Admissions

Forsyth Tech is an equal-opportunity institution and operates under an open-door admissions policy. Curriculum courses are open to anyone 18 years of age or older, high school graduates 16 years of age or older, and eligible high school students through the dual enrollment Career and College Promise program. Forsyth Tech offers curriculum programs of study leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate in areas of business, health, general education, and engineering technologies. In addition, the College offers associate in arts, associate in engineering, associate in fine arts, and associate in science college transfer degrees. 

Admission to the College does not guarantee acceptance to the program of your choice or guarantee continued enrollment in the College. Placement in certain programs is limited, and admission to a specific program of study is based on guidelines developed to ensure the student’s chance of success in the program and the availability of space. 

Forsyth Tech reserves the right to refuse admission to any student whose enrollment or continued presence is considered a risk to campus safety or disruption of the educational process. 

Application

The online application is available at http://www.forsythtech.edu/apply. Note that there are three applications: undergraduate, Career and College Promise, and Cooperative Innovative High School. The last two applications are for current high school students.

Applicants should submit a completed application for the semester they plan to enroll. As part of the application process, individuals will need to complete the NC Residency Determination Service (RDS) first at https://www.ncresidency.org/.

Prospective students are encouraged to complete the admissions process as early as possible. This will allow adequate time to process and satisfy admission requirements for the programs of study. Prospective students may apply at any time before the beginning of the semester.

Submitting Transcripts

Transcripts and other official documents can be submitted using the contact information below:

Admissions and Records Office
Forsyth Technical Community College
2100 Silas Creek Parkway
Winston-Salem, N.C. 27103-5197
records@forsythtech.edu

All official documents become the property of the College and cannot be returned or reissued.

Effective June 1, 2021, a high school transcript is no longer required prior to admission into the college. An official transcript from a high school, an adult high school diploma program, a High School Equivalency (GED)/HiSET/TASC program, or an institutionally accredited college or university may be required for transfer credit or to meet prerequisites and/or other requirements when registering for courses.

Students who have completed a bachelor’s or associate degree may substitute their official college transcript showing the graduation date instead of their high school transcript for certain programs.

International Transcripts

International high school transcripts must be translated by an accredited agency to verify their equivalency to a US high school diploma.

Translators should be certified by the American Translators Association. For a complete list of members, visit www.atanet.org or the local chapter, Carolina Association of Translators and Interpreters at www.catiweb.org.

International college transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES member (www.naces.org).

Home School Transcripts

Home school graduates should submit proof of home school certification and an official home school transcript with their application.

  • Submit proof that the home school is certified by the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education (NCDNPE) or the state of origin if the home school is outside of North Carolina  
    • Proof of the school approval number (if available)
    • A charter for the home school, OR
    • Anything that denotes approval from the North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education or the state of origin.
  • Submit an official home school transcript. To be considered official, the home school transcript must be sent to the college by the home school administration and include all the following student information
    • Student’s graduation date
    • List of completed courses, AND
    • Final unweighted GPA.

If the home school does not have NCDNPE or other state certification, the student must wait until they reach the age of 18 to apply to the College.

Transfer Credit

Forsyth Tech evaluates courses completed with a grade of C or better at institutionally accredited colleges/universities as recognized by the US Department of Education (ope.ed.gov/dapip). Courses considered for transfer credit must be comparable in content, objective, quality, and credit hours to those offered within the North Carolina Community College System Combined Course Library. Students may be asked to provide additional documentation of the course content, such as a course description or course syllabus before transfer credit is awarded.

Transfer credit is only awarded if required for the student’s current program of study. A student may request a reevaluation of transfer credit when they change their program of study by emailing records@forsythtech.edu.

Credits transferred from other institutions are reflected on students’ transcripts as hours earned and are not used in the computation of grade point averages.

  • A grade of TR or XT is given to show that the course was transferred from another college.
  • The transfer grade (TR or XT) is not used to calculate GPA. 
  • Transfer credit can be used for graduation purposes.
  • Transfer credit can be used toward graduation requirements for a course that was not successfully completed at Forsyth Tech; however, the failing grade earned at Forsyth Tech will be used to calculate the final program grade point average (GPA).

