Credit for Previous Learning

Learning occurs in a variety of settings and formats. AACC reviews credit for previous learning from traditional college coursework and from nontraditional sources such as military experience. Planning ahead to graduation? Refer to  transferring from AACC

About Transfer Credit  AP/CLEP/IB/DSST/Dept. Exam High School Credit Life/Work Experience Military Experience How to Get Started

Transfer Credit Criteria

The college adheres to the transfer credit mandates of the Maryland Higher Education Commission.  Students must complete all admission procedures before AACC will evaluate requests to transfer credits from other institutions. Students should submit official transcripts from all previous institutions attended. Official transcripts must be received by AACC in a sealed envelope that is signed or stamped across the seal by the sending instiution. Official transcripts may also be received electronically via a third-party transcript service directly from the sending institution. Transcripts must be received within one year of the date the transcript was issued to be considered for transfer credit. All transcripts should be sent to the Records and Registration office, which reviews courses on an individual basis. All transfer credit award determinations are made by the Records and Registration office in conjunction with the academic departments. Some academic departments may limit the courses that can be accepted for transfer credit at AACC based on professional accreditation or licensure requirements. Transfer credit will not be awarded if credit has already been earned at AACC.

Credit may be awarded if one of the following criteria is met:

1. The institution is accredited by a commission on higher education approved by the United States Department of Education. To verify accreditation, AACC uses the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) Database of Institutions and Programs Accredited by Recognized United States Accrediting Organizations.

a. AACC recognizes the following regional accreditation associations:
- Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
- North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
- New England Association of Colleges and Schools
- Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges

b. The institution is legally authorized to grant standard college degrees and is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. The college may award transfer credit based upon course equivalencies, expected learning outcomes and applicability to the college’s curricula, standards, and course offerings. Applicants seeking transfer of credit should contact the Records and Registration office at time of application to the college if they are unsure as to which documents are necessary.

c. Credit may not be accepted from schools that are candidates for regional accreditation and not fully accredited, or for coursework completed while an institution was not accredited by a commission on higher education approved by the United States Department of Education.

2. AACC has an approved articulation agreement with a high school, business, or industry. Articulation agreements specify award of credit for meeting certain criteria and presenting appropriate documentation. Refer also to Transfer Agreements.

3. AACC may accept credit if the American Council on Education (ACE) or National College Credit Recommendation Service (CCRS) has reviewed the training or military occupation and recommended award of college credit. AACC uses ACE and National CCRS recommendations as credit award guidelines with final determination of award of credit made in conjunction with the academic departments.  Refer to the section that follows on Transfer Credit from Nontraditional Sources for more information.

4. Coursework completed at a postsecondary institution outside of the U.S., which is not regionally accredited by one of the aforementioned associations, must be evaluated by a professional transcript evaluation service before AACC will review courses for transfer credit. AACC requires the course-by-course evaluation for transfer credit review and accepts evaluations only from these approved evaluation services: World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), and SpanTran: The Evaluation Company.

5. If the student’s cumulative grade point average from a previous institution is less than a 2.00 on a 4.00 scale, AACC will review only courses with a grade of C or better for transfer credit. Exception: If a student has less than a 2.00 GPA from a regionally accredited Maryland public institution and then transfers to AACC, AACC will accept credits for general education courses in which the student earned a grade of D (a C- or higher is required for ENG 101 , ENG 112, ENG 116, or ENG 121 equivalent).

Transfer Credit from Other Institutions

In review of transfer credit from other institutions, the college considers the institution where the course was taken, the date completed, course description, and grade in deciding whether credit will transfer to AACC and if the course will be designated as a specific AACC course equivalency or elective. In some cases, AACC will need to review the syllabus or additional documentation. Upon request, students must supply this information from the sending institution. AACC will convert courses taken at institutions operating on the quarter system to semester hours if the credit transfers. Quarter hours are multiplied by 2/3 to equal semester credit hours.

Current AACC students who wish to take a course at another institution and transfer the credit back to AACC must file a Permission to Study at Another Institution form with the Records and Registration office to ensure the coursework will transfer back and meet AACC requirements.

