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TSI Exemptions and Waivers

A TSI exemption or partial exemption is permanent whereas a TSI waiver is temporary and must be renewed or expires. There are several types of TSI exemptions. Some are blanket exemptions that exempt students from TSI requirements in all sections (math, reading, and writing). Others are partial exemptions that exempt a student on a section basis. For example, a student may be exempt in reading and writing but not exempt in mathematics.

A student with a waiver is “waived” from TSI for the current semester and has not met the TSI obligation. The term waiver is also used for high school students enrolled for dual credit who have not met TSI obligations but have permission to enroll in courses for dual credit under dual credit rules.

Exemptions

The following students have blanket exemptions and are eligible to enroll in designated entry-level freshman courses.

  1. Former and Retired Military. A student who on or after August 1, 1990, was honorably discharged, retired, or released from (a) active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard or (b) service as a member of a reserve component of the United States armed forces. Member copy 4 of DD214 required.
  2. Associate or Higher Degree Graduate. A student who has graduated with an associate or higher degree from a recognized institution of higher education or from a recognized international institution. Submit official transcript with degree conferred.
  3. Texas First Diploma. A student who has earned the Texas First Diploma under the Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 21, Subchapter D related to the Texas First Early High School Completion Program.
  4. Non-Degree Seeking or Non-Certificate-Seeking Student. A non-degree seeking or non-certificate-seeking student may be exempted if not otherwise exempt. A non-degree-seeking or non-certificate-seeking student is defined as a student who has not filed a degree plan or is not required to do so. Only students with 0 to 14 semester credit hours should be considered non-degree for dual credit and regular students.

    5. The following students may have partial exemptions and are eligible to enroll in designated entry-level courses in the applicable exempt subject area.

  5. Declared College-Ready by another Texas Public Institution of Higher Education. A student who has attended a Texas public institution of higher education has met the readiness standards in the reading, writing, and/or mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. Note: For students meeting non-Algebra intensive readiness standards in mathematics, CTC requires additional preparatory coursework/interventions for Algebra intensive courses such as MATH-1314/MATH-1324/MATH-1414.
  6. ACT given on or after February 15, 2023. A student with a combined score of 40 on the English and Reading (E+R) tests is exempt for both reading and writing of the ELAR sections of the TSI Assessment 2.0. A student with a score of 22 on the mathematics test is exempt from the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment 2.0 There is no composite score. Scores are valid for five (5) years from the date of testing. Use of scores from both the ACT administered prior to February 15, 2023, and ACT administered after February 15, 2023, is allowable as long as the benchmarks set forth are met.
  7. ACT given prior to February 15, 2023. A student with a composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English test is exempt for both reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment and/or 19 on the mathematics test is exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. Scores valid for five (5) years from the date of testing. Use of scores from both the ACT administered prior to February 15, 2023, and ACT administered after February 15, 2023, is allowable as long as the benchmarks set forth are met.
  8. SAT Given on or After March 5, 2016. A student with a minimum score of 480 on the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) test shall be exempt for both the reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment. A student with a minimum score of 530 on the mathematics test is exempt from the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. There is no minimum combined EBRW and mathematical score. Scores valid for five (5) years from the date of testing. Mixing or combining scores from the SAT prior to March 5, 2016, and on or after March 5, 2016 is not allowable.
  9. STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) Scores. A student with a minimum score of 4000 on the STAAR EOC in English III shall be exempt from the reading and writing sections of the TSI Assessment. A student with a minimum score of 4000 on the STAAR Algebra II EOC shall be exempt from the mathematics section of the TSI Assessment. Scores valid for five (5) years from the date of testing.
  10. C or Better Grade in Approved Transfer Course(s) from a Public, Private, or Independent College or University or an accredited Out-of-State institution of higher education. A student who has satisfactorily completed college-level coursework in designated reading, writing, and/or mathematics courses with a “C” or better, as determined by CTC may be exempt from the applicable section(s) of the TSI Assessment. This also includes a high school student who has earned college credit for a designated dual credit course or a college connect course, with a C or better. Transfer degree-seeking students must meet with an academic advisor to determine exemption eligibility.
  11. College Preparatory Course (CPC). A student who successfully completes a college preparatory course under Texas Education Code, §28.14, is exempt for a period of 24 months from the date of graduation with respect to the content area of the course, under the following conditions: (A) The student enrolls in the first college-level course in the exempted content area in the student’s first year of enrollment in a Texas institution of higher education; and (B) The student enrolls at the Texas institution of higher education that (i) partnered with the school district in which the student was enrolled to provide the course (CPC) or (ii) with a Texas institution that determined the student TSI-met based on the completion of a college preparatory course other than its own. All requirements related to enrollment based on CPC apply. Note: CPC courses cannot be used for dual credit eligibility. CPC exemption becomes available for use at the time of high school graduation. And the CPC course must be completed no later than student’s high school graduation date.
  12. GED. A student with a minimum score of 165 on the Mathematical Reasoning subject test shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI2. A student with a minimum score of 165 on the Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) subject test shall be exempt for the English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) section of the TSI2. The exemption is valid for five (5) years from date of testing but the applicability for TSI purposes starts May 12, 2021.
  13. HiSET. A student with a minimum score of 15 on the Mathematics subtest shall be exempt for the mathematics section of the TSI2. A student with a minimum score of 15 on the Reading subtest and a minimum score of 15 on the Writing subtest, including a minimum score of 4 on the essay, shall be exempt for the English Language Arts Reading (ELAR) section of the TSI2. The test exemption is effective May 12, 2021, and test scores are valid for five (5) years from date of testing. However, the HiSET scores with test administration dates after August 31, 2021, will no longer be useable for the TSI exemption (the Texas Education Agency will no longer administer the test after 8/31/2021). It is not relevant where the student has taken the approved HiSET test (in or out-of-state) when considering applicability for the TSI exemption.

