Placement Testing

Wytheville Community College requires students to take English and Math placement tests.  

The purpose of placement testing is to measure how prepared a student is for college-level work, regardless of prior grades, work experience, or academic history.  

Students who do not meet the college's standards in English and Math will be required to enroll in Developmental Studies course(s) to improve their skills in these areas.  

Students may be exempt if they meet satisfactory...

•  High School GPA and appropriate Math and English courses
• ACT or SAT Scores
• GED Scores

Official transcripts are required, contact Student Services for complete details, call (276) 223-4758.

How to prepare for the Virginia Placement Tests (VPT)

The following links are provided for information, review, and sample questions for each test:

VPT Math Placement Practice Test

VPT Practice Test Directions (includes Math and English)

VPT English – resources to help you prepare for the English placement test

When to Schedule Testing

• Students should take the placement tests prior to the enrollment period.
• For example, if a student plans to enroll during fall semester, testing should occur during the Summer prior to Fall registration.
• All students must complete the WCC Application for Admission before taking placement tests.

Where to take a Placement Test

•  WCC Wytheville Testing Center (located on the lower level of Bland Hall inside 1Stop)

  • Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• WCC at Crossroads Institute – Galax
  • Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• WCC at The Henderson – Marion (located on top floor)
  • Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Placement tests will not be given after 3:00 p.m.

Placement Scores from Other Institutions

Students may submit placement scores from other institutions provided the placement test is the same as that used at WCC and testing was completed within the last three years. WCC will use the placement scores submitted, but will apply the WCC cutoff scores. Placement scores submitted from other institutions must be on file at WCC before a student may register for an English, Mathematics, or Biology class(es). If a student has two placement scores on record in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) and both tests were taken within the past three years, WCC will accept and use the higher score. Developmental coursework completed outside the VCCS is not transfer eligible.

Retest Policy

The academic divisions will adhere to a strict retest policy requiring students to appeal to the counselors and/or faculty in the respective disciplines for retest.

The professional faculty will consider a retest only if a student meets one of the following criteria:

• Previous academic history indicates the student's academic competence and/or promise;
• Mitigating circumstances prevented the student from appropriately completing a test; or
• The student did not enroll in math, English, and/or biology within three years of taking the placement test.

TEAS Testing 

Click here for more information on scheduling a TEAS testing appointment. You will receive a confirmation email with further testing instructions within two business days.

The ATI TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) is required for all applicants for the college’s Nursing, Dental Hygiene, Physical Therapy Assistant, and Medical Laboratory Technology Programs. The test consists of a multiple-choice assessment of basic academic knowledge in reading, mathematics, science, and English/language usage.  Each of the four sections is timed for a total of 209 minutes. Content areas are divided by the following:

• Reading: (53 questions, 64 minutes) – section includes questions regarding paragraph comprehension, passage comprehension, and inferences/conclusions.
• Math: (36 questions, 54 minutes) – section includes questions regarding whole numbers, metric conversions, fractions, decimals, algebraic equations, percentages, and ratio/proportion. *Please be aware that calculators are NOT allowed*
• Science: (53 questions, 63 minutes) – section includes questions regarding science reasoning, science knowledge, biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, basic physical principles, and general science.
• English and Language Usage: (28 questions, 28 minutes) – section includes questions regarding punctuation, grammar, sentence structure, contextual words, and spelling

For more information about the TEAS test, please visit ATI Testing. For information about testing at WCC, contact the 1Stop at (276)223-4825.

Please note: Testing space is limited; current WCC students will have first priority. Students must wait 30 days between each attempt. Test scores are valid for three years.

Testing Accommodations

Any student who feels he or she may need testing accommodations based on the impact of a disability should contact the disability services office privately to discuss specific needs.  Please contact Student Services at 276-223-4825 to establish eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations. 

Testing Fees

• Cost: $70 payable by a credit or debit card ONLY.
• An additional $20 administrative fee (CASH ONLY) is required for non-WCC students.
• ATI requires an additional $27 to send a score report to a school other than WCC

 Need Help Preparing for your Test?

• Study Guides and study material are available for purchase by visiting www.atitesting.com.
• The WCC Bookstore has the official ATI TEAS Study Guide available for purchase.
• Visit the following sites for tutorials and additional information:
  • Free TEAS practice tests
  • Free TEAS Test Study Guide Videos

The ATI TEAS is administered in accordance with WCC’s testing policies and procedures.  Please visit the college’s Testing Center webpage for additional information.