Transfer Credit from Nontraditional Sources

The college may give credit for demonstrated proficiency in areas related to college level courses. Sources used to determine such proficiency are College-Level Examination Program (CLEP); Advanced Placement Examination (AP); International Baccalaureate (IB); Program Pathways Articulation; DANTES Standardized Subject Test (DSST); Office of Education Credit and Credentials of the American Council on Education (ACE); and National College Credit Recommendation Service (CCRS). In assigning credits of this nature, the recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE) or National College Credit Recommendation Service (CCRS) are used as guidelines with final determination of award of credit made in conjunction with the academic departments. Applicants who seek credit from nontraditional sources should contact the Records and Registration office at the time of application to the college if they are unsure as to which documents are necessary. A maximum of 30 credit hours may be earned in this nontraditional manner.

Each institution sets its own policy on acceptance of nontraditional credit. When planning their choice of classes, students need to consult with their proposed transfer institution.

Military - Students wishing to earn college credit for their military experience must submit the official Joint Services transcript (Army, Navy, Coast Guard or Marines), Community College of the Air Force transcript or a photocopy of the DD-214. The official Joint Services Transcript transcript can be ordered at https://jst.doded.mil/smart/signIn.do.  Basic Training is used to satisfy the general education health/fitness/wellness requirement and credit is awarded for other military training and occupations using the American Council on Education credit recommendations when a similar discipline is offered at AACC. For more information about military transfer credit contact the Records Office at 410-777-2572 or email transfercredit@aacc.edu.

Program Pathways - Program Pathways is an initiative between Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) and Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) to support successful transition of students from high school to college and careers. Plans of study have been created to visually demonstrate how high school programs can move into college degree and certificate programs.

High school students have the opportunity to earn AACC credit for successfully completing specific high school pathways in areas including business, engineering, information technologies and health. To view plans of study and details on receiving college credit, contact the Office of Instructional Pathways and Partnerships. Students enrolled in Program Pathways should arrange to meet with an academic or department advisor prior to attending AACC. Questions or requests for additional information should be directed to the Office of Instructional Pathways and Partnerships at 410-777-2891.

Proficiency Assessment Credit - Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) will award Anne Arundel County Public school (AACPS) students credit for completing high school course work that is aligned with AACC courses when the student completes a proficiency assessment with a C or higher. The proficiency assessment is developed, administered, and graded by AACC faculty according to AACC department standards.  College credit is not granted when achievement is below a C. The grade a student receives on the proficiency assessment, if C or better, is recorded on the student’s official AACC transcript as “proficiency credit” in the transfer credit section. The maximum number of credits that can be awarded through a combination of proficiency assessment credit, credit by departmental examination, and credit through portfolio review is 15 credits. In accordance with the college’s academic regulations, only credit courses taken at Anne Arundel Community College will be calculated as part of the student’s grade point average and therefore will not include the proficiency assessment grades or any quality points as a result of proficiency assessment credit.  A student who has received college credit through proficiency may request and receive an official transcript of these grades regardless of having completed coursework at AACC. For additional information about proficiency courses or assessment details, please contact Sara Eger, Director, Instructional Pathways and Partnerships, at sbeger@aacc.edu or 410-777-2891 or visit the Proficiency Credit webpage: http://www.aacc.edu/earn-college-credits-while-in-high-school/proficiency-credit/.

Advanced Placement (AP) - These exams are usually taken in high school, concluding a specially designed advanced placement course. Students must have official Advanced Placement score reports sent to the Records and Registration office directly from the College Board. Student grade reports are not accepted for credit, but may be used for placement or waiver of course prerequisites at time of registration. To request an official AP score report be sent to AACC visit the AP score website.

Because each college sets its own policy on required AP scores and credits awarded, students planning to transfer need to consult with their transfer institution. AACC will award credit based on the AP exams and minimum scores listed.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) - The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a nationally recognized credit by exam program. The exams allow students to earn college credit for knowledge gained through experience or independent learning. Students interested in learning more about CLEP should visit the AACC Testing website or contact the Testing office at 410-777-2375. Upon receipt of an official CLEP score report, the Records and Registration office will review the exam results for award of credit. It is the student’s responsibility to have official CLEP score reports sent to AACC. To request an official CLEP score report visit the CLEP score website.

