Admission Policy
Central Carolina Technical College is an “open door” institution serving the educational needs of all who can benefit from its courses and programs. Central Carolina makes every effort to minimize geographic, financial, and scholastic barriers to the programs and services offered by the College. A high school diploma (or GED certificate) is not a prerequisite for college admission but is required for selected program admission and federal financial aid. See, special/specific requirements listed in the individual program pages in this catalog.
The definition of “open door admission” implies the College’s commitment to assess student potential and to provide appropriate courses to ensure student success in collegiate level courses and programs. The definition further implies that consistent with accrediting agencies and boards, some associate degree programs may require students to possess a valid high school diploma, GED certificate, and/or to demonstrate their ability to make satisfactory progress in a given course or program for admission.
General Admission Requirements
All prospective students applying for admission must:
- Be at least 18 years old or possess a valid diploma or hold a GED. In order to receive financial assistance, a high school or GED transcript must be provided. For more information, contact the Financial Aid at (803)778-7850 or finaid@cctech.edu. Students attending high school and wishing to participate in the dual enrollment program must obtain written permission from the high school principal or designee.
- Complete the admissions requirements described in the “Seven easy steps to CCTC! ,” including submitting an application and official transcripts.
Declaration of Citizenship or Legal Presence in the United States
The South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act (S.C. Code Ann. §59-101-430 (Westlaw 2008)) prohibits those unlawfully present in the United States from attending a public institution of higher education in South Carolina and from receiving a public higher education benefit. Upon admission to the College, all students must sign a declaration of citizenship attesting that they are a US citizen, a legal permanent resident in the United States, or an alien lawfully present in the United States. In addition, the College may require you to submit documentation that supports your claim. Any student providing false information may be subject to dismissal from the College. Any student who is found to be unlawfully present in the United States or fails to provide requested documentation will be dismissed from the College.
Categories of Admission
- First-time Freshman - Students who have never attended college before and are attending for the first time after high school graduation or GED completion.
- Complete an application on CCTC’s website at http://www.cctech.edu.
- Request high school/GED transcripts be sent to Student Records Office.
- Request official college transcripts for dual enrolled classes taken at other colleges be sent to Student Records.
- Returning Students - Students who withdraw from the College or who do not attend for one year may be eligible to return. Complete an application on CCTC’s website at http://www.cctech.edu. Students who have been suspended for academic reasons must adhere to the procedures described under Standards of Academic Progress to reapply. Any student returning to the college should contact the Financial Aid Office to review financial aid status.
- Complete an application on CCTC’s website at http://www.cctech.edu.
- Request official college transcripts be sent to Student Records.
- Transfer Students - Any student who has attended one or more accredited colleges or universities prior to applying for admission to Central Carolina Technical College must:
- Complete an application on CCTC’s website at http://www.cctech.edu.
- Meet with an admission coordinator.
- Request official college transcripts be sent to Student Records.
- Request high school/GED transcripts be sent to Student Records.
- Refer to the “Transfer to Central Carolina Technical College” information section of this catalog for additional information.
- Dual Enrollment - High school students may apply at Central Carolina Technical College provided they meet the following requirements:
- Be enrolled in a public or private accredited high school or an accredited homeschool/virtual school association
- Have a recommendation from the high school or the homeschool/virtual school association
- Have permission from a parent or legal guardian
- Meet the same requirements for an individual course as other college students
- Complete an application on CCTC’s website at http://www.cctech.edu.
- Pay all fees at the time of registration, if applicable
- Career Development - Applicants who wish to enroll in a limited number of classes for upgrading their skills but do not wish to pursue a degree, diploma, or certificate. Applicants must:
- Complete an application on CCTC’s website at http://www.cctech.edu.
- Meet course prerequisites where applicable
- Pay all fees by the payment deadline for each semester. (No financial aid is available to this category of student.)
- Transient Students - A student who enrolls in Central Carolina Technical College courses to transfer to his or her primary college must apply as a Career Development student. The transient student must:
- Complete an application on CCTC’s website at http://www.cctech.edu.
- Submit a Transient Student Form from the home institution specifying the courses to be taken.
- This form serves as verification that the student has met the course prerequisites.