The following considerations apply when evaluating potential transfer credits:

  • Transfer credit graded as P or S will be accepted if the awarding institution provides verification the grade is equivalent to a grade of “C” (2.0 GPA) or better.
  • Military Transfer Credits: Veterans or active-duty military can receive credit upon receipt of an official Joint Services Transcript and the necessary documentation.
  • International Transfer Credits: Students who have attended a higher education institution outside the United States must have their transcripts translated and evaluated by a NACES member (www.naces.org) before Forsyth Tech will review them for possible transfer credit.
  • Time-Limited Transfer Credits: The college has a 10-year limit for accepting credit for some courses. The dean of the academic division, in consultation with the appropriate program faculty, will determine if courses taken more than 10 years ago can be used in the student’s current program of study. Students appealing to the dean for credit will need to provide relevant documentation demonstrating proficiency in the course learning objectives, such as proof of a related non-expired industry certification earned within the 10-year limit. Currently, the 10-year credit limit applies to courses that transfer under the following Forsyth Tech course prefixes: CCT, CIS, CSC, CTI, CTS, DBA, NET, NOS, SEC, and WEB.

Inquiries should be made to the Admissions and Records Office regarding transfer credits granted. Students who disagree with the transfer credit granted should contact the Admissions and Records Office at records@forsythtech.edu. After consulting with the academic dean, the Admissions and Records Office will notify the student of the final decision on the transfer credit to be granted.

Other Requirements

Some courses or programs may require placement tests or entrance exams.

Applicants can submit scores from the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the American College Test (ACT), Accuplacer, NC-DAP, or the current college placement assessment.

Other placement test scores may be evaluated by the Admissions and Records staff.

Information on the placement test is available at the Testing Center located in room 2551, 2nd floor, Robert L. Strickland Center, Main Campus or by calling 336.734.7324.

Other documents may be required to participate in clinical or practical training courses in certain programs such as:

  • Health examinations
  • Reference forms, when requested
  • Specific licensure
  • CPR for health programs
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status may be required to be eligible for certain licensure exams.

 

Re-Admission

Students who have withdrawn in good academic standing and who have not been enrolled for two or more terms (not including summer) must submit a new application. If the application for re-admission is for a different program, standard admissions requirements for new students will apply.

There are specific additional guidelines for re-entry into a health program. These guidelines may be obtained from the Health Sciences Division.

Students who have been suspended for disciplinary reasons or health/safety reasons cannot be re-admitted without submitting a request for readmission from a designated member of executive leadership. The request for re-admission is subject to review by the division dean.

Changing Program of Study

A currently enrolled student (or student who has not enrolled for fewer than two terms) pursuing a program of study may change programs by filing a Student Program Change & Catalog Update form.

Students who have not been enrolled for two or more terms (not including summer) must complete a new application.

All students are encouraged to speak to their academic advisor before changing their program to ensure their program aligns with their career goals and review how the change will impact time to completion. Students who receive financial aid or benefits for veterans must check with the Financial Aid Office before changing their program of study.

Career and College Promise Dual Enrollment for High School Students 

Career and College Promise (CCP) was established by the State Board of Education and the State Board of Community Colleges to offer structured opportunities for qualified high school students to dually enroll in community college courses that provide pathways that lead to a certificate, diploma, degree, or State or industry-recognized credential as well as provide entry-level job skills. The program is tuition-free for all North Carolina students who meet the eligibility requirements.

The three pathways are:

  1. College Transfer Pathways (CTP) require the completion of at least 30 semester hours of transfer courses.
  2. Career and Technical Education Pathways (CTE):
    • Curriculum CTE pathways lead to a certificate or diploma aligned with a high school career cluster.
    • Workforce Continuation Education Pathways (WCE) lead to a State or industry-recognized credential aligned with a high school career cluster. 
  3. Cooperative Innovative High School Programs (CIHS) at Forsyth Technical Community College are Stokes Early College, Early College of Forsyth, and Middle College of Forsyth. 

The Career and College Promise Operating Procedures, in accordance with the State Board Code, define the eligibility requirements for students in all three pathways. Requirements vary depending on the pathway and the student’s high school grade level at the time of enrollment. Eligibility for dual enrollment ends on the day of high school graduation.

Eligibility Criteria for College Transfer Pathways

Juniors and Seniors

To be eligible for enrollment, a high school student must meet the following criteria as of the first day of the applicable term.

