Procedure for Competitive Admission Process
The Division of Health Sciences & Nursing
Procedure for Competitive Admission Process
- Students applying for competitive admission are strongly encouraged to attend an information session.
- Program Ranking is performed using a program-specific Excel spreadsheet with 60% of the ranking coming from competitive GPA and 40% from HESI A2 scores.
- Program applications will be available on our website two (2)weeks before published deadlines. Students must submit an electronic application for each program they wish to apply for at that time. All application information will be reviewed in the Division of Health Sciences and Nursing and then sent to admissions for competitive ranking.
- Students who hold college degrees must compete in the same areas as students without previous degrees, including the HESI A2 exam.
- Current CTC students in competitive health sciences or nursing programs CANNOT apply for another competitive health sciences or nursing program until completion of their present program.
- All pre-requisite courses must be complete at the time of the application deadline date.
- Transfer credits – Students’ official transcripts/grades from all institutions must be received by CTC’s Admissions Office by the deadline date.
- All accredited health sciences and nursing programs have state or national guidelines and standards that students must successfully meet to complete the program. However, the curriculum varies widely between each program. For example, some programs operate in the quarter system, while others utilize semesters. Furthermore, each programs’ courses are structured differently and may be taught in a different order. Therefore, Columbus Technical College will not accept transfer credit from other accredited colleges and universities for previously completed nursing or health sciences programs’ occupational courses. Additionally, no military credits and/or nursing experience while working in the military will be accepted.
- The Competitive Ranking will be based on:
- Designated course grades used for competitive ranking are indicated by an asterisk* on program sequence sheets on the CTC web page. All pre-requisites must be completed at the time of program application with a grade of C or higher.
- Students will be given one opportunity to improve their grades for all pre-requisite courses while enrolled at Columbus Technical College. The higher-grade will be used for ranking.
* Financial Aid will only pay for two attempts with a passing grade.
- Science courses (BIOL 2113 & 2113L, 2114 & 2114L, 2117 & 2117L, CHEM 1211 & 1211L and PHYS 1110 & 1110L, ALHS 1011) used for competitive admission cannot be more than seven (7) years old or the course must be re-taken. Any science courses more than seven (7) years old will not be used for competitive ranking.
b. HESI A2 exam scores
- Students must take the HESI A2 exam and score a minimum of 70 for degree programs and 60 for diploma programs to be considered for admission to a competitive program.
- Call 706-649-1822 (testing Center located in the Library Building) for times, dates, and testing questions.
- The test may be taken a total of two times per calendar year. The test results are only good for a two-year period.
- The HESI A2 exam is required for all competitive programs.
- There are several preparation options for the HESI A2 exam, including free test prep via the Columbus Technical College virtual library on Mometrix or HESI Admission Assessment Exam and Review, 5th Edition ISBN 978-0-323-58226-1
*APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE
*Students may begin applying two (2) weeks before the deadline dates posted below.
Division of Health Sciences and Nursing
Program |
Deadline to submit an electronic application |
Associate Degree in Nursing |
September 15th |
Associate Degree in Nursing |
June 1st |
Dental Assisting |
February 15th |
Dental Hygiene |
June 1st |
Diagnostic Medical Sonography |
September 15th |
Practical Nursing |
February 15th |
Radiologic Technology |
September 15th |
Respiratory Care |
September 15th |
Surgical Technology |
February 15th |