TSI Exemption Request Form: Categories, Documents, and Submission

To request a Texas Success Initiative exemption, you identify which qualifying category applies to you, collect the official documentation that proves it, and submit that documentation to your college — usually through the testing center’s online portal or on a short exemption form the school provides. There isn’t one statewide TSI exemption request form; each Texas public college handles the paperwork through its own testing, advising, or registrar’s office, and the form (when one exists) is a brief checklist that asks you to identify your exemption category and attach proof.

The work is mostly in getting the right documents to the right office in the right format. What follows walks through the steps in the order you’ll actually do them.

Confirm Which Exemption Category Applies to You

Before you can fill out anything, you need to know which category you’re claiming. TSI has two sides — math and English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR, which covers reading and writing) — and some categories exempt you from both, while others cover only one.¹

The common paths:

Qualifying test scores from the SAT, ACT, STAAR end-of-course exams, GED, or HiSET. Each score covers a specific subject (math or ELAR), and all score-based exemptions are valid for five years from the test date.²
Military service. Active-duty members of the U.S. armed forces, Texas National Guard, or a reserve component who have served at least three years before enrolling qualify for a full exemption. So do veterans honorably discharged, retired, or released from active duty on or after August 1, 1990, with no minimum service length. Military exemptions cover all three subjects and don’t expire.¹
A prior associate or bachelor’s degree from an institution of higher education, in-state or out-of-state. This is a full exemption from all subjects.¹
Transfer coursework. Satisfactory completion of a college-level course (typically a C or better in college composition for ELAR, or college algebra for math) can exempt you in that subject. Dual-credit high school coursework counts if the transcript shows a qualifying grade from an accredited institution. The receiving college decides whether the coursework qualifies.³
AP or IB credit that your college evaluates as college-level English or math credit. The exemption flows from the posted course credit, not from the exam score itself.⁴

If your qualifying credential covers only one subject, you’re partially exempt. You’ll still need to take the TSI Assessment in the remaining area before registration clears.

Gather the Right Documentation

Every exemption request rises or falls on the paperwork. Requirements vary by category, and most colleges will only accept official documents sent directly from the issuing body.

SAT or ACT scores: Official score reports sent directly from the College Board or ACT to your institution. Self-reported scores and student-portal screenshots are not accepted.
STAAR end-of-course scores: Usually appear on your official high school transcript. Request a copy from your high school or the Texas Education Agency.
GED or HiSET: Official score reports sent from the testing provider to your college.
Currently serving military: A letter from your commanding officer confirming active-duty, Guard, or reserve status and your service start date.³
Veterans: A DD214 showing an honorable discharge or discharge under honorable conditions. Either the Member 4 or Service 2 long-form copy works because both include your character of service. If you don’t have a copy, request one through the National Archives or the VA.⁵⁶
Prior degree: Official transcript from the degree-granting institution sent directly to your new school. Unofficial transcripts and self-reported degrees won’t clear a hold.
Transfer coursework: Official transcript from the college where you completed the qualifying course.
AP or IB credit: Official score reports sent to your institution, plus confirmation that the credit has been evaluated and posted to your record.

Two things to check before you start collecting: whether any of your test scores have aged out of the five-year window, and whether your college wants the documentation sent to the testing center, the registrar, or the admissions office. Sending records to the wrong office is the most common cause of delay.

Complete and Submit the Form

Most Texas colleges route TSI exemptions through the testing center, advising office, or registrar. The workflow is similar across schools even when the specific form isn’t.

Start on your college’s testing center website. Many institutions offer an online portal where you upload scanned copies of transcripts, score reports, or military documents. Some schools also use a short TSI exemption or waiver form — a checklist where you enter your student ID, identify your exemption category, and list the relevant test dates or credentials. If your school uses one, it’s typically linked from the testing center page.

When you fill it out:

Use the exact category name the form lists (for example, “SAT — ELAR” or “Veteran — DD214”). Category mismatch is a common reason forms bounce back.
Enter test dates and scores exactly as they appear on the official report you’re submitting.
If you’re claiming a partial exemption, mark only the subject your credential covers. Don’t check both math and ELAR unless your documentation supports both.
Attach the supporting document in the format the portal specifies (usually PDF).

For records that must come from a third party — College Board or ACT score reports, transcripts from another college — arrange delivery to your school as early as you can. Score reports can take one to two weeks to arrive; transcript timelines vary. Your form and your documents don’t have to reach the office on the same day, but the exemption isn’t processed until both are in hand.

If you’re submitting on paper instead of through a portal, send everything by certified mail to the registrar’s office or testing center so you have delivery confirmation. Keep copies of every page you send.

After You Submit: Hold Review and Release

Until TSI compliance is confirmed in all three areas (math, reading, and writing), your school places a TSI hold on your account that blocks course registration.⁷ The hold stays on until the testing or advising office reviews your documents, confirms the exemption, and updates your student record.

Turnaround isn’t always instant. Some schools review and lift TSI holds on a batch schedule, such as the second day of new student orientation, rather than one student at a time.⁸ Check your student account regularly. TSI status is usually visible in the same portal where you register for classes.

If you were only partially exempt, the hold behavior depends on the institution. Some schools let you register for courses in the exempt subject while blocking the incomplete area; others keep the full hold until every subject is resolved. Ask your advising office how your school handles it, especially if your registration window is close.

One boundary worth naming: an exemption doesn’t work retroactively against an expired credential. If your SAT or ACT score is more than five years old on the date you submit the form, that score won’t clear the hold, and you’ll need to either take the TSI Assessment or qualify under a category that doesn’t expire, such as a prior degree or military service.

1
Texas Administrative Code. 19 Tex. Admin. Code 4.54 – Exemptions, Exceptions and Waivers
2
Texas Education Agency. The TSIA (Texas Success Initiative Assessment)
3
Tarrant County College. TSI Exemptions, Exceptions and Waivers
4
Texas A&M University Academic Success Center. Exemptions and Waivers
5
National Archives. DD Form 214 Discharge Papers and Separation Documents
6
Veterans Affairs. Request Your Military Service Records
7
University of Houston. Texas Success Initiative
8
Texas A&M University Academic Success Center. TSI – Hold Removal and NSC