Admissions

Wake Technical Community College is subject to the Open-Door Admission Policy established by the State Board of Community Colleges. This policy provides for admission of any legal resident of the United States who is a high school graduate, is at least 18 years old or is an emancipated minor.

This policy is based on the belief that the college has something to offer at all educational levels and that, through effective guidance, any person can find his or her place in the proper educational program.

Wake Tech reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant who has been suspended or expelled for disciplinary reasons from another educational institution. Additionally, the college reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant who poses an articulable, imminent and significant threat to others. Such applicants will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and the college shall document the following:

• Detailed facts supporting the rationale for denying admission
• The time period within which the denial to admit shall be applicable and the supporting rationale for the designated time period
• The condition upon which the applicant who is denied would be eligible to be admitted
• An appeals process for applicants denied admission pursuant to this policy

An evaluation committee composed of Wake Tech Campus Police staff, the associate vice president for enrollment services, a curriculum representative and two Enrollment & Student Services representatives shall review information presented by the associate dean of admissions. The associate VP for enrollment services serves as the chair and recorder of the committee. At its discretion, the committee may request an interview with the applicant. The committee will make a recommendation to the president through the VP for enrollment services within seven business days of convening and reviewing the information presented. The president or his designee will make the final admission decision. Upon receiving the president's decision, the associate VP for enrollment services will notify the applicant.

State authorization for distance education
Online education is an integral part of Wake Tech's program offerings. The college is a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC SARA), which allows students in participating states and territories to enroll in online distance education classes.

Recruiting service members
As required by the U.S. Department of Defense and to eliminate unfair, deceptive and abusive marketing aimed at service members, Wake Tech will do the following:

• Ban inducements, including any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, transportation, lodging, meals or other item having a monetary value of more than an insignificant amount to any individual or entity or its agents, including third-party lead generators or marketing firms, other than salaries paid to employees or fees paid to contractors in conformity with all applicable laws for the purpose of securing enrollments of service members or obtaining access to Tuition Assistance (TA) funds. Educational institution-sponsored scholarships or grants and tuition reductions available to military students are permissible.
   
• Refrain from providing any commission, bonus or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on securing enrollments or federal financial aid, including TA funds, to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting, admission activities or making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.
   
• Refrain from high-pressure recruitment tactics, such as making three or more unsolicited contacts, including contacts by phone, email or in person, and engaging in same-day recruitment and registration for the purpose of securing service member enrollments.

Wake Technical Community College offers equal employment and educational opportunities to all employees, prospective employees, students and prospective students. Equal educational opportunity, affirmative action and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act are viewed by the Board of Trustees as an integral part of the mission and purpose of Wake Tech.

Questions concerning this policy should be addressed as follows:

Student matters – Office of Student Conduct, 919-866-6169 on Southern Wake Campus or 919-532-5663 on Scott Northern Wake Campus

Employee matters – Director of Employee Relations & Talent Management, 919-866-5934

1. Complete the North Carolina Residency Determination
2. Apply to Wake Tech
3. Activate your student account
4. Submit an official high school transcript or high school equivalency transcript for review and placement into a particular program of study/coursework. Subsequent registration will be blocked if transcripts are not received within 30 days of the start of the first semester.
5. If secondary education/high school was completed outside the U.S., submit transcript(s) and completion certificate(s) with certified translations (if documents are not in English). If an examination after secondary education is required for completion, please submit the examination certificate(s) from the Examination Council.
6. Submit official college transcripts for placement or consideration of transfer of credits in your chosen program of study.
7. Apply for financial aid, if needed. Official transcripts are required before awarding of financial aid. If your high school transcript is not from a valid institution, it may affect your ability to receive financial aid.
8. Attend orientation
9. Meet with an advisor for course selection
10. Complete the e-Learning module if enrolling in online courses
11. Register and pay for classes

Anyone wishing to attend Wake Tech must complete the online Application for Admission. The application should indicate whether the applicant is a curriculum student applicant or a visiting student applicant:

• A curriculum student applicant is any individual pursuing admission into a degree, diploma or certificate program. Curriculum student applicants must complete the standard online Residency Determination and Application for Admission and submit official high school transcripts, if required, for placement into a program of study. Awarding of financial aid will be blocked if official transcripts are not on file. Subsequent registration will be blocked on the 30th day of the semester if official transcripts are not received by the college.
   
• A visiting student applicant is any individual planning to enroll in one or more curriculum courses but not pursuing admission into a degree, diploma or certificate program. Visiting student applicants must complete the standard online Residency Determination and Application for Admission and meet all course prerequisites. To verify completion of prerequisite courses, applicants must complete the Visiting Student Prerequisite Approval Form and provide official or unofficial transcripts before registering.
  
  NOTE: Generally, visiting student status is limited to 16 semester hours. Visiting students are not eligible for financial aid or veterans' benefits, nor are they permitted to earn any degree, diploma or certificate awarded by the college. Students wishing to change from visiting student to curriculum status must complete the enrollment steps as outlined above for a curriculum student applicant.
   
