Common Placement Testing
Students who intend to enter degree or college credit certificate programs shall be tested prior to the completion of registration with the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T.), which consists of tests covering reading, English, and mathematics including elementary algebra and arithmetic. Minimum cut-off scores have been established by Florida Administrative Code 6A-10.0315. Any student falling below these minimum scores will be advised of developmental education options and shall be allowed to enroll in the developmental education option of their choice. Students should begin developmental instruction based on the placement test results prior to completing 12 credits. However, students may continue enrollment in degree-related coursework provided they maintain continuous enrollment in developmental education for each subsequent semester until coursework requirements are completed and students demonstrate satisfactory performance in degree-related coursework. Some Florida high school and active military students may be exempt from testing and not required to enroll in developmental education instruction.
Students who require developmental education may not enroll in the following categories of college-credit courses while completing their developmental education coursework:
- Developmental education students who are deficient in mathematics may not enroll in any mathematics courses or other courses that require mathematics skills that are beyond the skill level of the student
- Developmental education students who are deficient in English and/or reading skills may not enroll in English or humanities courses or other courses that require communication skills that are beyond the skill level of the student
- Developmental education students who are deficient in all three areas may enroll in college-level courses such as orientation courses, college success courses or other courses that are not dependent on college-level computation and communication skills.
The Student Testing and Placement Chart , a reference for course placement, is available on the Career and Testing Services Web page.The College will accept P.E.R.T., ACCUPLACER, SAT, and ACT provided that they are no more than two years old from the date taken, and will place students accordingly. Test modifications may be made available to students who qualify under the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1974. Students should contact a PHSC academic advisor in the Student Affairs office, or Career and Testing Services for more information about placement testing. Exceptions to placement testing are: degreed students (AAS and higher), transfer students with "C" or higher grades on both college level English and mathematics courses, transient students (unless taking a Gordon Rule course at PHSC and have not tested previously), students who are Encore Academy members, nondegree seeking students and students who audit college-credit courses. Active duty military and some Florida public high school graduates may be exempt from testing.
P.E.R.T. Retests
Students are permitted to retake the Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (P.E.R.T) one time (a total of two active attempts) after 24 hours. Scores are valid for two years. An assistant dean of student affairs or the director of career and testing services may approve a request for a third attempt based upon documentation of extenuating circumstances. Students should be prepared prior to any attempt and may find remediation materials on the Testing Services Web page or through the Academic Success Center on each campus. Students requesting a retest of the P.E.R.T. who have already begun any developmental education course(s) can retake the P.E.R.T. only upon referral by faculty on a case-by-case basis. Students' who retest on the P.E.R.T. and achieve scores which place them into higher level courses and who wish to withdraw from the current developmental education course which has been tested out of, are responsible for completing the withdrawal by the College's published deadline dates.