- Central Carolina Technical College (CCTC) does not participate in consortium agreements for students attending another institution, but will cooperate with institutions that provide consortium agreements to transient students attending CCTC.
- Senior Citizens - In accordance with State Law, Section 59-111-320, legal residents of South Carolina who are at least 60 years of age may be permitted to attend classes on a space available basis without the required payment of tuition if they meet admission and other standards deemed appropriate by the College. The following criteria have been established by Central Carolina and the Senior Citizen student must:
- Complete an application on CCTC’s website at http://www.cctech.edu.
- Senior citizens should complete a FAFSA, and the senior citizen waiver will only be used to the extent tuition is not covered by other grant aid or scholarships, which will be applied first to tuition, and then to fees and other charges, if available. Senior citizens who qualify for financial aid may enroll in any program and register during regular registration.
- Senior citizens who do not complete a FAFSA or do not qualify for any grant aid or scholarships must be coded as a career development student and must wait and register during late registration, on a space available basis.
- Technology and other fees, books, supplies or miscellaneous expenses will not be covered by the waiver.
- Senior citizens must sign the Certification of Age Form (available from the cashier) before waiver is applied.
- Senior citizen waiver can only be used one time per course.
Course Placement Requirements
After getting accepted to the college, your assigned admissions coordinator or advisor will determine whether the Central Carolina Technical College placement exam is required. If the exam is required, it may be taken at CCTC or another post-secondary institution. Some programs require other exams. Exam scores and/or transcripts can be mailed, faxed, or emailed to records@cctech.edu. Faxed transcripts from the student will be considered unofficial. Your placement in English and mathematics will be based on exam scores and/or transcripts as appropriate for your program and course selection.
Acceptable Placement Test Scores
- Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 350+, Math 440+
- American College Test (ACT): 10+ Reading subscore, 17+ Math subscore.
- General Education Development (GED) Scores: 165+ Language Arts, 165+ Mathematical Reasoning.
- High School course work and GPA
- Standard South Carolina High School Diploma within last 5 years
- 3.0 or higher SC UGP GPA (weighted GPA)
- Placement testing is available at all campus locations providing student services.
Biology Placement Exam
All students who plan to enroll in Biology 210 will be required to have successfully completed Biology 101 or BIO 112 or passed the Biology Placement Test.
The Biology Placement exam may be taken at any campus location providing student services. An appointment is recommended. Appointments can be made online using Testing Center Registration at https://www.cctech.edu/service-and-support/campus-life/testing-center/testing-center-registration/.
Exemptions to Placement Examination
Exemptions to taking the CCTC placement exam are granted if any of the following criteria are met:
• You have attained the minimum Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) score at the level required for the program in which you wish to enroll.
• You have earned a grade of “C” or higher for courses taken 2017-2018 academic year and later in appropriate high school-level English, mathematics, and technology courses receiving a Standard South Carolina High School Diploma within the last 5 years, and a 3.0 or higher SC UGP GPA (weighted GPA).
• You have earned a grade of “C” or higher in appropriate college-level English and/or mathematics courses at colleges or universities accredited by one of the following institutional accrediting organizations: The Higher Learning Commission, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, New England Commission of Higher Education, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, WASC Senior College and University Commission, and WASC Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
• You have earned the appropriate score for advanced placement in English and/or Math on CLEP, DSST, IB, and/or AP exams that are recognized by the College.
• You have earned an associate degree or higher degree from a college or university accredited by one of the following institutional accrediting organizations: The Higher Learning Commission, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, New England Commission of Higher Education, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, WASC Senior College and University Commission, and WASC Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. (You must still meet all course requirements for the program in which you wish to enroll).
• You are not pursuing an academic award and desire to be admitted to take specific courses. You must still meet all course prerequisites.
Advanced Standing
Central Carolina Technical College has established policies and procedures which may allow students to enter programs with advanced standing. No more than 50% of the total credit hours in a student’s program can be awarded to a student for advanced standing. Advanced standing may be attained through the following:
- Advanced Placement Examinations (AP Exams)
The Advanced Placement Examination program of the College Entrance Examination Board is accepted by Central Carolina Technical College. In order for credit to be granted, a score of 3 or higher must be attained. An official score report must be received by Student Records from the College Board before exemption credit is awarded. A grade of “E” (Exempt) will be posted on the student’s transcript. When prior learning credit is awarded, an email is sent to the student’s myCCTC email account. Students may obtain a current listing of AP courses that have been approved for course credit from https://www.cctech.edu/service-and-support/student-records/advanced-standing/advanced-placement-ap-testing/.
