Credit for Prior Learning

Credit by Examination

The intent of credit by examination is to offer a method for students to demonstrate previously mastered competencies and to assist students in completion of educational goals at Highland Community College. Credit awarded by examination at HCC may not transfer to other post-secondary institutions. HCC does not accept credit awarded by departmental examination from other post-secondary institutions.

Students may earn college credit by attaining qualifying scores on the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement (AP) exams administered by the College Entrance Examination Board, and International Baccalaureate (IB).

Credit earned by examination will be placed on the student’s HCC transcript after the start of the student’s first semester of coursework at HCC. A grade of “CR” will be placed on the transcript but will not be included in calculating grade point average. The credit will count toward a degree at HCC.

 

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The CLEP permits students of any age or education level to gain college credit, following satisfactory completion of CLEP examinations. CLEP exams offered are sufficiently challenging to an individual who has a significant background in the subject area. Highland Community College will accept CLEP credit for scores at or above the American Council of Education’s (ACE) credit-granting recommended score of 50 for the equivalent course or courses at HCC. For more information about taking CLEP examinations, visit the CLEP website. Here is a list of CLEP examinations for which HCC awards credit. Students must request their official transcript of CLEP scores be mailed to the HCC Registrar.

Sixteen (16) semester hours of credit is the maximum allowed toward a degree program through CLEP. A student’s transcript will designate all credits earned through CLEP. CLEP credit earned does not count toward course load in any term. Students who fail a course offered by Highland Community College cannot replace that course with a CLEP subject examination covering similar content.

Exams may be retaken per the College Board’s retake policy:
“Test takers may not repeat an exam of the same title within three months of the initial testing date. If you retake the exam within the three-month period, your administration will be considered invalid, your score will be canceled, and any test fees will be forfeited. If you’re repeating an exam of the same title and have a question regarding the date of the initial administration, you should immediately notify the test administrator and contact CLEP Services at 800-257-9558. Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)-funded military test takers are eligible for only one U.S. government-funded attempt per exam title. Any retest attempts for the same exam must be funded directly by the test taker.”

 

Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)

AP refers specifically to courses offered in some high schools which are constructed and coordinated under the supervision of the College Entrance Examination Board. Before entering college, the student takes the examination, which is scored by Educational Testing Service. Students must request their official transcript of AP scores be mailed to the HCC Registrar. Here is a list of AP examinations for which HCC awards credit.

 

International Baccalaureate Examinations (IB)

Highland Community College awards credit to students who have participated in an International Baccalaureate program and have attained certain examination scores. Students must request their official transcript of IB scores be mailed to the HCC Registrar.

 

Credit for Practical Nursing Programs at Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions

Students who completed a Practical Nursing program at a post-secondary institution not accredited by a regional accrediting association may be awarded 16 credit hours of Credit for Prior Learning toward their AAS in Nursing degree requirements based on successfully passing the NCLEX-PN. Even with the 16-credit hour block, students may still need additional credits at HCC in order to graduate with the AAS in Nursing degree. The granting of this credit by HCC does not guarantee transferability to any other institution.

 

Credit for Military Training Education

Students may earn college credit for education for non-collegiate educational experiences or armed services training. HCC is working to increase the number of articulated military occupations. To see what credit can be currently earned, please check the Military Articulation Portal on the Kansas Board of Regents website. The Military Articulation Portal (MAP) is a tool connecting service members to postsecondary credit awardable for military learning. Kansas public institutions have evaluated military training and have agreed to award postsecondary course credit for service members’ acquired skills and education. This free interactive search tool can be used by Veterans and Servicemembers to review credit for prior military learning offered by Kansas public postsecondary institutions.

The granting of this credit by HCC does not guarantee transferability to any other institution. HCC reserves the right to not accept transfer equivalency work that may be more than 5 years old.