College Credit for Prior Learning

Wytheville Community College recognizes that learning takes place in a variety of ways including work experiences, extensive reading, hobbies or avocational endeavors, and other similar activities. The basic premise of the credit for prior learning process is that program-placed students shall be given the opportunity to earn appropriate college credit when their previous studies, training, or life and work experiences have already provided the knowledge, competencies, or skills associated with a course. The College’s commitment to this philosophy of credit for prior learning is coupled with its mandate to ensure standards of academic quality comparable to traditional instruction. Procedures to apply for credit for prior learning can be obtained from the WCC Admissions and Records Office.

The WCC Admissions and Records Office (Room 117 Bland Hall) can provide a printed copy of the Wytheville Community College Credit for Prior Learning booklet upon request.

Definition of Credit for Prior Learning

Credit for Prior Learning is the award of academic credit for subject matter competency that has been gained by previous academic study or occupational experience. This may include, but is not limited to, college credit and advancement based upon individual participation in the Advanced Placement (AP) program of the College Entrance Examination Board; other placement examinations; articulation agreements with other institutions; transfer credit from other accredited institutions of higher learning; training provided by non-collegiate institutions, such as armed forces and service schools; professional certification; or experiential learning.

Criteria for Credit for Prior Learning

The following criteria apply to all forms of credit for prior learning:

• To be eligible for Credit for Prior Learning, you must be currently enrolled in a program at the College.
• Credit for Prior Learning must be applied toward a specific program at the College. Non-curricular students are not eligible for Credit for Prior Learning.
• In order to graduate from WCC, a student must complete a minimum of 25% of the total credits required for the degree, diploma, certificate, or career studies certificate at WCC.
• Transfer credit may be awarded for up to 75% of the degree, diploma, certificate, or career studies certificate requirements. Credit-by-portfolio may be awarded for up to 25% of the academic degree’s requirements. In all cases, at least 25% of the academic degree requirements must be completed at WCC for a student to be awarded a degree, diploma, certificate, or career studies certificate.
• Award of credit through Credit for Prior Learning shall be given, to the extent possible, for courses listed in the current WCC Catalog and Student Handbook. In certain instances, Credit for Prior Learning may be awarded for courses listed in the Virginia Community College System Master Course Guide.
• No credit shall be awarded that duplicates earned course credit at the College, at other institutions, or other credit awarded through Credit for Prior Learning.
• Students may not petition for Credit by Examination for a particular course if they have enrolled (either for credit or for audit) in that course, either at WCC or at another institution.
• The College reserves the right to place a time limit on prior learning experiences for which Credit for Prior Learning may be granted. The College has a time limit for accepting credit for technical courses taken previously at other institutions. The Division Dean, in consultation with the appropriate program faculty, will determine if courses taken more than five years ago can be used in the student’s current program of study.
• Students are responsible for providing the College with appropriate official documentation of prior learning. In the case of foreign transcripts, the student must assume the responsibility of having transcripts translated and evaluated by an approved evaluation agency. Students are encouraged to have their foreign transcripts evaluated course-by-course rather than by degree. A listing of agencies that are approved to evaluate foreign transcripts is available in the Wytheville Community College Credit for Prior Learning booklet online.
• The official transcript shall specify equivalent course(s) and the number of credits awarded for Credit for Prior Learning. Credit for Prior Learning shall be distinct from earned course credit.
• No grades, grade point average, or other indication of academic standing shall be associated with Credit for Prior Learning entries on the official transcript.
• Credit awarded through Credit for Prior Learning is applicable only to WCC’s curricular requirements. Students are cautioned that credits awarded through AP examinations, articulation agreements, CLEP examinations, credit-by-examination, credit-by-portfolio, or other means of Credit for Prior Learning may not be accepted for transfer by other post-secondary institutions.

The official transcript shall specify the equivalent courses and the number of credits awarded for advanced standing. Advanced standing credit shall be distinct from earned course credit.

No grades, grade point average, or other indication of academic standing shall be associated with advanced standing entries on the official transcript.

Credit awarded through advanced standing is applicable only to WCC’s curricular requirements. Students are cautioned that credits awarded through AP examinations, CLEP examinations, credit-by-examination, credit-by-portfolio, or other means of advanced standing may not be accepted in transfer by other post-secondary institutions.