Competitive Admission Process

1. Competitive admission applicants are strongly encouraged to speak to a Program Director in the Division of Health Sciences & Nursing (706.225.0502) or Tamara Hardnett in the Academic Advisement Center (706.649.1174) before applying.
2. 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.
3. Program applications will be available on the Columbus Technical College (CTC) website two (2) weeks before published deadlines. Applicants must submit an electronic application for each program they wish to apply for at that time. CTC’s Academic Advisement Center staff will review and rank all submitted application information. For application questions, please get in touch with Tamara Hardnett in the Advisement Center at 706.649.1174 or thardnett@columbustech.edu.
4. Applicants with college degrees must compete in the same areas as those without previous degrees, including the HESI A2 exam.
5. Current CTC students in competitive health sciences or nursing programs cannot apply for another competitive health sciences or nursing program until completion of their current program.
6. All prerequisite courses must be completed before the application deadline date.
7. Transfer credits – CTC’s Admissions Office must receive students’ official transcripts/grades from all institutions by the deadline date.
   1. 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 among programs. For example, some programs operate in the quarter system while others utilize semesters. Furthermore, each program’s 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 program-occupational courses. Additionally, no military credits and/or nursing experience while working in the military will be accepted.
8. The Competitive Ranking will be based on the following:
   1. Designated prerequisite course grades
      1. Courses used for competitive ranking are indicated for each program in the Catalog and Student Handbook on the CTC web page. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher at the time of program application submission.
      2. Applicants receiving a passing grade for any prerequisite course will be given one opportunity to improve their grade in that specific prerequisite course. The higher passing 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, PHYS 1110 & 1110L, ALHS 1011) used for competitive admission cannot be more than seven (7) years old, or the course must be re-taken. Science courses over seven (7) years old will not be used for competitive ranking.

1. HESI A2 exam scores
   1. CTC’s specific HESI A2 exam is required for all competitive programs and must be taken in the CTC testing center. Only scores from this exam will be used for ranking.
   2. For degree programs (Associate Degree Nursing-RN, Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Care Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Surgical Technology, Dental Hygiene), applicants must achieve a 70 or higher to be eligible to apply.

• For diploma programs (Practical Nursing, Dental Assisting), applicants must score 60 or higher to be eligible.

1. The exam may be taken twice per calendar year, and the results are only good for two years.
2. The exam is administered in the CTC testing center (Located in the Library & Adult Education Building). Call 706-649-1822 for exam dates, times, and questions. The cost of the exam is $54.00, and an exam sitting fee of $25.00, for a total of $79.00.
3. CTC’s specific exam will cover the following topics:
   1. Reading comprehension
   2. Vocabulary and General Knowledge
   3. Grammar
   4. Basic Math skills
   5. Biology
   6. Anatomy and Physiology

• Exam preparation options
  1. There is free study material through CTC’s virtual library via Galileo under the test prep software Mometrix. Once in Mometrix, click on nursing and scroll to HESI A2 Secrets and HESI A2 Practice Questions to begin.
  2. There is also a study guide that may be purchased: HESI Admission Assessment Exam and Review, 5th Edition, Elsevier, ISBN 978-0-323-58226-1

*APPLICATION DEADLINE DATE

*Applicants may begin applying two (2) weeks before the deadline dates posted below.