Each college sets its own policy on required scores and credits awarded. When planning their choice of classes, students need to consult with their proposed transfer institution. AACC will award credit for the CLEP exams listed below provided the passing score, also noted below, has been met.

¹Cannot be substituted for BIO 101.

²Cannot be substituted for CHE 111 or CHE 112.

³Students taking this exam must meet with the TEACH advisor to discuss the mandatory fieldwork that accompanies this class.

DSST (Formerly DANTES) Exams - DSST are college subject exams that you can take to earn college credit for knowledge you acquired outside of a traditional classroom, similar to CLEP.  AACC is not a testing location, but you can go to www.getcollegecredit.com to find several locations in Maryland at which you can take the exam, resources to help you prepare, and directions on having your scores sent to AACC.  Each college sets its own policy on required scores and credits awarded. When planning their choice of classes, students need to consult with their proposed transfer institution. AACC will award credit for the DSST exams listed below provided the passing score, also noted below, has been met.

*Students taking this exam must meet with the TEACH advisor to discussion the mandatory fieldwork that accompanies this class.

International Baccalaureate - AACC will award credit for International Baccalaureate (IB) subject examinations with scores of 5, 6, or 7. To receive credit for IB exams, students must have official results sent to the Records and Registration office. Credit earned through IB subject area examinations may be used to satisfy general education requirements, course equivalencies, prerequisite requirements or elective credit. Students may be awarded up to 30 credits toward the associate degree.

Because each college sets its own policy on required scores and credits awarded, students planning to transfer need to consult with their proposed transfer institution.

To request an official candidate score report be sent to AACC, visit the International Baccalaureate website.

Credit by Departmental Examination - In the subjects which college-level examinations (CLEP) are not available, department chairs may arrange to give examinations to qualified applicants. A maximum of 15 credits may be earned through combination of proficiency assessment credit, credit by departmental examination, and portfolio assessment. Applicants must:

1. Complete an application for admission.
2. Obtain a form for Request for Credit by Departmental Exam from the department chair.
3. Have the completed form approved by the appropriate department chair.
4. Take the completed and approved form to the Cashier’s office and pay application and exam fees.
5. Return the form to the department chair and arrange a time to take the exam.

Credit by exam is graded on a pass/fail basis. Courses for which passing grades are earned will be listed on the student’s academic record as transfer of credit. The student’s grade point average (refer to Academic Regulations) will not be affected. Students who fail may not repeat credit by exam, but may take the course.

Portfolio Assessment - A portfolio is a device in which you collect artifacts and provide documentation demonstrating that you have acquired college-level learning for an identified AACC course. You reflect and write about past experiences and how you met the learning outcomes for the course(s) through study, work and other life experiences which have occurred outside the classroom.  A subject matter expert will determine if you have demonstrated that you have the college-level learning equivalent to the course through an examination of the material in your portfolio.

The portfolio assessment advisor will guide you through the process which will consist of an explanation of your knowledge in specific fields and the connection between that knowledge and stated learning outcomes for specific courses offered at AACC. Documentation must be provided relating to the learning claimed. In some cases, a demonstration of skills, a writing exercise, using a computer application, or an oral presentation etc., can serve as documentation.  This requirement can be flexible depending on the subject area and learning outcomes. Other supporting materials such as reference letters, transcripts, recognitions and certificates may be required. Portfolio credits do not affect a student’s grade point average. A maximum of 15 credits may be earned through combination of proficiency assessment credit, credit by departmental examination, and portfolio assessment. The following are the eligibility requirements for participation in the portfolio assessment program:

1. Students are enrolled in a degree or certificate program at AACC
2. Students have ENG 111/ENG 115/ENG 101/ENG 101A eligibility
3. No CLEP examination is available for the targeted course

To determine eligibility and for a description of policies, procedures and fees, call 410-777-2340.