Credit by Examination
Satisfactory completion of an institutional examination, known as Credit by Examination, administered by the college in lieu of completion of an active course listed in the current college catalog
In order to permit students to demonstrate that they have met the objectives of a course through experience in the work place, foreign language proficiency, or some other process outside the conventional academic setting, students may earn credit by receiving a passing grade on an examination administered by the appropriate instructional department/program. The completion of Credit by Examination may require the demonstration of other skills or the completion of assignments in addition to an examination.
Upon completion of a Comprehensive Student Education Plan, students interested in Credit for Prior Learning using Credit by Examination shall receive credit as recommended by the appropriate division chair or faculty designee as follows:
- Student shall complete the Credit for Prior Learning assessment petition available in the Enrollment Services
- Student meets with the division chair or faculty designee further instructions for Credit by Examination
- If the division chair or faculty designee determine the Credit by Examination assessment measures mastery of the course content as set forth in the Course Outline of Record, the appropriate faculty shall sign the petition with the recorded grade and forward to the Enrollment Services to be kept on file and recorded on the student transcript.
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The petition must be completed and the student registered by:
⇒ Friday of the 4th week of the semester (Fall/Spring); or
⇒ Thursday of the 2nd week for Summer Session.
Credits acquired by examination are not applicable to meeting of such unit load requirements as Selective Service deferment, Veterans, or Social Security benefits. Credits acquired by examination shall not be counted in determining the 12 semester hours of credit in residence required for an Associate degree. The student must be registered in the District and neither currently enrolled in nor have received credit for a more advanced course in the same subject (may be waived by department).
A list of approved Credit by Examination Courses is released each academic year by Academic Affairs. Only certain courses may be challenged.
List of Approved Credit by Exam Courses (PDF)
- Grading shall be according to the regular grading system in accordance with Administrative Procedure 4230 Grading and Academic Record Symbols
- Students shall be offered a “Pass/No Pass” option, in accordance with Administrative Procedure 4232 Pass/No Pass Grading, if that option is ordinarily available for the course
- Pursuant to AP 4230 Grading and Academic Record Symbols and AP 4231 Grade Changes, students shall be given the opportunity to accept, decline or appeal the grade assigned by the faculty including cases of Credit by Examination
- The student’s academic record shall be clearly annotated to reflect that credit was earned by assessment of prior learning
- Credit earned by Credit for Prior Learning for a course shall be applied in the same
way as if the course was completed by the student having enrolled in the course. This
includes as appropriate:
- California Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
(IGETC) - California State University General Education (CSUGE) Breadth
- local community college general education requirements or requirements for a student's chosen program, or
- electives for students who do not require additional general education or program credits to meet their goals
- California Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
- Completed exam materials must remain on file with the department/program for three years
- Credit by Examination policy shall be reviewed by the Office of Instruction every three years and the findings reported to the Chancellor’s Office. Findings
shall include data disaggregated by gender and race/ethnicity including:
- the number of students who received credit for prior learning,
- the number of credits awarded per student,
- retention and persistence rates of students earning credit for prior learning,
- completion data (for certificate, degree, and transfer) for students earning credit for prior learning, and
- qualitative assessments by students of the policies and procedures.