Competitive Admissions

Competitive Admission Programs

• Associate of Science in Nursing

• Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree

• Echocardiography degree

• Practical Nursing diploma

• Radiologic Technology degree

Acceptance into the college does not guarantee selection into a desired competitive admissions program. For more information on the college admission requirements, click here. All competitive admissions requirements must be met by posted deadlines.

Competitive Admissions Minimum Requirements
(all programs listed above)

• Applicants must be 18 years of age prior to the start of program classes.
• Applicants must submit the appropriate program-specific online letter of interest.
  • Associate of Science in Nursing 
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree
  • Echocardiography degree
  • Practical Nursing diploma
  • Radiologic Technology degree
• Applicants must complete and have a grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher in all required prerequisite courses (listed below) and be in good standing with the college. All courses must be completed with a “C” or better.
• Applicants for Associate of Science in Nursing must attend one of the following workshops within one year prior to the term of interest. The required information session dates are listed below. Students will select the link on the day and time of the event for virtual sessions. No registration is required.

  Unless noted otherwise, all information sessions will be held in the Library located in the Joseph E. Kennedy Building.

  • July 27, 2023  | 10:00 AM | VIRTUAL
  • August 1, 2023   | 10:00 a.m.
  • August 2, 2023   | 4:00 p.m.
  • August 3, 2023   | 4:00 p.m. | VIRTUAL
  • August 9, 2023   | 10:00 a.m.
  • September 28, 2023  | 4:00 p.m.
  • October 24, 2023   | 10:00 a.m.
  • November 9, 2023  | 10:00 a.m.
  • December 4, 2023   |  10:00 a.m.
• Applicants for Practical Nursing and Radiologic Technology must attend a Competitive Admissions Workshop. The required workshop session dates are listed below. Students will select the link on the day and time of the event for virtual sessions. No registration is required.
  • Wednesday, June 7, 2023  |  4:00 pm  |  VIRTUAL
  • Thursday, June 15, 2023   |  2:00 p.m.  |  Success Lab
  • Tuesday, June 20, 2023   |  2:00 p.m.  |  Success Lab
  • Wednesday, July 19, 2023   |  10:00 a.m.  |  VIRTUAL  
  • Thursday, July 27, 2023   |  4:00 p.m.  |  Success Lab
  • Tuesday, August 1, 2023   |  2:00 p.m. | VIRTUAL
• Applicants for Diagnostic Medical Sonography and Echocardiography must attend a Sonography Information Session within one year prior to the term of interest. The required information session dates are listed below. Students will select the link on the day and time of the event for virtual sessions. No registration is required.
  • November 13, 2023  |  4:00 p.m.  |  Health Science North Building, Room 911
  • January 22, 2024  |  12:00 p.m.  |  Health Science North Building, Room 911
  • February 19, 2024  |  12:00 p.m.  |  Health Science North Building, Room 911
  • March 25, 2024  |  12:00 p.m.  |  Health Science North Building, Room 911
  • April 8, 2024  |  12:00 p.m.  |  Health Science North Building, Room 911
  • April 22, 2024  |  4:00 p.m.  |  Health Science North Building, Room 911

• Applicants must complete the required aptitude exam and achieve the required minimum scores. More information on the required aptitude exam and helpful study information can be found on the Assessment Center webpage.
• Applicants for the ASN program must complete the HESI (Health Education Systems Incorporated) A2 admission exam and achieve a composite score of 75% or higher.  Applicants must have taken the HESI exam within the last 5 years.
• Applicants for the Practical Nursing program must complete the HESI (Health Education Systems Incorporated) exam and achieve a composite score of 70% or higher.  Applicants must have taken the HESI exam within the last 5 years.
• Applicants for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Echocardiography, and Radiologic Technology must complete the ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) exam and achieve a composite score of 60% or higher.  Applicants must have taken the TEAS exam within the last 5 years.

Selection Process:

Ogeechee Technical College sets a specific number of admission slots for each competitive admissions program. All students who meet the minimum requirements for competitive admissions programs by the posted deadlines are entered into the selection process. Students are selected for available slots using the following criteria:

For the ASN program:

• A total score is calculated based on HESI scores, GPA for required prerequisite coursework, and whether or not the applicant has an active and unencumbered LPN license. Students are selected based on total score ranking.
• The GPA for prerequisite courses only will be weighted at 40/100 of the total score.
  • 4.0 = 40 points
  • 3.99 - 3.79 = 35 points
  • 3.78 - 3.59 = 30 points
  • 3.58 - 3.39 = 25 points
  • 3.38 - 3.19 = 20 points
  • 3.18 - 2.99 = 15 points
  • 2.98 - 2.79 = 10 points
  • 2.78 - 2.50 = 5 points
• The HESI exam score will be weighted at 55/100 of the total score.
  • 100 - 90% = 55 points
  • 89 - 80% = 50 points
  • 79 - 75% = 45 points
• LPN status (License number will be required for proof).
  • Yes (Active and Unencumbered) = 5 points
  • No = 0 points
• If a tie exists, the highest score on the HESI exam will determine ranking.
• If a tie continues to exist, the highest GPA on prerequisite coursework will determine ranking.

For Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Echocardiography, and Radiologic Technology programs:

• A total score is calculated based on TEAS scores and GPA for required prerequisite coursework only. Students are selected based on total score ranking.
• The GPA for prerequisite courses only will be weighted at 40% of the total score.
• The TEAS exam score will be weighted at 60% of the total score.
• If a tie exists, the highest score on the TEAS exam will determine ranking.
• If a tie continues to exist, the highest GPA on prerequisite coursework will determine ranking.

Note: Students who are interested in applying for both Echocardiography and Diagnostic Medical Sonography must select a first-choice program; second-choice program is optional. Students will be given priority in the selection process for their first-choice program.

For the Practical Nursing program:

• A total score is calculated based on HESI scores and GPA for required prerequisite coursework only. Students are selected based on total score ranking.
• The GPA for prerequisite courses only will be weighted at 40% of the total score.
• The HESI exam score will be weighted at 60% of the total score.
• If a tie exists, the highest score on the HESI exam will determine ranking.
• If a tie continues to exist, the highest GPA on prerequisite coursework will determine ranking.

Required Prerequisite Coursework:

For ranking purposes, a GPA is calculated based only on required prerequisite courses listed below taken within the last 5 years. A student may sign the waiver section included on the online letter of interest to have all coursework older than 5 years to be included in the calculations for the competitive admissions selection process. A student will not be able to choose specific coursework to include and exclude if a waiver is submitted. Coursework may be obtained by enrolling in the Health Care Assistant Certificate for Practical Nursing program or in the Interdisciplinary Degree for the Radiologic Technology, Echocardiography, and Diagnostic Medical Sonography Degree programs. The program specific required coursework includes:

NOTE: Grades from prerequisite course transfer credits will be included in the calculation of the GPA for competitive admissions. A student will not be able to choose specific coursework to include and exclude if credits are transferred from a previous college.

Aptitude Examinations

The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) exam is a standardized test used by Ogeechee Tech to evaluate candidates for potential admission into a competitive admission program. The TEAS exam is intended to gauge a student's achievement in a medical setting. The TEAS test covers reading, math, science and English and language usage skills.

• TEAS exam scores will expire five years after the exam date.
• A student’s first attempt is $40, and a $65 re-test fee is required for each subsequent attempt. Students will be administered the entire exam during each exam attempt. All testing fees are non-refundable.
• A student may schedule, find out when the test is administered, and find helpful study resources by visiting the Assessment Center website. Study guides are also available in the Library.

The HESI (Health Education Systems Incorporated) test is a standardized and proctored exam that assesses the academic readiness and cognitive skills of prospective and current nursing and health care students. It is also known as the HESI A2, the HESI Admission Assessment Exam. It consists of academic tests and covers core subjects such as math, reading, vocabulary, grammar, biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology.

• A student's $65 fee is required for each attempt. Students will be administered the entire exam each exam attempt. All testing fees are non-refundable.
• A student may schedule, find out when the test is administered, and find helpful study resources by visiting the Assessment Center online at www.ogeecheetech.edu/testing. Study guides are also available in the Library. 

For the ASN program:

• Applicants for the ASN program must complete the HESI A2 admission exam and achieve a composite score of 75% or higher.  Applicants must have taken the HESI A2 admission exam within the last 5 years.
• A student will be allowed six (6) testing attempts on the HESI; the exams are given several times each semester. A student is required to wait a minimum of 30 calendar days between attempts.

For the Radiologic Technology, Echocardiography, and Diagnostic Medical Sonography programs:

• Applicants for the Radiologic Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and Echocardiography programs must have taken the TEAS aptitude exam within the last 5 years and achieved a cumulative score of 60% or higher.
• A student will be allowed three (3) testing attempts within a calendar year on the TEAS. The exams are given several times each semester and attempts can be scheduled 30 calendar days apart.
• TEAS scores from other schools will not be accepted.

For the Practical Nursing program:

• Applicants for the Practical Nursing program must complete the HESI (Health Education Systems Incorporated) exam and achieve a composite score of 70% or higher.  Applicants must have taken the HESI exam within the last 5 years.
• A student will be allowed six (6) testing attempts on the HESI; the exams are given several times each semester. A student is required to wait a minimum of 30 calendar days between attempts. If a student chooses to take the exam more than two times, he/she will be required to wait a minimum of six months between each additional attempt.

Deadlines

The required steps above must be completed before the competitive admission selection deadlines:

Associate of Science in Nursing
Spring 2024: December 13, 2023 
Spring 2025: December 10, 2024

Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Fall 2023: May 2, 2023

Echocardiography
Fall 2023: May 2, 2023

Practical Nursing
Fall 2023: August 1, 2023
Spring 2024: December 13, 2023

Radiologic Technology
Spring 2024: August 1, 2023

Selections will be made within seven days from the deadline. All applicants will be notified by text and email of their acceptance or denial for admission into a competitive program. Students applying to the Practical Nursing program who are currently employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant should speak to their advisor regarding the NAST course exemption process.

For information about the competitive selection process, please contact Shannon Mitchell, Executive Director of Enrollment Services, at smitchell@ogeecheetech.edu.

If you have specific questions about courses and/or advisement, please contact Rose Williams, Academic Advisor, at rlwilliams@ogeecheetech.edu.