Lawson State Community College, as mandated by the State Board of Education, has an open door policy.  Lawson State admits students who do not have a high school diploma or a GED Certificate into certain programs.  The courses taken in the programs are not creditable toward an associate degree when the student demonstrates an ability to benefit in the programs.  Students admitted under these provisions shall be classified as Non-Degree Eligible students.

Under the ability to benefit provisions, applicants MUST ENROLL IN COURSES NOT CREDITABLE toward an associate degree.  Therefore, the courses must reflect a career technical certificate program.  All applicants must:

• Be at least 16 years of age.

• Not have been enrolled in secondary education program for at least one calendar year (or upon the recommendation of the local superintendent).

• Have specifically documented ability to benefit.

• Be a student without a high school diploma or GED Certificate, who wishes to enroll in designated ability to benefit programs and courses, must take an ability to benefit test.  The GED coordinator arranges for an independent tester to administer the ability to benefit test to determine if the student can enter one of the designated programs.  The students must achieve a minimum  score to enter one of the designated ability to benefit programs.

The eligible programs are as follows:

• Automotive Body Repair

• Automotive Mechanics

• Barbering

• Cabinetmaking

• Carpentry

• Commercial Foods Service

• Commercial Sewing

• Cosmetology

• Graphics and Printing

• Home Health Aide

• Masonry

• Medium / Heavy Truck Technician

• Nurse Assistant

• Plumbing

• Soft Home and Commercial Furnishings

• Welding

Lawson State may establish additional requirements to specific courses or occupational degree programs.

Recipients of the Alabama Occupational Diploma may be admitted into one of the programs listed above at the short certificate level without having to take CPAt.  An AOD graduate should complete an application for admission and have his / her high school registrar or records official provide a final, official transcript to our Admissions Office.

Click here to see sample questions from a typical CPAt assessment.