• High school programs/Career & College Promise: This program provides dual enrollment educational opportunities for eligible North Carolina high school students. Visit ccp.waketech.edu for more information about eligibility, admissions and enrollment.

Curriculum student applicants must have official transcripts of high school and college work, if applicable, submitted directly to Wake Tech. Acceptance by Wake Tech is conditional, based on receipt of a final, official high school transcript.

Awarding of financial aid may be blocked if an official high school transcript is not on file. Subsequent registration will be blocked on the 30th day of the semester if official transcripts are not received by the college. Transcripts submitted become the property of the college upon receipt and may not be copied for student use.

High school: Applicants who are high school seniors can have their school submit a transcript showing work through the first semester of the junior year for admission, as soon as possible after the semester has ended, and a final transcript showing graduation at the close of school.

GED/high school equivalency: Applicants who have a high school equivalency certificate should request that an official copy be sent directly to Wake Tech. Applicants can obtain documentation from the high school equivalency office in the state where the certificate was issued.

College: Applicants who wish to transfer credits to Wake Tech must submit official transcripts for an evaluation to be completed. Applicants presenting transcripts of completed associate degrees or higher will not need to submit high school transcripts.

Other educational documents: If secondary education/high school was completed outside the U.S., applicants must submit transcript(s) and completion certificate(s) – with certified translations if documents are not in English. If an examination after secondary education is required for completion, the applicant must submit the examination certificate(s) from the Examination Council.

Applicants should submit transcripts electronically to [email protected] or mail them to:

Wake Tech Community College
Admissions Office
9101 Fayetteville Road
Raleigh NC 27603

Tests to determine readiness and skill level in English, reading, writing and math are administered to applicants pursuing a degree, diploma and certain certificates who did not graduate from a U.S. high school or who have no other admission criteria for placement. Test results are used to place students in the appropriate class level and to determine if transition instruction is needed.

Students are exempt from taking the tests or portions thereof and are placed based on the following criteria, as verified through official transcript or score report:

• Graduation from any U.S. high school with an unweighted GPA
• SAT scores prior to March 1, 2016, of 500 or higher in critical reading or writing and 500 or higher in math, or SAT scores after March 1, 2016, of 480 or higher in evidence-based reading and writing and 530 or higher in math. Scores must be less than 10 years old at the time of application to Wake Tech.
• ACT scores earned after March 1, 2014, of 22 or higher in reading or 18 or higher in English, and 22 or higher in math will allow college-level placement. ACT scores of 16-17 in English, 20-21 in reading and a 20-21 in math will allow placement with an addition of a one-hour transition support course. ACT scores must be less than 10 years old at the time of application to Wake Tech.
• An associate degree or higher earned from a regional or nationally accredited institution
• A grade of "C" or better in college-level English and math courses earned from a regional or nationally accredited institution

Placement may be based on High School Equivalency (HSE) for applicants who have HSE scores taken January 2014 or later with scores shown below:

• GED: 145 or higher on all subject areas
• HiSET: 15 or higher on all subject areas with a 4 on the essay

If no placement measure exists, an applicant may request to take the placement test or begin in transition courses.

Students who are non-native speakers of English will take the ACCUPLACER-EFL test and may be required to enroll in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses. Additional information about EFL is available in the Student Services section of this catalog under Academic Support and Opportunities. 

Applicants who have been notified that they need placement testing may schedule an appointment by emailing [email protected]. 

To prepare for computerized placement testing, applicants can review test preparation materials.

Associate degree and diploma programs

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Placement inventories, when eligible, to aid in course placement and academic guidance
• Medical examination for certain Health Sciences programs
• Additional minimum requirements in some programs (call Admissions at 919-866-5420 for more information)

Certificate programs

• High school diploma or equivalent for some certificate programs (call Admissions at 919-866-5420 for more information)
• Placement inventories, when eligible, to aid in course placement and academic guidance
• Medical examination for certain Health Sciences programs.
• Additional minimum requirements in some programs (call Admissions at 919-866-5420 for more information).

Upon admission, students must meet current program requirements. In some instances, licensing or employment in certain fields may be limited by an individual's prior criminal record. Prospective students should check with an academic advisor or appropriate academic department head to determine if such sanctions apply.

Students who have been admitted to and have enrolled in a curriculum degree, diploma or certificate program will receive information about course planning and registration from an advisor, based on the student's program of study.

Visiting students (those who have not declared a program of study) are not assigned an advisor but may seek assistance with course planning or registration from the Advising Office as needed. 

Registration is conducted online via Self-Service:

• After logging in, Click on the "Academics" icon in the left navigation
• Click on "Student Planning"
• Select "Plan & Schedule"

More detailed information is available in my.waketech.edu by clicking on "Registration Guide/Self Service Steps."

Access to the registration system may be blocked if a financial or academic hold has been placed on a student’s records. Some classes may require special permission to register from the curriculum dean. Visit Wake Tech's Registration and Student Records Services for more information.

