Policies & Procedures

Name: Testing Services Gloucester Campus
Policy Number: AP-8107.2
Approved Date: 07/01/19
Most Recent Revision: 06/8/21
Series: Student Services, Admissions and Testing

Administrative Procedure: 8107.2

TESTING SERVICES – GLOUCESTER CAMPUS

The Testing Center

The Testing Center (“Center”) exists to provide a quiet, secure, and welcoming test site for College students as well as test takers from the surrounding region. The Center is located on the second floor of the Student Services building. Parking is available in Lot D.

The Center’s website, rcsj.edu/testing/gloucester can be consulted for specific testing dates and times. The Center’s staff can be reached at 856-415-2268 for additional assistance.

Tests are administered for numerous reasons including:

  • placement in the appropriate course after notification of College acceptance;
  • admission to the College’s selective admissions programs;
  • advanced college credit;
  • faculty make-up examinations;
  • requirements for school employment and graduate school admissions; and
  • distance learning courses for individuals other than RCSJ students.

Testing fees apply to all exams except the initial basic skills placement test (Accuplacer) and RCSJ Academic Testing (faculty make-up examinations) for the Gloucester campus. Photo identification is required for all tests. No cell phones or any other electronic devices are permitted. All tests are proctored.

For special accommodations for test takers with documented disabilities, please contact the Department of Special Services at 856-415-2265.

Tests Administered at the Center

Placement (Accuplacer)

This test was developed by the College Board to assess student preparedness for college. RCSJ uses a three section format including English, reading, and math. The test is computer-based, administered online at the Center, has a multiple choice format, and is not timed.

There is no fee for the initial three-section test, however, should an individual wish to challenge/retake the test, an administrative fee per test section will be charged. The Nelson Denny exam may be used for a reading challenge.

Nursing and Health Professions Testing

The Center provides testing services for selective admissions into the Nursing and Health Professions programs of the College as well as administering nursing entrance examinations for other colleges. The tests are detailed as follows:

  • Health Science Reasoning Test-Associate Degree (HSRT-AD)
  • This test is designed and used to assess a student’s readiness for nursing curriculum and as the criterion for RCSJ’s Nursing Programs. The exam is computer based and administered online in the Center.
  • Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI)
  • This test is designed and used to assess a student’s readiness for curriculum within health sciences and as the entrance criterion for the College’s Physical Therapy Assistant and Radiography programs. The exam is computer-based and administered online in the Center.
  • HP (Health Professional) Critical Thinking Exam
  • This exam provides an assessment of a student’s ability to think critically in a variety of situations commonly encountered in healthcare settings. HP Critical Thinking is the entrance exam for RCSJ’s Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) program.
  • Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS)
  • As a designated testing location, this test is provided as a service to the community and other colleges, and is administered to screen a prospective student’s ability to be successful in a nursing program. The test has four sections: reading, math, science, and English is computer-based, and administered online. This test is not required for RCSJ’s Nursing and Health Professions programs.
  • American College Testing (ACT)
  • The ACT is issued as a college readiness assessment and is used by the College for selective admissions into the programs of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) and Nuclear Medicine Technology (NMT). The test is provided in paper and pencil format at the Center.
  • RCSJ is an ACT Test Center for both the Residual and National tests. Students are able to schedule and take the ACT Residual exam in the RCSJ Testing Center. However, residual ACT scores cannot be sent to any institution other than the testing institution. Whereas National ACT scores can be sent to other institutions.
  • The National ACT, also given at RCSJ as an approved testing location, must be scheduled through the ACT website and paid for online. National results may be sent to other colleges. Register at www.actstudent.org.
  • The National ACT must be scheduled through the ACT website and paid for online. Register at or 319-337-1270. The National test is not administered in the Testing Center, but is administered on the College campus.

Academic Testing (Faculty make-up examinations)

The Center provides a free service for the College’s faculty and students by proctoring make-up examinations. Faculty notify students and Center staff in advance to make the appropriate arrangements regarding: test format, usage approval for calculator or other electronic devices, etc.

Testing for Credit

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP is a group of standardized tests created by the College Board. These tests assess college-level knowledge in thirty-six subject areas and provide a mechanism for earning college credits without taking college courses.

RCSJ students are strongly advised to consult the Center’s website, the CLEP website, and an academic advisor to ensure the CLEP tests align with the associated RCSJ course and the course(s) apply to the desired Program of Study (major).

CLEP tests are available by appointment at the Center. The test times range from 1.5-2 hours. Tests are administered online in the Center with immediate feedback.

Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)

DSST are credit-by-examination tests developed by the United States Department of Defense. The program is similar to CLEP. There are thirty plus examinations in college subject areas. They are computer-based and administered online in the Testing Center with immediate feedback for pass/fail.

RCSJ students are strongly advised to consult the Center’s website, the DSST website, and an academic advisor to ensure the DSST test(s) aligns with the associated RCSJ course and the course(s) apply to the desired Program of Study (major).

Distance Learning/Outside Testing

As a designated testing location, the Center provides third-party testing services for students from other colleges including distance learning examinations. Both paper and pencil and online formats are provided depending on third-party preferences.

Professional Testing

  • Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
  • The MAT is a professional assessment by Pearson that measures analytical skills key to success in graduate school. As such, many graduate school programs require MAT scores for admission. The MAT is administered online at the Center.
  • ParaPro

The ParaPro is an Educational Testing Service® test that assesses general aptitude and is required in many states for paraprofessional certification. The assessment is 2.5 hours in length and has multiple-choice questions, and is administered online in the Center.

For more information on testing fees or other questions, call 856-415-2268 or visit the College’s website at rcsj.edu/testing.

References:

Rowan College of South Jersey Board of Trustees Policy Manual, 8107 Testing Services

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