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 the Portland Community College nursing 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. It measures five critical thinking skills: analysis, inference, evaluation, inductive reasoning, and deductive reasoning. At Portland Community College, the HSRT-AD consists of 35 questions with a ~50 minutes time limit.
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 five skill areas tested on the HSRT
- Taking a baseline diagnostic to identify your weakest subscale
- Practicing argument analysis, inference, and logical reasoning with HSRT-format 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 the only dedicated HSRT prep platform, 1,700+ practice questions across 10 skill assessments, 64 interactive lessons, and 10 timed practice exams, all built for the specific format and skill areas that Portland Community College tests.
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 + Evaluation, learn to break down arguments and assess evidence
- Week 2: Inference + Induction, practice drawing 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.