Registration will be canceled if payment is not received by the deadline listed for the period for which the student has registered. Students are responsible for paying for all scheduled classes by published deadlines. Wake Tech no longer mails invoices. Payment amounts and deadlines are available online. Students are strongly encouraged to pay tuition and fees by credit or debit card at the time of registration to avoid waiting in line for the cashier.

Currently enrolled degree, diploma and certificate students are notified of upcoming registration periods through the academic calendar, on the student portal, by notices around campus, by faculty advisors and online through the Registration and Records website. The student is responsible for scheduling an appointment with an advisor.

Course load
The maximum course load is 20 credit hours per term. To carry more than the maximum load, students pursuing a degree, diploma or certificate must obtain an electronic override permission from the dean or the dean's designee.

Some Wake Tech programs have more applicants than available space:

• Agricultural Systems
• Associate Degree Nursing
• Associate Degree Nursing - LPN to RN Advanced Placement Option
• Computed Tomography
• Construction Equipment Systems
• Cosmetology
• Dental Assisting
• Dental Hygiene
• Diesel & Heavy Equipment
• Electroneurodiagnostic Technology (EDT)
• Emergency Medical Science
• Esthetics
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology
• Mammography
• Medical Assisting
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Medical Sonography
• Pharmacy Technology
• Phlebotomy
• Practical Nursing
• Radiography

These limited-enrollment programs may have unique admission requirements and may use additional criteria, such as post-secondary coursework, related work experience or professional certification, for selecting applicants. Limited-enrollment programs may also have their own policies, procedures, schedules and deadlines, which are subject to change.

Interested applicants should begin by contacting the Admissions Office and talking to an admissions specialist, who will answer initial questions and guide them through the next steps in the process.

The English as a Foreign Language (EFL) department offers academic English courses for individuals whose native language is not English and who wish to study at the college and university level in the United States. These courses comprise an intensive English language program that focuses on language for academic purposes. Courses are offered on four proficiency levels in grammar, composition, reading and listening/speaking, with an additional fifth level in composition. See the course descriptions listed as EFL in the course descriptions sections of this catalog for specific course information. This program meets the requirements for those students who have a student visa. Prospective students who wish to obtain a student visa should go to Wake Tech's international student website. Tuition rates are the same as those for other curriculum classes offered at Wake Tech.

Prospective students can call 919-866-6700, email [email protected] or visit Wake Tech's EFL website for more information about the program.

The International Student Office assists international student applicants who wish to apply for a student (F-1) visa. The office assists F-1 status students in employment authorizations, reinstatements, extensions of I-20 expiration date, transferring I-20s to an institution certified by the federal Student and Exchange Visitor Program, travel abroad and re-entry procedures and with documentation of F-1 status.

In addition, international students may seek advice and referral information on all aspects of living and studying in the United States. All international (F-1) students and other (non-immigrant) visa holders who want to convert to F-1 status are required by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations to have a current record of local and foreign addresses on file with the college.

A student who withdraws from the college for reasons other than academic or administrative may apply for readmission for any subsequent semester. An applicant for readmission who has not attended for one year or more must submit a new application and, upon readmission, must meet current program requirements.

A student who has been dismissed for academic or administrative reasons may re-enroll with the approval of the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services and the division dean. The student must request re-enrollment in writing from the Office of Student Conduct.

Readmission, re-enrollment and any attendance conditions or restrictions are at the discretion of the college.

Health Sciences programs may have additional readmission requirements and policies. They can be found in the Student Policy Handbook for each Health Sciences program.

Students at Wake Tech are not required to provide documentation of immunizations for admission to the college; however, documentation is required in specific programs:

• All students enrolled in curriculum Health Sciences and Workforce Continuing Education health care courses in which clinical procedures are performed must provide documentation of required immunizations, titers and screening for tuberculosis.
• All students in Basic Law Enforcement Training must provide documentation of current tetanus vaccination and undergo tuberculosis screening prior to admission, if required by a physician.
• All F-1 students must complete the International Student Medical Form documenting a tuberculosis screening within the last 12 months. Any students with a positive screening must also provide a report of a complete chest X-ray within the last 12 months.

Locations
Southern Wake Campus, 9101 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh, NC 27603 
Scott Northern Wake Campus, 6600 Louisburg Road, Raleigh, NC 27616
Perry Health Sciences Campus, 2901 Holston Lane, Raleigh, NC 27610
Western Wake Campus, 3434 Kildaire Farm Road, Cary, NC 27518
Public Safety Education Campus, 321 Chapanoke Road, Raleigh, NC 27603
RTP Campus, 10908 Chapel Hill Road, Morrisville, NC 27560

Curriculum admissions
Should assistance be needed, contact an admissions information specialist at 919-866-5420 or find information online.

Registration and Student Records Services
Southern Wake Campus, Student Services Building, Room 243
919-866-5700

Advising
919-866-5474 or [email protected].