Profession-Specific Entrance Assessment (PSEA)

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, reasoning, and career awareness.

This assessment may be written at any time beginning Aug. 1.

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.
• This means 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 the test score from one PSEA test and apply it to a PSEA test for another program.

Intakes occur once per year for each program.

• You cannot write the same assessment more than once per program intake. Doing so will disqualify you from that intake.
• The only exception is the Medical Laboratory Assistant program, which offers 3 intakes per year. This means you can choose to rewrite the PSEA for the MLA program for each intake you apply for.

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.

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

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

Preparing for the PSEA test 

PSEA tests range in duration from 40 to 60 minutes. Duration means the time limit applicants have to write the test. When the test link is selected, a screen pop up will show the specific test duration (time limit), number of questions and sections on the test 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 – you may be disqualified if you leave the test/room during the assessment
• complete the assessment in one sitting
• keep your face in the field of view of the camera
• use only permitted resources – use of electronic devices such as calculators, second laptops or additional computers is not permitted, except when noted in the programs test instructions
  • please note that an external calculator is permitted only for the Nuclear Medicine Technology program
  • all other programs must use the PSEA built-in calculator
• verify your identity through the system
• complete the assessment independently with no support from additional resources.

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 are generated automatically and sent to your program administrator. 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.

Register to write your PSEA test

Entrance exam booking process