- College Level Examinations Program (CLEP)
Central Carolina Technical College awards credit for knowledge demonstrated as a result of nontraditional learning experiences validated by the CLEP Exam. The official score report must be received by Student Records from the College Board (or Parchment for DANTES funded exams) before exemption credit is awarded. Credit will be awarded according to the American Council on Education recommendations and College requirements. A grade of “E” (Exempt) will be posted on the student’s transcript. When CLEP credit is awarded, an email is sent to the student’s myCCTC email account. Students may obtain a current listing of courses that have been approved for course credit from https://www.cctech.edu/service-and-support/campus-life/testing-center/clep-dsst-exams/.
- DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
Central Carolina Technical College awards credit for college-level examinations that have been completed with satisfactory scores through the Armed Services. The official score report must be received by Student Records from Parchment before exemption credit is awarded. Credit will be awarded according to the American Council on Education recommendations and College requirements. A grade of “E” (Exempt) will be posted on the student’s transcript. When DSST credits are awarded, an email is sent to the student’s myCCTC email account. A listing of examinations approved for course credit may be obtained from https://www.cctech.edu/service-and-support/campus-life/testing-center/clep-dsst-exams/.
- Military Service Schools
Central Carolina awards credit for courses taken at military services schools. The official Joint Services Transcript (JST) displaying military course completions must be received by Student Records from JST before exemption credit is awarded. Credit will be awarded according to the American Council on Education and College recommendations and College requirements. A grade of “E” (Exempt) will be posted on the student’s transcript. When credit is awarded, an email is sent to the student’s myCCTC email account.
- Proficiency Tests
- Students may challenge credit courses with the approval of the course department chair by taking a proficiency test and paying a fee per exam. If a student decides not to take the exam after the fee has been paid, the student has thirty (30) days from the date of payment to request a refund.
- A student may not take a proficiency test more than once. Students cannot receive credit by examination for a course equivalent to or at a lower level than the course in which they are currently enrolled or a course for which they have previously enrolled or previously received a grade. Students may not challenge any course that has been previously audited. All prerequisites must be met before taking a proficiency examination. A student may enroll in a course and choose to attempt a proficiency test for the course during the add/drop period. If the student passes the exam, credit will be awarded, the student will be dropped from the course, and any tuition paid for the course will be refunded.
- Credit awarded based on a departmental proficiency examination cannot be included as part of the student’s credit load. A grade of “E” (Exempt) will be posted on the student’s transcript.
- Proficiency exams are not available for ENG 101 English Composition I , ENG 102 English Composition II , SPC 205 Public Speaking , literature courses, and other selected courses.
- Secondary School Articulation
Students may earn college credit for completion of specified technical courses at the high school level. Prospective students are encouraged to check with guidance counselors and teachers at their high schools and career centers or with Central Carolina Technical College’s Registrar to determine whether specific secondary course work is eligible for articulation. Students who master the major competencies in the high school course, pass a College proficiency test, and are admitted to the College within two years of high school graduation will be awarded exemption credit and a grade of “E” (Exempt) will be posted on the student’s transcript. Articulation procedures may be found at https://www.cctech.edu/service-and-support/academics/admission-agreements/.
- Experiential Learning and Professional Certification
Central Carolina Technical College recognizes that work related activities may provide a student with the opportunity to master skills and gain experience while on the job, which may meet the competencies of some college course work. The College may award exemption (E) credit for that course.
A student who has been admitted to Central Carolina Technical College and has mastered competencies in a non-academic setting may receive course credit based on substantive work experience, earning a professional certificate, and/or completion of noncredit courses. For consideration of substantive work experience for awarding credit, a student must provide the academic dean and the department chair/program manager with a detailed letter from a supervisor on official company letterhead stating the work tasks completed on the job with a quantitative description of job duties where appropriate. Documentation over six months old will not be accepted. Once documentation is reviewed and approved by the academic department chair/program manager, the student must pass a proficiency test for the course before credit will be awarded.
