Required Academic Criteria

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To be admitted to Coastal Pines Technical College, applicants must satisfy one of the six academic readiness paths below:

  1. 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 that do not indicate completion of all required coursework or testing for a high school diploma in that state are not recognized for admission purposes.
    • Georgia Match students who secure their spot through the Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) portal can be admitted under a Pending placement status. (Georgia Match is a program aimed at streamlining the college admissions process for high school seniors in Georgia. It identifies students who meet specific academic criteria and automatically matches them with colleges and universities in the state that are likely to offer them admission.)
  2. Submission of an official transcript reflecting the student has passed an examination or the completion of a program the state recognizes as the equivalent of a high school diploma (e.g., GED, HiSET, Career Plus HSE). 
  3. The only exception to requirements 1 or 2 is for students seeking enrollment in an approved basic workforce certificate program that does not require a high school diploma or high school equivalency for admission.
  4. Submission of an official transcript from each of 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 or successful completion of a college-level math and English course. ***Option 4 is only allowable for programs that do not require a national, state, and/or local licensure or certification.
  5. Applicants who were home-schooled and attended an 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).
  6. Applicants who attended a non-accredited high school or homeschool must submit an official transcript and one of the following:
    • One of the following:
      • Official scores from an assessment instrument meeting college established required minimums.
      • Successful completion of 12 semester hours of college coursework for credit that are documented on a college transcript.
  7. 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.

The President of Coastal Pines Technical College may waive the high school diploma/high school equivalency requirement for those pursuing a high school equivalency who are otherwise eligible to enroll in a specific program of study.

Assessment of Program Readiness
1. Coastal Pines Technical College may evaluate applicants’ readiness for admission into degree programs. Applicants applying to a technical certificate of credit or diploma program are not subject to any placement criteria. A student possessing an associate’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution shall be exempted from placement requirements. Dual Enrollment students in good standing are exempt from the placement criteria. The College may accept one or multiple official assessment measures from the following validated assessment instruments:

  • SAT
  • ACT/Pre-ACT
  • PSAT
  • TABE 13/14 scores of 501 in Reading for Levels M and D and 496 for Mathematics on Levels M and D. A score of 536 for Reading if using Level A and 537 for Mathematics if using Level A.
  • Georgia Milestones Literature & Composition or Georgia Milestones American Literature & Composition (English admission requirement only).
  • High School GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • GED® Math or Reading must meet the minimum passing score to be used for placement into any degree program.
  • HiSET Math, Reading, or Language Arts must meet the minimum passing score for placement into any degree program.
  • ACCUPLACER/Companion
  • COMPASS/Asset

*A student possessing an Associate’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution shall be exempted from placement requirements.  

2. Official transcripts from a regionally or nationally accredited institution approved by the United States Secretary of Education documenting equivalent program-level English and math coursework successfully completed (C or better) at other post-secondary institutions may be used to document a student's basic education skills and eliminate the need to complete that portion of the assessment instrument.

3. Subjective criteria, such as, but not limited to, written or oral interviews, personality assessments, and letters of reference, shall not be utilized as a part of the evaluation for program readiness or admission. All criteria should be published and applied consistently to all applicants for a program.