TSI Exemptions and Waivers

Students who earn qualifying SAT or ACT scores may be exempt from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements in Mathematics, English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), or both.

SAT Exemption Scores

For SAT exams taken March 1, 2016, or later:

A qualifying score in one subject provides an exemption for that subject. Students do not need to meet both benchmarks to qualify for a subject-specific exemption.

ACT Exemption Scores

ACT requirements depend on when the exam was taken.

ACT taken on or after February 15, 2023:

ACT taken before February 15, 2023:

Students must have a composite score of at least 23, along with the applicable subject score:

• ELAR: English score of at least 19

• Mathematics: Math score of at least 19

SAT and ACT scores are valid for TSI exemption purposes for five years from the examination date.

How to Request Your Exemption

Official SAT or ACT scores must be sent directly to Texas A&M University-San Antonio through the appropriate testing organization. The TSI Score Report Request form is only used for retrieving TSIA2 scores and cannot be used to submit SAT or ACT results.

Allow approximately 3 to 5 weeks for official scores to be received and processed. Students should request their scores well before New Student Orientation or their intended registration date.

If you believe your official scores have already been submitted but your TSI status has not been updated, contact the TSI Office at tsi@tamusa.edu for assistance.

Students who have completed qualifying coursework at another college or university may satisfy their TSI requirements in Mathematics, English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), or both.

What Coursework Qualifies?

Mathematics: Qualifying college-level mathematics coursework, or coursework at the highest developmental mathematics level, may satisfy the TSI Mathematics requirement.

ELAR: Qualifying coursework must demonstrate college-level reading and writing competencies. Courses may be evaluated using their descriptions and student learning outcomes.

Generally, a grade of C or better is required for transferred coursework.

Coursework from Texas public colleges and universities can typically be evaluated using statewide course guidelines. Courses from private or out-of-state institutions may require additional review.

Does TSI Completion Mean My Degree Requirements Are Satisfied?

Not necessarily. A course may satisfy your TSI requirement without meeting your degree program's specific course requirements.

For example, a transferred Contemporary Mathematics course may satisfy TSI Mathematics even if your degree requires Precalculus.

How to Request a Review

Submit your official college transcript to A&M-San Antonio for evaluation.

If your transfer coursework has already been processed but your TSI status remains incomplete, contact the TSI Office at tsi@tamusa.edu for assistance. Additional course documentation may be requested when necessary.

Students who have earned an associate or bachelor's degree from an eligible accredited institution may qualify for an exemption from TSI requirements in both Mathematics and English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR).

What Degrees Qualify?

Qualifying degrees may include:

• Associate of Arts (AA)

• Associate of Science (AS)

• Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

• Bachelor's degrees

The degree must have been awarded by an institution that meets applicable accreditation and eligibility requirements.

How to Request Your Exemption

Your official transcript must document that the qualifying degree has been awarded.

If your degree has already been processed by A&M-San Antonio but your TSI status remains incomplete, contact the TSI Office at tsi@tamusa.edu to request a review.

The TSI Office will verify your degree and the awarding institution before applying the exemption.

Veterans who meet applicable Texas military service requirements may qualify for a permanent exemption from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI).

Who Qualifies?

Eligible veterans who have been honorably discharged, retired, or released from qualifying military service may be exempt from TSI requirements in both Mathematics and English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR).

Eligibility is determined through a review of the student's military service and discharge documentation.

How to Request Your Exemption

1. Complete the Military Exemption Form linked on the TAMUSA TSI website.

2. Upload your DD Form 214, preferably Member Copy 4, or another version that clearly identifies your character of service.

3. The TSI Office will review your documentation and determine whether the exemption applies.

Please allow approximately one week for verification and processing.

Currently serving in the military? Active-duty personnel may qualify for a temporary TSI waiver instead. See the Active Military Personnel section under Temporary TSI Waivers below.

Students who have earned qualifying scores on certain high school equivalency or state assessments may be eligible for a TSI exemption in Mathematics, English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), or both.

GED (General Educational Development)

Students who completed the GED may qualify with the following scores:

HiSET (High School Equivalency Test)

Students who completed the HiSET may qualify with the following scores:

All three ELAR scores must meet the listed requirements.

STAAR End-of-Course Assessments

Students with qualifying results from the STAAR English III or Algebra II End-of-Course (EOC) assessments may also be eligible for an exemption.

Qualifying results include:

• ELAR: Level II performance on the English III EOC assessment.

• Mathematics: Level II performance on the Algebra II EOC assessment.

Qualifying assessment scores are valid for TSI exemption purposes for five years from the examination date.

