General Admission Requirements for the Certificate Programs:

Technical Certificate Programs

ATC offers technical certificates of credit (TCC’s), an award based on completion of a coherent grouping of courses taken from any state-approved post-secondary standard curriculum. Any TCC program must be at least 9 semester credit hours in length and may not exceed 36 semester credit hours.

TCCs are divided into four categories:

1. EMBEDDED CERTIFICATES — These technical certificates of credit are offered to provide students with a short-term program of study geared toward a specific occupational program of study. Credits earned through technical certificates may be applied to some diploma programs or other technical certificates.

   Students enrolled in a diploma or degree program will be recorded as a graduate of the technical certificate program when:

   1. the student has completed all of the requirements for the TCC,
   2. the student requests the TCC, or
   3. the technical college chooses to award a TCC with acknowledgement from the student.

   Students enrolled in a major may receive simultaneous awards for a diploma and technical certificate, if the requirements may have been met, even though they were not enrolled in a secondary major.

2. STAND-ALONE CERTIFICATES — Certificate programs that do not have degree or diploma level work attached.
3. ADD-ON CERTIFICATES — Related courses that go beyond the competencies in the TCC are added to provide additional specialization.
4. OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALIZATION CERTIFICATES – These technical certificates of credit are developed to provide graduates or those with in-field occupational experience the opportunity to acquire advanced competencies to broaden employment options and to add occupational specializations to existing skills.

   Students must have completed the specified diploma program before entry into the occupational specialization certificate program.

Age

The minimum age for students applying to Albany Technical College is 15; however, certain programs require students to be older. Please refer to each program for specific age requirements.

Education

A high school diploma or a General Education Development diploma (GED^®) is not required for admission to ATC or to a program area unless specified by program standards. However, prior to graduation from all diploma programs and specified certificate programs, students must receive a high school diploma or a GED^®. All students will be offered the opportunity to receive remedial instruction if required.

College Entrance Exam

ATC, in accordance with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), uses the ACCUPLACER instrument for measuring proficiency in reading, writing, algebra and math. An applicant must achieve minimum admissions scores on these tests as specified in the program state standards. Acceptable scores on a statistically validated test such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), American College Test (ACT) will be accepted in lieu of the ACCUPLACER tests. Entrance scores vary by program. The program-specific entrance scores are minimum requirements, and some programs require higher scores. Reasonable accommodations are made during testing for those who need them. The student must self-identify.

Ability to Benefit Exam

An applicant who does not have a high school diploma or GED^® may demonstrate eligibility for entry into those programs not requiring a diploma/GED^® if the applicant achieves acceptable scores on the Ability to Benefit Examination (ATB), as well as acceptable program entry scores. Passing the ATB exam does not take the place of having a high school diploma or GED^® for those programs that require a diploma or GED^® for admission.

Interviews

Students are not interviewed for admission to ATC, but may be interviewed for admission to a particular academic program.