Admissions Policy

Durham Technical Community College follows an open-door with guided placement admissions policy as established by the North Carolina State Board of Community Colleges (SBCC) and consistent with SBCC code. Durham Tech is an affirmative action, equal opportunity, American Disabilities Act, Section 504 institution, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex or sexual orientation, color, age, religion, national origin, or disability in admitting students. The College reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant during any period of time that the student is suspended or expelled from any other educational institution. The College also reserves the right to refuse admission to any applicant who poses an articulable, imminent, and significant threat to others.

View the Admissions policy and procedure.

Concurrent Enrollment

Durham Tech is supportive of concurrent enrollment for high school students. The College encourages interested high school students who have progressed beyond the normal high school curriculum to take college-level courses at Durham Tech.

Review the Concurrent Enrollment procedure.

Enrollment Due Dates

Enrollment due dates are provided to encourage students to complete the admissions process in time for general registration. If a student submits all required paperwork by the enrollment due date for each term, the student can expect the following: to be admitted to the College, to have their transcripts evaluated in time to meet with an advisor, and to have the option to charge tuition and books to financial aid (if eligible) at the beginning of the general registration period for new students.

Students who miss the enrollment due dates should be prepared to bring official transcripts (sealed in an envelope) to Admissions, Registration, and Records; and pay for tuition, fees, and books independently during registration.

View more information about enrollment due dates.

Admissions Support for Veterans

Students applying for Veterans benefits must provide official transcripts for completed high school credentials and all college transcripts. Veterans follow the College’s general admissions procedures as outlined within this document. Veterans participating in the military Tuition Assistance (TA) program are directed to meet with the College’s certifying official in Veterans Services and to speak with their service branch’s Educational Services Officer or counselor prior to completing the enrollment process.

International Admissions

As part of its enrollment process, Durham Tech reviews the immigration status of all non-U.S. citizens and provides enrollment advising. Students should visit the Center for the Global Learner in the White Building (Building 1), room 1-148, to begin this process. Advisors are happy to discuss educational options with students of all immigration statuses, including undocumented students. Students may direct questions or make an appointment by contacting the Center for the Global Learner at cgl@durhamtech.edu or 919-536-7264, ext. 3228.

View more information about admissions steps for non-US/international students.

Placement, Advising, and Registration

Course Placement

Durham Tech accepts students’ college transcripts; unweighted high school GPA; and ACT, SAT, GED®, HiSET®, NCDAP, COMPASS, ASSET, and ACCUPLACER scores for college placement.

Students who have completed associate degrees or higher from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States are college-ready and can take any gateway 100-level course on their plan of study. Students with associate degrees or higher from other countries should contact the Center for the Global Learner for support.

Students who do not already hold an associate degree or higher from the United States must use their unweighted high school GPA for placement if they graduated from an accredited high school in the United States. ACT, SAT, GED, HiSET, NCDAP, COMPASS, ASSET, and ACCUPLACER scores can be used for placement within 10 years from the date taken.

Students who lack an unweighted high school GPA and who have ACT, SAT, GED, HiSET, NCDAP, COMPASS, ASSET, and/or ACCUPLACER scores from the past 10 years that do not place them into college-level courses (with or without corequisite support courses) will be required to take the RISE placement test.

Only the following students are allowed to take the RISE placement test:

  • Students whose U.S. high school GPA is not unweighted;
  • Students whose unweighted high school GPA is not from a U.S. high school, and they have been referred by the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program after first taking ACCUPLACER ESL placement test;
  • Students whose ACT, SAT, GED, HiSET, NCDAP, COMPASS, ASSET, or ACCUPLACER scores from the past 10 years do not place them into college-level courses (with or without corequisite support course);
  • Students who lack Career and College Ready Graduate (CCRG) grades or DMA or DRE credits;
  • Students who are referred via the English for Academic Purposes department; and
  • Career and College Promise (CCP) students who lack qualifying high school GPA or test scores for college-level course work.

If high school records or test scores are unavailable, students must take or retake the placement test unless they have been continuously enrolled in classes. Students are considered continuously enrolled at the College if they register for and attend courses (including prerequisites) creditable toward a degree, diploma, or certificate in a following semester after the initial enrollment semester (attendance is required in the following fall or spring semester or the following spring or fall semester). Students who do not attend classes for two consecutive semesters (not including summer term) must reapply and retest if their scores are older than 10 years.

Read more about continuous enrollment in the Admissions policy and procedure.

Non-credit courses or programs may be approved by the dean of the student’s intended curriculum program to be considered towards continuous enrollment at the point of application to limited-enrollment programs.

Students who visit the Testing Center are asked a series of questions regarding U.S. English as their first language. Based on their responses, students may be required to take the ACCUPLACER ESL (English as a Second Language) test to determine if English for Academic Purposes (EAP) placement is appropriate.

Read more about test preparation, requesting/submitting test scores, and placement test schedules in the Placement Testing section of the website.

Advising

Academic advising is an interactive process that connects students with a knowledgeable faculty or staff member who can help them make informed educational decisions. Students who have received effective academic advising will understand the courses required to complete a credential, develop a personal plan to be successful in these courses, and be prepared to register for courses appropriate to their skill levels and educational goals. Encouraged for all students, ConnectSessions (new student orientation) outline the advising process prior to registration. All students are required to meet with an advisor every semester/term in order to have their individualized academic plan approved prior to registration. Returning admitted students must meet with their assigned program advisor prior to registration. Visiting students are advised in Advising Services. 

View the Advising procedure and the Academic Advising section of the website for more information.

Registration

Upcoming course schedules are available in the Courses section of the website. Each term, returning admitted program students may register during priority registration using Self-Service, the College’s student academic planning system. New and visiting students register during general registration. Prior to registering for courses via Self-Service, all students must meet prerequisite course requirements and have their advising hold removed by an academic advisor. Students may pay their tuition and fees through Self-Service or in person at the Orange County Campus or on Main Campus at the Cashier's Window in the White Building (Building 1) entrance foyer. Students receiving Veterans educational benefits must notify Financial Aid and Veterans Services of their intent to utilize benefits each term prior to enrollment and registration.

View the Registration section of the website.