  • Be a high school junior or senior, and
  • Have an unweighted, cumulative GPA of 2.8 on high school courses or
  • Demonstrate college readiness on an approved assessment or placement test

 

Freshmen and Sophomores

To be eligible for enrollment, a high school student must meet the following criteria as of the first day of the applicable term: 

  • Be a high school freshman or sophomore, and 
  • Be identified as gifted by
    • Local AIG plan in English/reading and math, or
    • An aptitude and achievement test as evidenced by a score in the range between the 92nd percentile and the 99th percentile on the aptitude and the achievement test included in the current Mental Measurements Yearbook published by the Buros Institute of Mental Measurements, and
  • Demonstrate college readiness in English, reading and mathematics on an approved assessment, and
  • Receive recommendation verifying the student has the maturity to enroll from high school principal or equivalent administrator; and receive recommendation of AIG Coordinator and, 
  • Receive approval of college’s Student Success and Strategic Innovation Chief Officer, and
  • Receive written consent of the student’s parent/guardian, and
  • Receive academic advising prior to enrollment in the program.

Eligibility Criteria for Curriculum Career and Technical Education Pathways

Juniors and Seniors

To be eligible for enrollment in Career and Technical Education Pathway, a high school student must be a high school junior or senior as of the first day of the applicable academic term and must mee the following criteria:

  • Have an unweighted, cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher on high school courses, or
  • Demonstrate college readiness in English, reading and mathematics on an assessment, or
  • Have the recommendation of the high school principal or his/her designee and his/her rationale for recommendation in place of GPA requirement (assessment scores should be considered) and have the recommendation of the college’s Chief Officer for Student Success and Strategic Innovation.

 

Freshmen and Sophomores

The Career and Technical Education Pathway for freshmen and sophomores leads to an Industrial and Engineering, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation Systems, Construction or Business Technologies certificate or diploma aligned with a high school Career Cluster.

To be eligible for enrollment, a high school student must meet one of the following criteria: 

  • Be a high school freshman or sophomore as of the first day of the applicable term, and
    • Have the recommendation of the high school principal or his/her designee (assessment scores should be considered) and rationale for recommendation, and
    • Have the recommendation of the college’s Student Success and Strategic Innovation Chief Officer, and
    • Passed Math I with a grade of C or better, and 
    • Scored a 3, 4, or 5 on the End of Course assessment (EOC) for Math I, and 
    • Scored a 3, 4, or 5 on the 8th grade End of Grade ELA assessment, and 
    • Academic advising prior to enrollment is highly encouraged. 
  • Be a high school freshman or sophomore as of the first day of the applicable term, and 
    • Have the recommendation of the high school principal or his/her designee (assessment scores should be considered) and rationale for recommendation, and
    • Have the recommendation of the college’s Student Success and Strategic Innovation Chief Officer, and 
    • Demonstrate college readiness in English, reading and mathematics on an assessment, and 
    • Academic advising prior to enrollment is highly encouraged.

 

Eligibility Criteria for Workforce Continuing Education Pathway

The Workforce Continuing Education Pathway for juniors and seniors leads to a State or industry-recognized credential aligned with a high school Career Cluster.

To be eligible for enrollment a high school student must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a high school junior or senior as of the first day of the applicable term and 
    • Have an unweighted, cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher on high school courses or 
    • Demonstrate college readiness in English, reading, and mathematics on an assessment. OR 
  • Be a high school junior or senior as of the first day of the applicable term and
    • Have the recommendation of the high school principal or his/her designee and have the high school principal or his/her designee’s rationale for recommendation in place of GPA requirement and 
    • Have the recommendation of the college’s Student Success and Strategic Innovation Chief Officer

 

Eligibility Criteria for Cooperative Innovative High School Programs

Cooperative Innovative High School Programs (CIHS) provide opportunities for students to complete an associate degree program, diploma, or certificate or earn up to two years of college credit while completing a high school diploma within five years. CIHS students can participate in WCE pathways. 

