All applicants to the College who seek degrees or certificates are required to take an assessment test. This test assesses skills in the areas of English, reading and mathematics. The College uses assessment test results to determine if special course work must be taken in English, reading and/or mathematics. Students whose native language is not English are required to take an English as a Second Language test in lieu of the College's regular assessment test. Students whose placement and/or ESL placement test results indicate a need for special courses must take those courses during the first semester of attendance and continue taking them in successive semesters until completing them satisfactorily. Successful completion of prescribed remedial work is a prerequisite to enrollment in specific credit-bearing courses.

Students whose assessment test placement is "Basic Education Program" must enroll in and successfully complete the Basic Education Program (BEP) and any additional required remediation before enrolling in regular College courses. See the BEP website for further information.

Students who do not place in the ESL program or the Basic Education Program but who require remedial course work must enroll in these remedial courses during the first semester of attendance. Students who do not successfully complete all required preparatory courses during their first full-time semester will be limited to 12 credit hours or their equivalent–including the required preparatory courses–until all preparatory requirements are satisfactorily completed.

A student required to take a remedial course (ENG 001, RDG 001, RDG 002, MAT 001, MAT 002) who does not successfully complete the course must enroll for the course the following semester and shall be permitted to take each remedial course a maximum of three (3) times. A student who does not satisfactorily complete any one remedial course after the third try will be academically dismissed from Nassau Community College.