Assessment Services

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  1. Placement Testing
    Students are required to take the Accuplacer placement test in English and mathematics prior to enrollment in classes unless appropriate exemptions are on file with the Admissions Office (see the Accuplacer section of this catalog). Prospective students are strongly urged to schedule and complete the placement test prior to registration, as results will be used to determine placement in courses at registration. 

  2. Accuplacer
    1. Requirements
      Students included in any one of the following categories are required to take the ACCUPLACER prior to registering for classes:
      1. Students who have not previously attended college, and do not provide proof of appropriate ACT/SAT/GED scores, or high school GPA of 2.75 and minimum course grade of “C” for English IV or mathematics (Algebra II, Elements of College Math, Algebra II with Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus are the only courses that may be used for placement.) Scores, high school GPA, and grades may not older than five years.
      2. Transfer students who have not successfully completed a college-level English or mathematics with a “C” or higher.
      3. Students whose successful completion of a college-level English or mathematics course at a regionally accredited institution cannot be verified with a transcript, faxed transcript, or a student grade report at registration. (Unofficial transcripts or reports are only used for registration purposes. All official transcripts must be received before the end of the first term of enrollment.)
      4. Accelerated high school students and high school students enrolling for dual credit who do not have appropriate ACT/SAT scores for the course(s) in which the student wishes to enroll.
      5. Students who have acceptable ACT scores as designated in the Placement Guidelines and/or high school transcripts on file but wish to improve their course placement.
    2. Exemptions
      The following students are exempt from taking the ACCUPLACER.
      1. Students who have the required scores on the ACCUPLACER, SAT, ACT, or GED test that are less than five years old.
      2. Students who have a 2.75 high school GPA or higher and a grade of “A,” “B,” or “C” in English IV and mathematics (Algebra II, Elements of College Math, Algebra II with Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus) that are less than five years old.
      3. Transient students who submit a completed transient form.
      4. Students who enroll as non-credit students (Training for Business and Industry and Continuing Education).
      5. Students who successfully completed a college-level English or mathematics course with a “C” or better at a regionally accredited institution as verified by official transcripts, faxed transcripts, or student grade reports. (Unofficial transcripts or reports are only used for registration purposes All official transcripts must be received before the end of the first term of enrollment.)
      6. Students scoring 510 or above on the SAT verbal or a 17 or above on the English component of the ACT are exempt from the ACCUPLACER for English.
      7. Students scoring 510 or above on the SAT mathematics or a 17 or above on the mathematics component of the ACT are exempt from the ACCUPLACER for math.
      8. Students who provide documentation of successful completion (“C” or higher) of developmental course(s) which determine eligibility for English 101 and/or college-level mathematics from a regionally accredited institution.
      9. Students who have an associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution that demonstrates successful completion of college-level English and/or mathematics courses.
      10. Students who enroll to audit a course.
      11. Students who score 165 or higher on the Mathematical Reasoning or Reasoning Through Language Arts of the 2014 series GED
    3. Re-Testing
      A student who has not attended a developmental English or math class may retest one time per calendar year provided there is evidence the student has completed test preparations and/or remediation activities. Additional preparation includes academic boot camps or online study aids. Southern Union will charge a one-time fee of $8.00 per retest assessment. Placement test scores will be valid for five years from the date of the retest assessment. Students may not retake the ACCUPLACER if they have previously been unsuccessful in the developmental course within the last five years.

General Educational Development (GED) Testing

Southern Union is designated by the Alabama State Department of Education as a test center for the General Educational Development (GED) test. The GED test is used as the basis for granting the state high school equivalency diploma issued by the Alabama State Department of Education. GED tests are administered on the Opelika, Valley, and Wadley campuses.

Southern Union is pleased to offer the 2014 GED test (a computer-based test only) at all of our campuses. Visit www.gedcomputer.com or call 1-877-EXAM-GED (392-6433) to register, schedule, and pay for the GED test. Credit and debit cards are acceptable forms of payment. The 2014 GED test consists of four content areas, and the cost per content area is $36. You must bring a valid photo ID (driver’s license, state identification card, military ID, or passport) with you on test day. For step-by-step instructions on the registration and scheduling processes, please visit the GED Testing Service tutorial page.

If you are at least 16 years old and have not earned a high school diploma from a public or private high school, you may be eligible to take the GED. You can take the GED if you earned the Alabama Occupational Diploma (AOD). If you are under the age of 18, there are specific requirements:

Students age 17 must be an Alabama resident, must have a completed a Student Exit Interview or have a notarized letter from a parent or legal guardian that grants permission to take the GED test. Paperwork can be submitted to https://form.jotform.com/222486074676162 to gain testing permission.

Students age 16 must have a Certificate of Exemption issued by the school district’s superintendent, have a notarized letter from a parent or legal guardian that grants permission to take the GED test and must make a minimum score on the TABE Test or the GED Ready Mathematical Reasoning and Reasoning Through Language Arts tests. Paperwork can be submitted to https://form.jotform.com/222486074676162 to gain testing permission.

Any Alabama resident who is 16 or 17 years old and exited a private or church school or a private tutor program must present a notarized letter from the parent or legal guardian that the applicant has permission to take the test. The letter must include evidence of school withdrawal from the school or program. Paperwork can be submitted to https://form.jotform.com/222486074676162 to gain testing permission.

Interested persons may contact the Assessment Center at (334) 745-6437, ext 5416, 5557, or 5563.

  1. Specialized Testing Services

    1. ACT Testing
      Southern Union is an approved testing site for the ACT and offers the test on the designated national test dates for the examination in Alabama. The test is given on the Wadley Campus. Interested persons should contact the Assessment Center for the schedule by calling (256) 395-2211, ext. 6416 or 5416.

    2. Health Sciences Admissions Testing
      The Assessment Center provides scheduled testing services for admission for certain programs in the Health Science Division. The ACT National or the ACT On-Campus (Residual) test is required for admission to the Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Radiologic Technology programs. Interested persons should refer to the Health Sciences Division webpage at www.suscc.edu for complete information and instructions on the application process.

    3. WorkKeys Testing
      The Assessment Center administers the ACT WorkKeys assessments for individuals who are seeking employment as paraprofessionals in area school systems that require applicants have the WorkKeys Proficiency Certificate for Teacher Assistants. The Assessment Center is also a certified testing site for the National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC). Based on test scores, testers will be issued a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) at the platinum, gold, silver, or bronze level. Some area employers require an NCRC for employment candidates, and some students enrolled in a technical program are also required to take this test. Finally, the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) has adopted ACT WorkKeys as the Basic Ability Test (BAT) for law enforcement and correctional officer applicants. Interested persons should contact the Assessment Center at (334) 745-6437, ext. 5563 or 5557 - or email the Assessment Center at testing@suscc.edu.