Alternative Crediting

Credit for Prior Learning and Non-traditional Means

SoLAcc may award college credit for knowledge gained through various forms of private study, work or other relevant learning experiences and accomplishments. The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript. 

Application for Credit for Prior Learning

These credits for prior learning (CPL) are also known as non-traditional credits and include the award of credit for non-credit coursework. Listed are avenues through which prior learning credit may be earned:

1. Advanced Placement via ACT test

The SoLAcc general policy concerning credit from non-traditional sources is applicable to this credit opportunity. The following are specific requirements:

English - An English score on the ACT of 28 or higher may result in advanced placement in ENGL 1020 Composition & Critical Thought - and credit for ENGL 1010 Rhetoric & Composition, if a grade of “C” or higher is earned in ENGL 1020. 

Mathematics - A student with an ACT Math score of 25 or higher will be allowed to enroll in a higher Math course, and credit will be awarded for three hours of MATH 1105 College Algebra if a grade of “C” or higher is earned in the higher Math course.

• A student with an ACT Math score of 28 or higher will be allowed to enroll in the Calculus I course, and credit will be awarded for three hours of MATH 1105 College Algebra and three hours of MATH 1110 Trigonometry if a grade of “C” or higher is earned in the Calculus I MATH 2210 course.

  A grade of “S” will be posted to the student’s transcript for credit given for any of these courses. SoLAcc students seeking advanced placement credit for any course should make this request in writing to the Registrar’s Office using the Credit for Prior Learning form prior to the normal first semester of the lower level course, or generally before they complete 30 credits at SoLAcc. The general procedural guidelines will apply and if approved, the student will be required to submit only a CPL transcription fee to have the course(s) added to their transcript. There is no ability to appeal this process.

2. College Board Advanced Placement Credit

When AP credit is considered for program or course placement purposes:

• Students must request consideration of AP scores for equivalent credit of SoLAcc courses in the first semester of enrollment at the College.
• The student must request that an original transcript from the College Board be sent to the Office of the Registrar for evaluation.
• Student must score a minimum of “3” in the AP course to be considered for evaluation of equivalent College credits and where required, submit in a timely manner, supplementary assessment materials as directed by the relevant Department/Division offering the course equivalency sought.
• AP credit scores are valid for only three years from the original test date.
• A student who intends to use AP credit to receive SoLAcc course credit, and to then transfer to another College or University, should check the requirements of the receiving institution in relation to conditions to meet their degree requirements.

► College Board Website - for Advanced Placement Students

3. College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Subject Examination

SoLAcc has identified the following guidelines regarding receiving advance credits for CLEP:

• Prior to taking a CLEP examination, the student must check with the Division Dean or Academic Advisor of their major to confirm that the credit is applicable to the student’s major.
• All CLEP testing is scheduled through the Student Success Center in the Ardoin Building.
• This process involves the payment of a fee for testing, which must be paid in advance.
• The awarding of credit at SoLAcc under CLEP is based upon three criteria:
  • Based on the standard scores recommended by the Commission on Educational Credit for the American Council on Education, SoLAcc has identified an equivalency in its course offerings.
  • SoLAcc requires a minimum standardized score of 50 to be achieved by a student to be considered to receive credit for any CLEP exam, and the College reserves the ability to request, receive and assess supplementary materials as part of the awarding of college credit.
  • That the student is enrolled at the college.
• No more than two different exams may be taken on each test administration date.
• Once the test is completed, the student will be notified whether they have passed and to decide if they wish to transcript the credit.
• Semester hours of credit earned by the CLEP examination are assigned an “S” grade. No quality points are earned. Such credit does not enter into grade point average computation.
• Once posted in the transcript, students will be able to schedule courses based on the credit received.
• CLEP testing must be completed prior to start of semester they are to be applied.
• Students who wish to transfer CLEP credits to SoLAcc must request that official score reports be sent to the Registrar.

► College Board Website - for CLEP Students

4. Credit by a Departmental Proficiency Challenge Examination

• A non-refundable CPL fee will be charged prior to administration of the examination.
• Administration of all Challenge Examinations must occur by midterm.
• To pass a Challenge Examination, a student must demonstrate a minimum proficiency of 75% of the written component of the examination and if a practical component is involved, to the satisfaction of the faculty. Students should ascertain the level of competency required prior to submitting to such examination by meeting with the appropriate Divisional Dean/Department Chairperson.
• A student who intends to use credit by Challenge Examination to meet degree requirements of another institution should check the requirements of the receiving institution.
• A student who wishes to take a Challenge Examination for a by-passed course must take the examination by midterm of the semester in which the student is enrolled in the more advanced course.
• A student who fails to meet the minimum written proficiency (75%) and/or competency requirements on the Challenge Examination will be administratively withdrawn from the sequential or higher level course. No course fees or tuition refund will be granted.
• The Division Dean of the course and the Division Dean of the student’s major approve credit for Challenge Examinations.
• Challenge Examinations are available only in courses offered at SoLAcc.
• A student may apply for credit by Challenge Examination only once in the same course.
• A student may not take a Challenge Examination in a course in which s/he has been or is currently enrolled, or which s/he has completed at any college.
• A student may not take a Challenge Examination for a course that they audited

CONTACT

For questions about Alternative crediting at SoLAcc, please contact the Registrar's Office: