Exemptions/Waivers

You must have TSI assessment scores on file prior to enrolling for college-level courses. If you meet any of the following conditions, you are exempt or waived from the TSI requirements.

1. For a period of five years from the date of assessment, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following standards is exempt: (Scores for exemption must be attained in one sitting.) DCCCD course prerequisite requirements will be maintained.
   
   ACT: English = 19, Math = 19, Composite = 23
   
   
   SAT: Verbal = 500, Math = 500, Combined = 1070
   
   
   *Students who take SAT & ACT tests starting in April 2004 to present date can qualify for partial exemptions as outlined below.
   
   For a period of five (5) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs at or above the following standards shall be exempt.
   
   • ACT: Composite score of 23 with a minimum of 19 on the English test and/or the mathematics tests shall be exempt for those corresponding sections.
   
   
   • SAT: A combined verbal and mathematics score of 1070 with a minimum of 500 on the verbal test and/or the mathematics tests shall be exempt for those corresponding sections.


2. For a period of three years from the date of assessment, a student who is tested and performs on the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) with minimum, scaled scores of 1770 (Writing), 89 (TLI-Reading), and 86 (TLI-Math) is exempt. Since the TAAS test is administered over several days, students who miss a day of testing due to illness or emergency are allowed to make up the missed sections of the test and have the aggregate results count as a single sitting of the test. DCCCD course prerequisite requirements will be maintained.
3. For a period of three (3) years from the date of testing, a student who is tested and performs on the Eleventh grade exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) with a minimum scale score of 2200 on the math section and/or a minimum scale score of 2200 on the English Language Arts section with a writing subsection score of at least 3, shall be exempt from assessment required under this title for those corresponding sections. DCCCD course prerequisite requirements will be maintained.
4. A student who has graduated with an associate or baccalaureate degree from a Texas public institution and submits appropriate documentation of degree and official transcript is exempt. DCCCD course prerequisites will be maintained. Degrees and transcripts from a regionally accredited private or independent institution of higher education or regionally accredited out-of-state institution of higher education are not considered exempt by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, but transcripts will be evaluated to determine college level readiness in the component areas of reading, writing skills and mathematics. DCCCD course prerequisites will be maintained. The THECB updated this exemption to be effective fall 2004.
5. A student who transfers to the DCCCD from a regionally accredited private or independent institution of higher education or a regionally accredited out-of-state institution of higher education and who has satisfactorily completed at least 3 hours college-level core-related coursework with a grade of "C" or better is exempt. The transferred college-level core-related coursework will be evaluated to determine which component area(s) reading, writing or math will have been met. An official transcript must be submitted. DCCCD course prerequisite requirements will be maintained.
6. A student who has previously attended any accredited institution of higher education and has been determined to have met readiness standards by that institution is exempt. An official transcript must be submitted. DCCCD course prerequisite requirements will be maintained.
7. A student who is enrolled in a certificate program of one year or less will be waived of TSI requirements (Level-One certificates, 42 or fewer semester credit hours). DCCCD course prerequisite requirements will be maintained.
8. A student who is serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, the Texas National Guard, or 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 is exempt. DCCCD course prerequisite requirements will be maintained.
9. A student who on or after August 1, 1990, was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States or the Texas National Guard or service as a member of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States is exempt. DCCCD course prerequisite requirements will be maintained.
10. A non-degree-seeking or non-certificate-seeking student is waived from TSI requirements. DCCCD course prerequisite requirements will be maintained.