The student may be granted credit for professional certificates that demonstrate comparable academic proficiencies and skill levels contained within the content of the credit course for which credit is awarded. Credit must not duplicate credit already awarded. The original of the certificate must be presented to the department chair. A maximum of 12 credit hours can be earned for professional certificate(s). If credit is awarded, a grade of “E” (Exempt) will be posted on the student’s transcript.
Students may receive credit for satisfactory completion of a non-credit course, which closely parallels the rigor, instructional time, content, /substance, and course learning outcomes and objectives of a credit course. For consideration of noncredit coursework for awarding credit, a student must submit a transcript or official copy of the certificate verifying successful completion of the noncredit course displaying the course name, number of hours completed or CE units earned, and the course description which includes learning outcomes and course objectives to the academic dean and the department chair/program manager. Once documentation is reviewed and approved by the academic department chair/program manager, the student must pass a proficiency test for the course before credit will be awarded.
General education courses offered at Central Carolina Technical College are exempt from consideration for receiving credit for work experience.
- International Baccalaureate Credit Award Policy
The International Baccalaureate program is accepted by Central Carolina Technical College. For a student to receive credit, the student must have scored “4” or above on any higher-level IB course examination. The amount of college course credit awarded for an IB course will be equivalent to the credit hour value of the college course for which the IB credit is being accepted. An official IB transcript showing the test score must be requested by the student to be sent directly to Student Records before exemption credit is awarded. A grade of “E” (Exempt) will be posted on the student’s transcript. When IB credit is awarded, an email is sent to the student’s myCCTC email account. For a listing of approved IB courses, and scores, visit https://www.cctech.edu/service-and-support/student-records/advanced-standing/international-baccalaureate-credit-award-policy/.
Transfer to Central Carolina Technical College
It is the policy of Central Carolina Technical College to review entering students’ post-secondary coursework completed at colleges or universities accredited by one of the following institutional accrediting organizations: The Higher Learning Commission, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, New England Commission of Higher Education, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, WASC Senior College and University Commission, and WASC Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. In order for coursework to be evaluated, an official transcript must be on file in the student’s academic record. Acceptance of transfer credits will be at the discretion of the Registrar or designee in consultation with the appropriate department chair when necessary. The following criteria will be observed when awarding transfer credit:
- The College will accept only credit coursework with a grade of “C” or better.
- The coursework must closely parallel the course in the student’s curriculum as offered by Central Carolina Technical College.
- If the credits being transferred were awarded in quarter credit hours, the credits will be converted to semester hour equivalents. If the credit hours for the parallel course are less than those granted by the College, the course will not be accepted for transfer. The student may take a proficiency test, if applicable.
- The grade awarded from the transferring institution will appear on the Central Carolina Technical College transcript, but it will not be used in calculating the Central Carolina student’s grade-point average (GPA). Transfer credit will; however, be calculated in the cumulative “Earned Hours” (EHRS) section of the transcript. In addition, grade points are not transferable from previous institutions.
- Transfer credit will be awarded after acceptance to the college and before the end of the first semester of enrollment provided the official transcript has been received from the awarding college/university. A student should not enroll in classes that may transfer until the evaluation has been completed. A student may access their myCCTC account to see the transferred credit awarded.
- When a student decides to change their program, the student may request a review of their transcript. Credit will be evaluated based on the requirements in the program to which the student is changing.
- Some majors have time limits on curriculum courses due to the nature of the program and program accreditation requirements. Students with questions should contact their advisor or the Registrar.
- A student who wishes to appeal a decision on transfer credit may do so by contacting the Vice President for Student Affairs. The Vice President for Student Affairs will review the course content with the appropriate department chair or program manager to determine the transferability of the course in question.
Academic Residency Credit Requirements
Students must complete at least 25% of required courses in their program at Central Carolina Technical College to be eligible to receive a certificate, diploma, or degree. Some programs have more stringent residency requirements.
CCTC students who have established residency and who desire to take courses at other accredited institutions, approved by the College, for transfer credit must receive prior permission from their advisor or department chair/program manager. Prior approval is not granted for students who are on academic suspension. A Transient Student Request Form must be submitted to Student Records prior to taking the course. Students must have an official transcript sent to CCTC upon successful completion of the course before transfer credit is awarded.
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