Waivers

Waivers are temporary and valid for a designated time. The student is waived from taking the TSI Assessment. When a waiver ends, the student must consult with an advisor to determine his or her TSI status.

  1. Active Duty Military, Texas National Guard, and Reservists. A student who is serving on active duty as a member of the (a) armed forces of the United States, (b) the Texas National Guard, or (c) as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States and has been serving for at least three years preceding enrollment. Waiver ends when no longer serving on active duty.
  2. Non-Degree or Non-Certificate-Seeking Student. A student who is not seeking a degree or certificate with CTC. Valid for up to 14 semester hours. Waiver may be extended based on institutional guidelines.
  3. Certificate Program, Level I. A student who is seeking a Level I certificate which is between 15 and 42 semester hours is waived from the TSI Assessment. If a student takes one course outside the certificate program, the student is no longer waived. Waiver ends based on student’s anticipated completion date.
  4. ESOL Waiver. A student with demonstrated limited English proficiency may be granted a temporary waiver while enrolled in ESOL/ESL coursework. The waiver ends after student attempts 15 semester hours of developmental ESOL coursework or enrolls in entry-level freshmen coursework, whichever comes first at which time student is to be given the TSIA2.

High School Student Eligibility to Enroll in Dual Credit Courses

A high school student is eligible to enroll in dual credit courses if the student:

  1. Is not a degree-seeking student (has not filed a degree plan with an institution of higher education or is not required to do so per Texas Education Code Section 51.9685. Students who have enrolled in 0 to 14 semester credit hours are the only students who can be considered non-degree seeking.
  2. Demonstrates that he or she is exempt under the provisions of the Texas Success Initiative as set forth in Rule Number 4.54 of the Texas Administrative Code, Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 4, Subchapter C relating to Exemptions.
  3. Demonstrates college readiness by achieving the minimum passing standards of the Texas Success Initiative on the relevant section(s) of the Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA or TSIA2 effective January 11, 2021) OR
  4. Meets the eligibility requirements for a Texas First Diploma under TAC Title 19, Part 1, Chapter 21, Subchapter D, Rule Number 21.52.

These rules also apply to a student who is enrolled in a private or non-accredited secondary school or who is home schooled.

CTC may still require a student who seeks to enroll in a dual credit course to meet all the institution’s regular prerequisite requirements designated for that course (e.g., minimum score on a specified placement test, minimum grade in a specified previous course, etc.).