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 seventy-five percent (generally forty-five credits) of an associate degree, or fifty percent of a certificate, may be granted for prior learning.  Credit age limitations apply for many health career programs, such as Nursing and Cardiovascular Technology.  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 that this occurs.  Students may contact the office of admissions and advisingfor further information at 410-772-4856 or Adm-Adv@howardcc.edu.  The transcript evaluation request form is available at www.howardcc.edu/admissions/forms.

Traditional Prior Learning

College and University Credit-Credit may be granted for coursework completed at accredited colleges and universities.  Transfer credit is granted based upon a student’s learning program.  A grade of “C” or higher is required for any coursework that is prerequisite to health career clinical courses in programs such as nursing, cardiovascular technology, emergency medical services, and radiologic technology and programs included in the Mid-Maryland Allied Healthcare Education Consortium.  The college awards credit for other coursework completed with a grade of “D” or above.  However, it is imperative that students understand that while “D” grades may satisfy general education requirements at transfer institutions, they are unlikely to satisfy specific course requirements directly related to a student’s major. 

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 an accredited foreign transcript evaluation service, such as the World Education Service.  Credit may be granted for foreign coursework based upon the results of such evaluations as well as the same procedures that apply to coursework completed at U.S. colleges and universities.  Additional information is available in the office of admissions and advising.

Nontraditional Prior Learning

State law limits the number of credits that can be awarded for nontraditional learning to thirty for both two-year and four-year colleges and universities.  (This limit is based upon a 60-credit associates degree and/or a 120-credit bachelors degree.  The nontraditional credit limit can be increased proportionally when these 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 American Council on Education (ACE) 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. 

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 an official request for a transcript evaluation to receive credit for national examination programs.  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 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.

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 Entrance Examination Board, Attention: CLEP, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540 (www.ets.org).

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, 475 Riverside Drive, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10115 (e-mail: ibna@ibo.org).

Institutional Examinations–Institutional exams are offered at HCC for selected courses:

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 not taking exams within this thirty-day limit will be notified that they have not passed.

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.  Lists of proficiency and challenge exams are available in the office of admissions and advising and in division offices.

Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam–Howard Community College administers the National League for Nursing’s Acceleration Challenge Exam I (formerly called the Nursing Mobility Profile I Exam).  This exam is produced by the National League for Nursing and is designed to facilite LPN to RN career mobility.  The exam is one option used by the college to assess prior learning and experience in the nursing field and to assist the college with the award of clinical nursing transfer credit and advanced standing placement decisions.  Further information regarding this option may be obtained through the office of admissions and advising.

Policy Manual Review/Revision:   7/1/05