Apply to Running Start

Welcome to the Running Start program at SPSCC! Your first step to deciding if Running Start is right for you is to view our Information Session Video and then attend a Running Start Information Session Q&A where you can ask any questions you might have. This is recommended as a first step but does not have to be done before the rest of the steps below.

Apply Online to get your Student ID (SID) number. You will receive an email with your SID number after your application is processed, within 3-5 business days.

Set up your SPSCC email account, the email we use to communicate with you and your login to the college network.
Need help? Call 360-596-5544.

To be eligible for Running Start, you must place into, or have completed, English 101. Math placement is not required to participate as a Running Start student, but is required if you are going to complete a degree at SPSCC or want to take a course with a math prerequisite.

English Placement: If you have acceptable documentation, we can place you directly into English 101. Please see the Running Start Placement Guide for more information and submit your documents to assessment@spscc.edu for evaluation including your full name, date of birth and SPSCC Student ID number. Documents are evaluated and placement posted within one business day. If you do not have any documentation to submit you can take the English Guided Self Placement (GSP) online. It is free and can be completed any time after you activate your SPSCC student email account. Results will be available as soon as you finish and will post to your account the next business day. Please see the Assessment Center page for more information about the English GSP.

Math Placement: If you have acceptable documentation, we can place you directly into a variety of college level math classes.  Please see the Running Start Placement Guide for more information and submit your documents to assessment@spscc.edu for evaluation including your full name, date of birth and SPSCC Student ID number. If you do not have any documentation to submit, or you wish to attempt to place higher than your documents allow, you can take the WAMAP proctored exam (virtually or on campus) for placement into one of several college level math courses up to Calculus I (MATH& 151).  Results will be available as soon as you finish and will post to your account the next business day. The exam is free with one retake option and you will choose the course level you wish to test for. Please see the Assessment Center page for scheduling information. Running Start students are not eligible to take the Math Guided Self Placement exam for math placement.

Interested in learning more about placement and what documents you can use or exams you can take? Join one of our virtual Information Session Q&As or Placement Made Easy sessions! You can see more information in the calendar feed at the bottom of this page. Students and parent/guardians are encouraged to attend and Assessment Center staff are available to answer specific placement questions.

Meet with your high school counselor or school district representative to discuss specific graduation requirements. They will help you decide how many classes to complete at the high school and how many credits to complete at SPSCC. Check out available classes in the Class Schedule. There is a 15-credit limit to the number of courses you can be enrolled in between high school and SPSCC with full tuition coverage. If you want to take more than 15 credits, you will pay full tuition for the additional credits. See the Running Start Enrollment Verification Form for the funding table and use it to meet with your high school counselor.