Admission Requirements

General Admission to the College

PVCC follows all admissions requirements as outlined by Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Policy 6.0 - Admissions. Individuals are eligible for admission to PVCC if they are high school graduates or the equivalent (GED), or if they are 18 years of age or older and able to benefit from study at the community college. Dual enrollment students are admitted according to VCCS Policy 6.6 - Dual Enrollment for High School Students. Other persons not meeting these admissions criteria may apply to the College for special consideration for admittance. 

Individuals may be admitted to PVCC as curricular or non-curricular students. For all students, a completed official application for admission is required. The application includes basic information needed to admit the student to the college and to comply with state and federal reporting requirements. Students working toward a degree (curricular students) must also provide transcripts from all high schools, colleges, and universities previously attended.  

Additional information may be required by the College for admission to a specific program or curriculum per VCCS Policy 6.0.2 - Admission to Specific Curricula 

The College reserve the right to evaluate and document special cases and to refuse or revoke admission if the college determines that the applicant or student poses a threat, is a potential danger, is significantly disruptive to the college community, has provided false information or any information for a fraudulent purpose, or if such refusal or revocation is considered to be in the best interest of a college. The colleges also reserve the right to refuse admission for applicants who have been expelled or suspended from, or determined to be a threat, potential danger, or significantly disruptive by another college. Students whose admission is revoked after enrollment will be given due process.  

Regional Priority Admission Plan

When enrollment must be limited for any course or curriculum, first priority will be given to all qualified students who are residents of the political subdivisions supporting the college, provided such students apply for admission to the program in a reasonable length of time prior to registration. The priority list is as follows: (1) residents of the political subdivisions supporting the college, (2) other Virginia residents, (3) out-of-state students, and (4) international students.

Students Transferring from Other Colleges

Normally, transfer students who are eligible for re-entrance at their last college of attendance are also eligible for admission to the community college. It is PVCC’s practice to analyze credit accepted for transfer in terms of level, content, quality, comparability, and degree program relevance.

Credit from international post-secondary institutions may be awarded upon evaluation by an approved private evaluation agency.

Transfer students who are ineligible to return to a particular curriculum in a previous college generally may not be allowed to enroll in the same curriculum in the community college until one semester elapses, or until an approved preparatory program at the college is completed. The dean of student services at PVCC shall decide on each case and can impose special conditions for the admittance of such students.

Admission to a Curriculum

In addition to the general admission requirements listed above, there are additional requirements for admission to specific curricula including Nursing, Practical Nursing, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Emergency Medical Services, Radiography, and Surgical Technology. Specific admissions requirements are published in the catalog, in the program admissions books, and the program websites. 

International Students

PVCC is approved by the Citizenship and Immigration Services of the United States Department of Homeland Security to enroll international students.

International students requesting an I-20 form for an F-1 visa will be required to submit the following items:

• A completed official application for admission;
• A supplemental application form;
• Transcripts of all academic records translated into English;
• A Financial State Form;
• A notarized or certified statement verifying financial support;
• Proof of English proficiency; and
• Student Agreement Form.

The listed items must be submitted by June 1 of each year for Fall admission. The college will not make a decision on admission until all forms have been received.

International students who are present in the United States on a temporary or student visa are considered out-of-state nonresidents for tuition and fee purposes. Length of stay, payment of taxes, ownership of property, etc., in and of themselves, do not qualify international students for the status of legal resident.

Students for whom an I-20 has been issued must maintain full-time status, taking at least 12 credit hours each semester. Furthermore, a period of 2 1/2 years shall normally be deemed the maximum period for which an individual will be certified under F-1 status.

Undocumented Students

It is the policy of PVCC to admit applicants who are residing in Virginia who have graduated from a Virginia high school with a high school diploma or equivalent, even if they are not able to document their legal presence. Applicants who have questions about the ability to take classes should contact the Outreach and Admissions Office for guidance.

Incarcerated Students

Any interested incarcerated person wanting to take classes must submit a paper application identical to the paper application provided to other students at PVCC and based on the online PVCC application. Due to space limitations students in the prison facilities are admitted based upon the following criteria: 

1. Waitlist: There is a waitlist at all prison sites. Students who have applied previously but were not accepted are prioritized the following year. 
2. Previous college experience: Students with transferable college credit are given priority.  
3. Essay Questions: Quality of answers to essay questions is the last determinant.
4. Charge History:  A student must be institutionally charge free at the prison for 12 months prior to application per VADOC policy. 

Current High School/Homeschool Students

Based on guidelines developed and approved by the State Department of Education and the Virginia Community College System, PVCC provides several opportunities for qualified high school students to enroll in courses at the college. Private, Public, and Homeschool juniors and seniors who meet each of the following criteria may register in college-level credit-bearing courses:   

• The student submits an Application for Admission. 

• The student is a rising public or private high school junior or senior, or homeschool student studying at the high school junior or senior level. 

• The student has permission of the principal or designee (high school student), and the parent (high school and homeschool students). 

• The student demonstrates readiness for each college-level, credit-bearing course in which they want to enroll. High school and homeschool students are not eligible to enroll in developmental or direct placement co-requisite English and Math courses. In demonstrating readiness, a student must meet one of the criteria established for each type of course in which they want to be registered:

High School Non-completers

PVCC will admit students who have not completed high school. Admission is based on the student’s ability to benefit. Students who are under the age of 18 must go through assessment and advising. They must also get an approval form signed by the principal of the high school last attended and the PVCC dean of student services.