Forsyth Technical Community College, in partnership with Stokes Public Schools, set the student eligibility criteria for Stokes Early College. Forsyth Technical Community College, in partnership with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, set the student eligibility criteria for both Early College of Forsyth and Middle College of Forsyth. Selection criteria is based on academic credentials, disciplinary records, potential for successful completion of high school requirements, potential for successful completion of Forsyth Technical Community College degree requirements, and potential for contribution to the intellectual and social strength of the environment of the school and community college.

Priority for admission will be given to:

  1. High school students who are at risk of dropping out of school before attaining a high school diploma;
  2. High school students with parents who did not continue education beyond high school; and
  3. High school students who would benefit from accelerated academic instruction. 

 

Application Procedure for College Transfer and Career and Technical Education Pathways

  • Attend an information session to learn how dual enrollment works and about the different CCP pathways available at Forsyth Tech.
  • Ask high school counselor to submit online high school agreement form and upload high school transcript and any corresponding documents according to grade level and CCP pathway. 
    • If a student is home-schooled, a copy of the NC Home School Registration is required.
  • Apply using either the Forsyth Tech Career and College Promise online application.

 The Educational Partnerships Department verifies student eligibility prior to advising and registering them in college courses according to their chosen pathway.

Application Procedure for Cooperative Innovative High Schools Early College of Forsyth High School

The Early College of Forsyth is a Winston-Salem/Forsyth County (WS/FCS) four-year high school. It provides opportunities for students to graduate with a high school diploma and an associate degree in four years.

  • Students in eighth grade must apply during the WS/FCS Choice and Magnet Schools period that opens at the end of fall semester and closes at the beginning of the spring semester.
  • The application is online and includes short essays, two teacher recommendations, middle school attendance and discipline record, grades, and End-of-grade test scores.

If the application meets the requirements for admission to the Early College, students are invited to an in-person committee interview.

For more information, visit How to Apply | Early College of Forsyth County

Middle College of Forsyth High School

The Middle College of Forsyth is a Winston-Salem/Forsyth County two-year high school. It provides opportunities for students to graduate with a high school diploma and earn college credits towards a college-level credential: associate, diploma, or certificate.

  • Students may apply to enroll in either 11th or 12th grade. New students are accepted at the beginning of each semester.
  • The application is online and includes short essays and two teacher recommendations.

If the application meets the requirements for admission to the Middle College, students are invited to an in-person committee interview. For more information, visit How do I Apply to Middle College | Middle College of Forsyth County

Stokes Early College High School

Stokes Early College is a four-year high school. It provides opportunities for students to graduate with a high school diploma and a college credential: associate, diploma, or certificate. 

  • Students apply in eighth grade. Applications open in mid-January and close in mid-February.
  • The application is online and includes short essays, two teacher recommendations, middle school attendance and discipline record, grades, and End-of-grade test scores.
  • After the application is submitted, students are invited to visit Stokes Early College and shadow an enrolled high school student.
  • If the application meets the requirements for admission to the Stokes Early College, students are invited to a virtual committee interview. 

For more information, visit Admission Information for 2025-2026 | Stokes Early College High School

Deferred Action Childhood Arrival (DACA) Students

Current NCCCS policy allows DACA applicants to enroll at Forsyth Tech at the out-of-state tuition cost.  However, acceptance to the college does not guarantee acceptance to a specific program.

Health Sciences Programs

Health programs use a selective admissions process. The Health Sciences admissions webpage offers specific admissions requirements for health science programs. Students meeting minimum requirements are assessed on a rating scale that ranks previous course grades in related courses and completion of other health-profession training programs. The highest-ranking students will be admitted. Students not admitted must re-apply to be considered for the next acceptance class. Students applying to certain Health Programs are required to take the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills).

Admission to a health sciences program does NOT guarantee eligibility for licensure or certification. For example, the North Carolina Board of Nursing has regulations that identify reasons for prohibiting licensure for associate degree nursing and practical nursing graduates. The reasons are referred to the department chairperson. Students in health sciences programs who are assigned to clinical settings will have additional fees for uniforms, liability insurance, parking, and other requirements.

All students in nuclear medicine technology, Interventional Cardiac & Vascular Technology, radiography, and radiation therapy technology come under the radiation exposure regulations of the state and federal governments (radiation safety hazard regulation). Any student who receives exposure more than permissible limits as defined by the regulations will be advised of the possible harmful effects and may be dropped from the program. Regulations for students under 18 are more stringent than those for students older than 18 years old, and applicants are encouraged to contact the department chair for additional information.

