Profession-Specific Entrance Assessment

Qualified applicants to the following programs must complete a Profession-Specific Entrance Assessment (PSEA):

• Diagnostic Medical Sonography
• Medical Laboratory Assistant
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Medical Radiologic Technology
• Nuclear Medicine Technology
• Primary Care Paramedic
• Respiratory Therapy

The Profession-Specific Entrance Assessment (PSEA) is used to evaluate your ability to answer questions delivered in written format and your capacity to understand and follow directions. The assessment may include multiple-choice and short-answer questions on reading comprehension, math, science, career awareness, typing skills, and reasoning.

One assessment must be completed for each health program you are applying to at SAIT.

• You will be granted one attempt at the assessment per intake to a program (in other words, you cannot write the same assessment more than once per program intake. Doing so will disqualify you from that intake).
• You write the PSEA once for each program you apply for, and your test score will be reviewed as part of your application to that program only.
• Applicants cannot use their score from one PSEA test and apply it to a PSEA test for another program.

Intakes occur once per year for most programs, except for our Medical Laboratory Assistant program, which offers Fall, Winter, and Spring intakes. You must write the correct PSEA test for the intake you're applying to.

Once you pay for the assessment, you must write it immediately. We recommend not submitting the payment until you are ready to write your exam.

PSEA cost

The PSEA costs $25 USD. You will pay separately for each program entrance assessment. The cost of applying to multiple programs is $25 per program entrance assessment.

Test fees are non-refundable.

PSEA deadlines

Dates and deadlines are subject to change. Tests submitted after posted deadlines will not be reviewed or accepted.

Refer to the two-cycle admission process information for more details on decision release dates.

_{*The PSEA deadline is 4:30 pm MST on the specified date.}

Preparing for the PSEA test 

PSEA tests range in duration from 40 to 60 minutes. Duration refers to the time limit applicants have to complete the test. When the test link is selected, a pop-up screen will show the specific test duration (time limit), the number of questions, and the sections you will be writing.

The exam includes multiple-choice, math calculation, short-answer and/or typing questions in an online exam format. You must be prepared to demonstrate that you know the subjects at the level listed as an academic requirement for the program.

Practice exams are not available for the PSEA assessment. You may prepare by reviewing:

• the Alberta curriculum material for the subjects listed in the admission requirements for the program
• career information on the program page and the ALIS website.

Assessments are labelled by program name and intake term, for example, Medical Laboratory Assistant – Fall 2025. Please review all assessment instructions carefully, as they differ by program.

During the PSEA assessment 

You are expected to follow SAIT’s policies and procedures as it pertains to invigilation and security of examinations (AC.3.3.1 and schedules), distance education invigilation and security of examinations (AC.3.3.2 and schedules) and student academic conduct (AC.3.4.3 and schedules).

During the assessment, you must:

• remain seated in your chair and complete the assessment in one sitting
• keep your face in the field of view of the camera
• use only permitted resources (1 laptop or 1 computer). Use of electronic devices such as calculators, phones, iPads, a second laptop or additional computer is not permitted
  • all programs must use the PSEA built-in calculator. The calculator icon will appear at the top of the test screen, near the question number. Click and drag it to the centre of the page to view in full.
• verify your identity through the system, by showing your government issued ID
• complete the assessment independently with no support from additional resources or persons
• write in an isolated setting. You are not permitted to converse with others or have others in the room with you during your exam.
• use only your PSEA test writing account – you are not permitted to write using another’s account or share your login credentials with others
  • IMPORTANT: When you create your account, use the exact first name, last name and email address used when you applied to SAIT.

Violating one or more of these conditions will be considered academic misconduct, and your test will not be admissible.

If you have a documented disability, we strongly encourage you to contact Accessibility Services to arrange accommodation for the entrance testing assessment.

PSEA results 

PSEA scores require review and/or additional marking after submission of your test. This process takes 2-3 weeks to complete. PSEA tests completed before October will not be looked at until the October application process opens and your application is received. Once you have completed the entrance testing process and submitted your program application, you can log in to your admission status portal to monitor the status of your application.