exceed the TCSG system and college minimum score requirements for program readiness.
  • 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.

Foreign Secondary Education:

Graduates of secondary schools or colleges outside the United States must have his or her transcripts translated and evaluated for equivalency by an approved evaluation organization or meet accreditation as specified in the approved list of agencies. The cost of the translation and evaluation of the student’s transcript is the responsibility of the student. The evaluation report must be received by the Office of Admissions directly from the evaluation organization and may not be submitted by the student directly. If a foreign secondary transcript is not attainable, possession of a GED® is acceptable.