High School to Community College Articulated Courses

Forsyth Technical Community College and the local high schools have entered into the North Carolina High School to Community College Articulation Agreement. This agreement allows students to outline specific high school programs of study that will grant them advanced standing credit when they enroll in a community college upon high school graduation.

The North Carolina High School to Community College Articulation Agreement allows students in high school to take academic and career technical courses that will exempt them from certain required courses at the community college level. Forsyth Tech has outlined many programs of study in degree and diploma areas for which students can receive advanced standing credit. If the prerequisites are met, the student is exempted from the placement test in that subject area.

Students are strongly encouraged to articulate high school courses for advanced standing. Students should work with their high school counselor to register and select the correct sequence of courses in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. The final high school transcript must indicate successful completion of the correct sequence of courses with a grade of B or better and appropriate test scores. Students need to self-identify and submit the Articulated Credit Agreement Form at the time they submit their Forsyth Tech application to request a transcript review for credit to be granted as it relates to their program of study. Courses must be in the student’s program of study for advanced standing to be considered.

The list is subject to change as curriculum programs are updated at the state level.

The test scores are still 93 or with a grade of B or better; please use scores vs vocats scores.

International Baccalaureate Program

Secondary students enrolled in International Baccalaureate Courses (IB) may receive college credit upon completion of the 6 higher-level courses and receipt of the necessary score of 5, 6, or 7. Test results and transcripts need to be submitted to the Admissions Office for evaluation.

International Students

Forsyth Tech is authorized to issue an I-20 to students who meet the International Student admissions requirements and who are applying to study in the U.S. under a F-1 student visa.

Applicants intending to apply for an F-1 Visa should follow the application and enrollment steps for international students.

This includes transfer-in students currently on active F-1 status and other visa holders in the United States wishing to change their status to F-1.

North Carolina Residency Status

Under North Carolina law, each person must be classified as a resident or nonresident for tuition purposes. North Carolina law (General Statute 116-143.1) requires that to qualify as an in-state student for tuition purposes, a person must have established legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina and maintained that legal residence for at least 12 months immediately before enrollment to be considered for classification as a North Carolina resident.

Beginning in March 2017, all residency will be determined through a centralized state Residency Determination Service (RDS).  Forsyth Tech will no longer determine residency for applicants or students.  Applicants or students may contact RDS at www.ncresidency.org or by calling (844) 319-3640. Contact information on RDS may also be obtained in the Admissions or Records Office (2nd Floor), Robert L. Strickland Center, Main Campus.

Special Credit Students

Students interested in taking specific courses but do not plan to pursue and complete a program of study at Forsyth Tech can enroll as special credit students. Some credit courses will not be available to special credit students without prior instructional division approval.

Special credit students

  • Must complete an application to the college
  • Are not eligible for any form of financial aid through Forsyth Tech.
  • Are subject to all college policies, rules, and the student code of conduct
  • Must provide documentation that they have met course pre- or co-requisite
  • Are permitted to register for some credit provided such registration does not preempt students enrolled in a degree, diploma, or certificate program.

Note: currently enrolled high school students (regardless of age) are not eligible for special credit status and must contact Educational Partnerships if wishing to enroll in curriculum courses while still in high school.

While there are no limitations on the number of credit hours a special credit student may earn, students earning 12 or more credit hours will be advised to seek admission into a program.

Currently enrolled special credit students who decide to complete a program of study at Forsyth Tech should complete a Student Program Change and Catalog update form. Special credit students must meet current admissions requirements and, if approved, will be accepted under the program of study in effect for the program at the time of acceptance. Satisfactory completion of courses as a special credit student does not automatically guarantee admission to a program.

Undocumented Immigrants

State Board of Community Colleges rule (1D SBCCC  400.2(b)), outlines the admission policy for undocumented immigrants. To be eligible for admission, the individual must be a graduate of a U.S. public high school (including Adult High School), private high school, or home school that operates in compliance with state or local law. Online high school diplomas and GEDs are not acceptable.

Undocumented students are charged the out-of-state tuition rate and are not eligible for Financial Aid.  Undocumented students are also not eligible for admission to Allied Health or Nursing programs.