To qualify for this program the student must complete or submit the following prior to registration: an application (parents must complete and sign domicile statement if student is under 18 years of age), an approval form signed by both the high school principal and PVCC dean of student services (if student is under 18 years of age), and assessment testing and admission into a curricular program.

Students who are over 18 years of age will be admitted after submission of an application with appropriate parental signatures, assessment, and a counseling session.

Student Information System

PVCC’s Student Information System is accessed online. It allows students to complete online many of their business transactions with the college. It is accessed through the MyPVCC link at www.pvcc.edu/mypvcc.

Student Records Information/Access

PVCC complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 when releasing information about students. The following directory information will be released: name, degrees/honors/and awards received, major field of study, dates of attendance, grade level, most recent educational agency or institution attended, number of credit hours enrolled, and photos.

Employees of the college may have access to student records when acting in the student’s educational interest and within the limitation of their need to know. In addition, the college may use student record information for institutional research.

All hard copy data is maintained for three years after the student’s last date of attendance. Electronic data is not purged.

Disclosure of Social Security Number

Disclosure of student social security number may not be required initially, but it is highly recommended. Disclosure ultimately will be required for most students at the time of enrollment, per § 6050S of the Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998, or at the time of disbursement of federal financial aid, per 34 Code of Federal Regulations Part 668.36. Section 23-2.2:1 of the Code of Virginia also authorizes the Virginia Community College System to collect student social security numbers and other personally identifiable information prior to a student’s enrollment, and requires it to electronically transmit enrollment data to the State Police. However, the VCCS only uses social security numbers in accordance with federal and state reporting requirements, and for identification purposes within the VCCS. It shall not permit further disclosure unless required or authorized by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, or pursuant to your obtained consent.

Assessment and Placement Testing

For stuents who graduated high school within five years of applying to PVCC, GPA and high school coursework is used to place students in the appropriate English or math course:  

English Placement:

Math Placement:

SAT, ACT, GED:

(SAT, ACT and GED scores are valid for the 5 years after the date of the test.)

English Placement with SAT, ACT or GED:

Math Placement with SAT, ACT or GED:

Students who have been out of high school 6 years or more, are able to place themselves in English and math coursework through a process called self-placement. After applying to PVCC, students complete the Advising Questionnaire which helps guide the student to what English and math classes are best to start based on  current academic skills. Academic Advisors are available to help and discuss placement decisions. 

Advanced Standing

The mission of PVCC includes aiding students who wish to move toward their goals as efficiently as possible.

Advanced standing provides an opportunity to receive academic credit for learning acquired through non-college experiences prior to entering or returning to PVCC. Students may be awarded academic credit for nontraditional learning experiences if they are enrolled in a curriculum of study at the college and can demonstrate previous educational study, training or work experience is equivalent to the content and learning outcomes for courses in their program of study. When credit for nontraditional learning is awarded, a grade of “pass” (P) will be issued. All courses for which academic credit is awarded must meet VCCS and SACS criteria for awarding credit. The VCCS policy regarding advanced standing follows:

Awarding Academic Credit for Nontraditional Learning

VCCS Policy (Policy No. 5.6.5.1) allows for the awarding of credit based on previous academic study or acquired through nontraditional means. This may include but is not limited to college credit and advancement based upon the administration and evaluation of locally developed examinations, individual college participation in nationally recognized standardized examinations; experiential learning; and training provided non-collegiate institutions, such as armed forces and service schools.

Awarding Credit Based on Examinations

1. Nationally recognized standardized examinations including AP, IB, Cambridge, and CLEP.

Upon receipt of official test scores, PVCC accepts a score of three (3) and higher for Advanced Placement (AP) courses, a score of four (4) or higher for higher level International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, a score of five (5) or higher for standard level International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, a score of fifty (50) or higher on CLEP courses, and scores of C or better for Cambridge Advanced (A/AS) examinations when the equivalent course is offered by PVCC. PVCC assumes no responsibility regarding the acceptance of Advanced Standing credit by other institutions to which the student may transfer.

2. Locally Developed Examinations

Students may satisfactorily demonstrate subject-matter competency by means of an examination developed and evaluated by PVCC’s faculty. Examinations are based on established course learning outcomes and are comprehensive. Practical examinations or skills assessments may be required to demonstrate competencies.

3. Relevant industry certification, state, or national licensure.

Awarding Credit by Experiential Learning

Credit may be granted for prior learning for non-collegiate education, training, and/or occupational experiences that demonstrate college-level learning as recommended by college faculty, the American Council on Education (ACE), the National College Credit Recommendation Service, or another college approved organization. In addition PVCC awards academic credit to any enrolled student who has successfully completed a military training course or program as part of the student’s military service that is applicable to the certificate or degree requirements and is recommended for academic credit by a national higher education association that provides academic credit recommendations for military training courses or programs, noted on the student’s military transcript issued by any of the armed forces of the United States, or otherwise documented in writing by any of the armed forces of the United States

Credit awarded based upon locally-developed examinations

Credit awarded based upon nationally recognized standardized examinations

PVCC Course Equivalencies for CLEP Examinations  

PVCC Course Equivalencies for AP Examinations  

International Baccalaureate (IB) Credits  

Advanced Placement

College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Credit may be given through this program if applicable to the student’s program and if scores are above the minimum level suggested by the American Council of Education (ACE).

Official score reports must be sent to the Admissions and Advising Center. Students who plan to transfer should contact the prospective college or university to determine the acceptability of CLEP credit. Click on link for rrequired scores and PVCC course equivalencies.