How to Request Your Exemption

If you believe your GED, HiSET, or STAAR results qualify you for a TSI exemption, contact the TSI Office at tsi@tamusa.edu.

The TSI Office will review your circumstances and provide instructions for submitting the appropriate score documentation. Eligibility must be verified before an exemption can be applied to your student record.

Students who successfully completed the Texas College Bridge program in high school may qualify for a temporary TSI waiver in Mathematics, English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), or both.

Texas College Bridge operates under a statewide agreement, so eligible completion certificates can be reviewed by A&M-San Antonio without requiring a separate agreement with the student's high school.

Who Qualifies?

Students must have successfully completed the applicable Texas College Bridge coursework and have an official completion certificate.

The waiver applies only to the subject areas identified on the certificate.

Students have 24 months following high school graduation to use their qualifying College Bridge completion toward a TSI waiver.

How Long Does the Waiver Last?

An approved College Bridge waiver is available during the student's first academic year of college enrollment, including the applicable summer term.

During this period, students can register without TSI restrictions in the subject covered by their waiver.

Students must enroll in the applicable college-level coursework during their first academic year and are expected to successfully complete that coursework to become TSI complete.

How to Request Your Waiver

1. Obtain your official Texas College Bridge completion certificate.

2. Complete the College Bridge/College Prep TSI Agreement using your A&M-San Antonio student login.

3. Upload your certificate directly through the agreement form.

4. The TSI Office will review your documentation and verify eligibility.

Do not email your certificate. Supporting documentation must be uploaded through the TSI Agreement form.

What Happens if My Waiver Expires?

If your College Bridge waiver expires before you satisfy your TSI requirements, TSI registration restrictions will apply.

If you have not previously taken the TSIA2 or do not have valid TSI assessment scores on file, you must provide assessment scores before your registration hold can be adjusted for future enrollment.

Once valid scores are available, you may be eligible to register under the university's standard TSI requirements, including applicable corequisite coursework.

Providing assessment scores does not automatically make you TSI complete.

Students who successfully completed an approved College Preparatory course in high school may qualify for a temporary TSI waiver in Mathematics, English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), or both.

Who Qualifies?

Students must have completed a qualifying College Preparatory course through a high school or school district covered by an applicable Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Texas A&M University-San Antonio.

A&M-San Antonio primarily recognizes College Preparatory programs offered through participating Region 20 schools.

Completing a College Preparatory course does not automatically establish eligibility. The TSI Office must verify that the program is covered by an applicable agreement.

Students must provide either an official completion certificate or a qualifying high school transcript that clearly identifies their school, coursework, and completion grade.

For College Prep coursework, the required minimum completion grades are:

• ELAR: 70

• Mathematics: 75

The waiver applies only to the qualifying subject areas.

Students have 24 months following high school graduation to use their qualifying College Prep completion toward a TSI waiver.

How Long Does the Waiver Last?

An approved College Prep waiver is available during the student's first academic year of college enrollment, including the applicable summer term.

During this period, students can register without TSI restrictions in the subject covered by their waiver.

Students must enroll in the applicable college-level coursework during their first academic year and are expected to successfully complete that coursework to become TSI complete.

How to Request Your Waiver

1. Obtain your College Prep completion certificate or qualifying high school transcript.

2. Complete the College Bridge/College Prep TSI Agreement using your A&M-San Antonio student login.

3. Upload your supporting documentation directly through the agreement form.

4. The TSI Office will review your documentation and verify whether your program qualifies.

Do not email your supporting documentation. All documents must be uploaded through the TSI Agreement form.

You do not need to determine whether your high school has a current MOU before submitting your documentation. The TSI Office will verify eligibility.

What Happens if My Waiver Expires?

If your College Prep waiver expires before you satisfy your TSI requirements, TSI registration restrictions will apply.

If you have not previously taken the TSIA2 or do not have valid TSI assessment scores on file, you must provide assessment scores before your registration hold can be adjusted for future enrollment.

Once valid scores are available, you may be eligible to register under the university's standard TSI requirements, including applicable corequisite coursework.

Providing assessment scores does not automatically make you TSI complete.

Students currently serving in the United States Armed Forces, Texas National Guard, or qualifying Reserve components may be eligible for a temporary waiver from TSI requirements.

Who Qualifies?

Students must have at least three years of qualifying military service preceding enrollment and must meet the applicable active-service requirements.

Unlike a permanent military veteran exemption, this waiver depends on continued eligibility and must be renewed each semester.

