Nontraditional Prior Learning
State law limits the number of credits that can be awarded for nontraditional learning to thirty (30) for both two-year and four-year colleges and universities. (This limit is based on a 60-credit associate degree or a 120-credit bachelor degree. The nontraditional credit limit can be increased proportionally when degrees exceed these credit totals.) The college awards applicable credits earned for the following nontraditional prior learning:
NONCOLLEGIATE PROGRAMS – Credit may be granted for educational programs that apply to students’ learning programs and have been successfully completed at noncollegiate organizations such as government agencies, corporations and businesses, trade and technical schools, and others. Noncollegiate courses will be evaluated in accordance with the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations, as well as other approved organizations, in accordance with the college’s articulation agreements with nontraditional organizations and agencies. Official transcripts, along with an official transcript evaluation request form, must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Advising.
MILITARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING – Credit may be granted for a variety of formal military, vocational, and educational programs based on a student’s declared learning program at HCC. Students will be awarded credit based on recommendations made by the ACE, as well as in accordance with the college’s articulation agreements with individual military branches and organizations. Official military transcripts, including Joint Services Transcript (JST), Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), or other military transcripts, must be submitted with a transcript evaluation request form to the Office of Admissions and Advising.
PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT– Credit for prior learning acquired through employment, self-study, volunteer, civic, or other activities may be awarded through the portfolio assessment option. To earn credit through this method, students must enroll in a course specifically designed to assist in the development of a portfolio summarizing prior experiential learning. In COOP-160 Portfolio Development, students learn to document previous learning in a format that enables faculty to assess eligibility for academic credit. Students must demonstrate that prior learning and experience have resulted in the acquisition of college-level competencies and skills directly related to courses in their learning programs. Students have eighteen months to complete their assessment of prior learning through Portfolio Assessment. Specific prerequisites are necessary to participate in this program. For most programs, a maximum of 15 credits may be earned through this option. Further information may be obtained by contacting the business and computer systems division.
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION – Students may be awarded credit through nationally standardized or HCC institutional testing programs. Howard Community College has specific policies for all testing programs for which it awards credits based on scores, other credits earned, and students’ learning programs. Credit is generally not awarded for institutional exams taken at other colleges and universities. Students must submit official score transcripts, declare a learning program, and submit an official request for a transcript evaluation to receive credit for national examination programs. Howard Community College’s test center administers some of these exams to its current and prospective students. Information regarding required scores and credits awarded may be obtained by contacting the Office of Admissions and Advising.
National Examinations – The national examination programs for which the college awards credit are:
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) EXAMS – These are subject-matter exams sponsored by the College Board and generally administered through high schools at the culmination of AP course offerings. The college generally awards credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5. Further information can be obtained by contacting high school guidance offices or the College Board website.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) EXAMS – These are subject-matter exams administered in high school international baccalaureate programs. The college generally awards credit for scores of 4, 5, 6, or 7. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions and Advising or the International Baccalaureate program website.
COLLEGE-LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP) – This is a national credit-by-examination program providing individuals of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to receive credit for college-level achievement acquired in a wide variety of ways. General and subject examinations are available in many different areas. Howard Community College administers CLEP examinations to current and prospective students at its test center. Additional information regarding CLEP can be obtained by contacting the Office of Admissions and Advising or the College Board website.
DSST (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE DANTES SUBJECT STANDARDIZED TESTS) – Students participating in the DSST program have the opportunity to earn college credit for learning that has occurred outside the traditional classroom. Howard Community College administers DSST examinations at its test center. Students may earn up to three credits for each examination based on their scores and the American Council of Education’s (ACE) score recommendations. Additional information regarding DSST can be obtained by contacting the Office of Admissions and Advising or the DSST website.
EXCELSIOR COLLEGE EXAMS – Students may complete subject-based exams developed and offered through Excelsior College and Pearson VUE. Students must receive a grade of “C” or higher for these examinations to be equated to HCC courses. Exams are administered through the HCC test center. For more information and a list of accepted exams, please contact the Office of Admissions and Advising.
Institutional Examinations – Institutional exams offered at HCC for selected courses include:
PROFICIENCY EXAMS – These exams are taken prior to course enrollment when students believe they have mastery of course skills and objectives. Successful test performance results in course credits and appears on transcripts as proficiency credit. Proficiency exams cannot be retaken and cannot be taken by students previously unsuccessful in courses for which they are seeking credit. Students must be admitted to the college prior to taking proficiency exams. A fee equal to fifty percent of the current in-county tuition for the course will be charged for each proficiency examination. Proficiency exams must be taken within thirty calendar days after fee payment; students who do not take exams within this thirty-day limit will be notified that credit will not be issued.
CHALLENGE EXAMS – These exams are taken after enrolling in courses when students believe they have acquired course skills and objectives. Successful test performance results in the award of course credit, which, along with the grade earned, appears on a student’s transcript. A challenge exam may only be attempted once during a course. If the exam does not result in a passing grade, the student remains in the course. There is no additional cost for challenge exams beyond course tuition and fees.
Students must contact the appropriate faculty or division chairperson to arrange proficiency and challenge exams. These exams are offered for some, but not all, credit classes. Information on proficiency and challenge exams is available in the Office of Admissions and Advising and in the appropriate academic division offices.
LPN-RN MOBILITY EXAM – Howard Community College administers the LPN-RN Mobility Exam as one part of the process of determining advanced standing in the LPN Pathways program. This exam is designed to facilitate LPN to RN career mobility. The exam is one method to assess prior learning and experience in the nursing field. It is used by HCC in combination with other requirements to award clinical nursing transfer credit and advanced standing in the LPN Pathways program. Further information may be obtained through the Office of Admissions and Advising.