Credit for Prior Learning-10.08.01
Howard Community College believes that learning is a lifelong process and is acquired in many different ways. In addition to the traditional classroom setting, mastery of college-level knowledge and skills may occur as a result of nontraditional learning experiences such as employment, military training and experience, noncollegiate training programs, advanced high school courses, and self-development. In accordance with State law, credit for up to 75 percent (generally 45 credits) of an associate degree, or 50 percent of a certificate, may be granted for prior learning. Credit age limitations apply for many health career programs, such as nursing, cardiovascular technology, emergency medical services, and radiologic technology and programs included in the Mid-Maryland Allied Healthcare Education Consortium. Clinical coursework is generally not accepted if completed more than three years ago. Time limitations exist for science courses. Depending on the health career program and science courses, the limit may be five or ten years. While age limitations do not apply to coursework in other programs, it is each student’s responsibility to ensure that they have adequate prerequisite knowledge to be successful in their program of study. Therefore, students are strongly advised to retake or otherwise review prior prerequisite coursework whenever necessary. To be awarded transfer credits, students must have a declared major. Official transcripts, along with an official transcript evaluation request form, must be submitted to the office of admissions and advising. (The fee is $15 for a single learning program; $25 for multiple learning programs.) When students change their learning program, a new transcript evaluation must be done. It is the student’s responsibility to officially request a new evaluation.. Howard Community College cannot guarantee that other colleges and universities where students may transfer will evaluate their credit in the same way HCC does. Students are strongly advised to consult with other institutions they are considering regarding their transfer credit policies. HCC’s office of admissions and advising can assist with this process. Traditional Prior Learning Foreign College and University Credit-Credit is awarded, as appropriate, for coursework completed at foreign colleges and universities. However, Howard Community College’s office of admissions and advising generally does not evaluate foreign transcripts. Students seeking credit for coursework completed at foreign colleges and universities must have their transcripts evaluated by a foreign transcript evaluation service nationally accredited in the United States and submit an official copy of the results to HCC’s office of admissions and advising. Credit may be granted for foreign coursework based upon the results of such evaluations. Otherwise, the same policies and procedures which apply to coursework completed at U.S. colleges and universities are used. Additional information and a list of several foreign transcript evaluation services nationally accredited in the United States are available in the office of admissions and advising. 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 and with The National College Recommendation Service (formerly known as the National Program of Noncollegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI)) recommendations as well as 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 upon a student’s declared learning program at Howard Community College. Students will be awarded credit based upon recommendations made by the American Council on Education (ACE), as well as in accordance with the college’s articulation agreements with individual military branches and organizations. Official military transcripts, including Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), AARTS, SMART, DD214, DD295 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 upon 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 major, and submit a transcript evaluation request form 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 Educational Testing Service and generally administered through high schools at the culmination of advanced placement (AP) course offerings. Further information can be obtained by contacting high school guidance offices or the Educational Testing Service, Attention: AP Exams, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 (www.ets.org). The college generally awards credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5. 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, North American and Caribbean Region, 200 Madison Avenue, Suite 2301, New York, New York 10116 (www.ibo.org). 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. Additional information regarding CLEP can be obtained by contacting the office of admissions and advising or the College Board’s webpage at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about . DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Test)-Students participating in the DSST program have the opportunity to earn college credit for learning that has occurred outside the traditional classroom. Students may earn up to three credits for each examination based upon their scores and the American Council of Education’s (ACE) score recommendations. Additional information can be obtained by contacting the office of admissions and advising or DSST webpage at www.getcollegecredit.com. 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 the 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 are offered at HCC for selected courses: Students must contact the appropriate faculty or division chairperson to arrange proficiency and challenge exams. These exams are offered for many, but not all, credit classes. Lists of proficiency and challenge exams are available in the office of admissions and advising and in division offices. 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. HESI LPN-RN Mobility Exam-Howard Community College administers the HESI LPN-RN Mobility Exam as part of the process of determining advanced standing in the LPN pathways program. This exam is produced by Elsevier and 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. Policy Manual Review/Revision: 05/13/11 |