How to Request Your Waiver

1. Email the TSI Office at tsi@tamusa.edu to request an active military TSI waiver or complete the following form Active Military Waiver Form.

2. Provide your commanding officer's name and official email address.

3. The TSI Office will contact your commanding officer to verify your current military service and eligibility.

4. Once verification is complete, the waiver may be applied to your student record.

How Long Does the Waiver Last?

An approved active military TSI waiver is valid for one semester.

Students must submit a new request each semester and provide their commanding officer's contact information so their eligibility can be verified again.

Previous approval does not automatically renew the waiver.

What Happens if My Waiver Expires?

If your military waiver expires and is not renewed, applicable TSI registration requirements will take effect unless you have otherwise satisfied your TSI requirements.

Students who are no longer eligible for the military waiver should contact the TSI Office to determine what assessment scores, coursework, or other documentation may be required before future registration.

Certain first responders may qualify for an exemption from Texas Success Initiative requirements while meeting the applicable employment and eligibility criteria established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

Who Qualifies?

Eligible categories may include:

• Qualifying emergency medical services personnel

• Qualifying fire protection personnel

• Qualifying peace officers

Eligibility depends on the student's specific employment, service, and applicable state requirements. Employment in an emergency-response-related occupation does not automatically establish eligibility.

How to Request Your Exemption

1. Complete the First Responder Eligibility Verification Form linked on the A&M-San Antonio TSI website.

2. Provide documentation verifying your qualifying employment and eligibility.

3. The TSI Office will review the documentation against applicable state requirements.

4. Additional documentation may be requested if eligibility cannot be verified.

How Long Does the Eligibility Last?

First responder eligibility must be verified at each registration period.

Students seeking continued eligibility must provide updated verification through the university's existing first responder form.

Previous approval does not automatically establish eligibility for future registration periods.

What Happens if I No Longer Qualify?

If you no longer meet the applicable first responder requirements, you may become subject to standard TSI registration requirements unless you have otherwise satisfied your TSI requirements.

Contact the TSI Office at tsi@tamusa.edu for guidance on your outstanding requirements before your next registration period.

Students attending Texas A&M University-San Antonio on a temporary or qualifying non-degree-seeking basis may be eligible for a limited TSI waiver.

Who Qualifies?

Students attending A&M-San Antonio as transient students, or in certain qualifying non-degree-seeking circumstances, may be eligible for a one-time waiver.

Eligibility is determined individually based on the student's enrollment classification and academic history.

How Long Does the Waiver Last?

A transient TSI waiver is available one time, for one semester only.

Students who previously received this waiver are not eligible to receive it again under the same provision.

The TSI Office will review prior university enrollment and applicable records when determining eligibility.

How to Request Your Waiver

Contact the TSI Office at tsi@tamusa.edu before registration.

Include your student ID, intended enrollment semester, and a brief explanation of your enrollment circumstances.

The TSI Office will review your eligibility and provide instructions for any additional documentation that may be required.

What Happens After the Waiver?

If you plan to enroll in additional semesters, you may need to satisfy the applicable TSI requirements before registering again.

Students who subsequently enter a degree-seeking program should contact the TSI Office to determine how their TSI requirements will apply.

Transfer students who are currently enrolled in qualifying Mathematics or English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) coursework at another college or university may be eligible for a temporary TSI waiver while completing that coursework.

This option is intended for students whose qualifying coursework is still in progress and has not yet been completed or processed by A&M-San Antonio.

Who Qualifies?

Students must be actively enrolled in coursework that is expected to satisfy their outstanding TSI requirements upon successful completion.

The TSI Office must review the coursework to determine whether it qualifies.

What Documentation Is Required?

Students must provide an unofficial college transcript showing current enrollment in the applicable course.

The transcript must provide sufficient information for the TSI Office to identify and evaluate the course.

How to Request Your Waiver

1. Obtain an unofficial transcript from the college or university where you are currently enrolled.

2. Complete the TSI Agreement for Transfer Students Enrolled in Coursework at Another Institution using your A&M-San Antonio student login.

3. Upload your unofficial transcript through the agreement.

4. The TSI Office will review the coursework and determine whether a temporary waiver can be applied.

What Happens After I Complete the Course?

The temporary waiver is dependent on successful completion of the qualifying coursework.

Students must ensure that their official transcript is submitted to A&M-San Antonio so the completed course can be evaluated and the applicable TSI status updated.

If the course is not successfully completed or does not qualify, the student will remain subject to outstanding TSI requirements and applicable registration restrictions.

Contact the TSI Office if your course is completed but your TSI status has not been updated.