How Portland Community College uses the HSRT in admissions
PCC Radiography uses a multi-phase admissions process. Phase I ranks applicants on prerequisite grades in science, math, and medical terminology (minimum 3.0 GPA required). Only the highest-ranked Phase I applicants are invited to Phase II, where they complete the HSRT online before a panel interview at the Sylvania campus. There is no published minimum HSRT score — your Phase II performance is weighed against the other invited applicants for final selection.
Phase II is invitation-only and competitive. Because PCC publishes no cutoff, the goal is to outscore the other invited applicants — aim for the highest HSRT score you can.
HSRT testing at Portland Community College
- Location: Completed online; panel interview at PCC Sylvania Campus
- Fee: Coordinated through PCC admissions (non-refundable)
- Format: 35 multiple-choice questions, ~50 minutes time limit. Unanswered questions scored as incorrect. You can navigate forward and backward during the exam.
- How to register: You do not register for the HSRT independently. Phase II invitees receive HSRT access details at a mandatory virtual orientation, then complete the HSRT online before their assigned panel interview. No extensions are given.
Retake policy
Contact PCC Radiography admissions for the current retake policy. The HSRT is administered only to Phase II invitees during the scheduled testing window.
Eligibility requirements
Residency: No in-district residency requirement published. Out-of-state applicants should verify eligibility with the program.
About Portland Community College's Radiography (AAS) program
PCC Radiography is a small limited-entry, JRCERT-accredited cohort. The HSRT appears only in Phase II, paired with a job shadow and a panel interview, so a strong HSRT score matters most after you have already cleared the Phase I academic ranking.
About the HSRT exam
The Health Sciences Reasoning Test is developed by Insight Assessment. Unlike the TEAS or HESI, it does not test science, math, or vocabulary. The Standard HSRT reports an overall score plus eight critical thinking skills: analysis, interpretation, inference, evaluation, explanation, induction, deduction, and numeracy. The HSRT-AD form reports six of those skills (it does not report interpretation or explanation separately). Portland Community College lists its HSRT as 35 questions with a ~50 minutes time limit. Programs choose which HSRT form they administer. The Standard HSRT is 38 questions in 55 minutes, and the HSRT-AD is 35 questions in 50 minutes. Confirm with Portland Community College admissions which form and time limit you will sit.
Oregon allied health programs use the HSRT because radiography (aas) requires strong clinical decision-making ability. The HSRT is designed to assess whether applicants can reason through novel problems, the core skill of clinical practice.
How to prepare for the HSRT at Portland Community College
Because there is no content to memorize, HSRT preparation looks different from TEAS or HESI prep. Effective preparation involves:
- Understanding the skill areas the HSRT reports (eight on the Standard HSRT, six on the HSRT-AD)
- Taking a baseline diagnostic to identify your weakest subscale
- Practicing argument analysis, inference, and logical reasoning with original HSRT-style practice questions
- Completing full-length practice exams under realistic conditions (~50 minutes time limit at Portland Community College)
- Reviewing every wrong answer by skill area, not just overall score
StudyBuddy is a dedicated HSRT prep platform: 1,331 questions across eight skill modules (one per reported skill) and a mixed-reasoning module, 70 interactive lessons, and 10 timed mock exams in the Standard HSRT format (38 questions, 55 minutes). It is designed to build the reasoning skills publicly described for the HSRT. Our questions are original practice material and do not reproduce the proprietary exam. If Portland Community College uses the HSRT-AD, the same course applies, and the pace per question is about the same (about 86 to 87 seconds).
Prep timeline for Portland Community College's Fall 2026 admission cycle
With the deadline on Phase I via AHCAS general application; Phase II (HSRT + job shadow + panel interview) held in spring, here are two recommended study plans:
4-week plan (recommended if you have time):
- Week 1: Analysis, Interpretation + Evaluation, learn to break down arguments, read what claims mean, and assess evidence
- Week 2: Inference, Explanation + Induction, practice drawing and justifying conclusions from incomplete data
- Week 3: Deduction + Numeracy, work through logical reasoning and quantitative scenarios
- Week 4: Full practice exams + review weak areas. Take at least 3 timed exams.
2-week sprint (if your deadline is close):
- Week 1: Take the diagnostic. Focus all study time on your 2 weakest skill areas. Complete 100+ practice questions.
- Week 2: Take 3–4 full practice exams. Review every wrong answer. Retake your diagnostic to measure improvement.
Registration at Portland Community College
You do not register for the HSRT independently. Phase II invitees receive HSRT access details at a mandatory virtual orientation, then complete the HSRT online before their assigned panel interview. No extensions are given.
