Howard Community College (HCC) believes that learning is a lifelong process and knowledge is acquired in many ways. In addition to the traditional classroom setting, mastery of college-level knowledge, competencies, and skills may occur as a result of noncredit training and nontraditional learning experiences such as employment, military training and experience, non-collegiate training programs, advanced high school courses, and self-development. In accordance with Maryland State law, credit for up to 75 percent (generally 45 credits) of an associate degree, or 50 percent of a certificate, may be granted for prior learning.
To be awarded transfer credits, students must have declared an area of study. All official transcripts, along with an official transcript evaluation request form, must be submitted to the records, registration, and veterans’ affairs (RRVA) office. Evaluations will be conducted within 20 business days after receipt of the transcript evaluation request form and all official transcripts listed on the form. When students change their area of study, new transcript evaluations must be done. It is the student’s responsibility to officially request a new evaluation.
Active-duty service members, honorably discharged veterans, and their dependents must provide all military and collegiate transcripts within 45 days of admission to HCC; evaluation will be completed within two weeks of receipt of the transcript evaluation request form and all official transcripts listed on the form.
HCC cannot guarantee that other colleges and universities where students may transfer will evaluate their credit in the same way HCC does. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with transfer institutions regarding transfer credit policies. HCC’s transfer center can assist with this process.
Reverse Transfer
Reverse transfer refers to a statewide agreement whereby up to 45 credits that a student earns at other accredited colleges and universities are transferrable to any community college in the state for credit toward an associate degree. To be eligible for reverse transfer, students must have completed 15 college-level resident credits and earned a minimum 2.0 GPA while attending HCC. For reverse transfer consideration, students must submit an official (sealed) transcript from the institution attended and complete a graduation application for former HCC students.
Traditional Prior Learning
COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CREDIT – Credit may be granted by HCC for coursework completed at accredited colleges and universities. Transfer credit is granted by HCC based on a student’s area of study. A grade of “C” or higher is required for College Composition and any coursework that is prerequisite to nursing and allied health clinical courses. HCC may award credit for other coursework completed with a grade of “D” or above. While “D” grades may satisfy general education requirements at transfer institutions, ”D” grades may not satisfy specific course requirements directly related to a student’s area of study at HCC or at the transfer institution. Students are advised to check with prospective transfer institutions about specific grade requirements.
Credit age limitations apply to many nursing and allied health programs. Generally, clinical coursework is not applied to the program if completed more than two years prior to a student’s enrollment in clinical courses at HCC. Time limitations and minimum grade requirements may exist for science courses used as prerequisites for some nursing and allied health programs. Depending on the nursing and allied health program and science courses, the time limitation may vary by program. While time limitations do not apply to coursework in other programs, it is each student’s responsibility to ensure that the student has adequate prerequisite knowledge to be successful in the chosen degree. Therefore, students are strongly advised to retake or otherwise review prior prerequisite coursework whenever necessary.
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY CREDIT – Credit is awarded, as appropriate, for coursework completed at international colleges and universities. However, HCC’s RRVA office generally does not evaluate international transcripts. Students seeking credit for coursework completed at international colleges and universities must have their transcripts evaluated by a nationally recognized and accredited international credentialing agency that is in the United States. Students must submit an official copy of the results directly to HCC’s RRVA office. Credit may be granted for international coursework based on the results of such evaluations. Generally, academic credit is not awarded for English composition or literature courses taught at a college or university outside of the United States. Otherwise, the same policies and procedures that apply to coursework completed at U.S. colleges and universities are used. Additional information and a list of several international credentialing agencies are available in the office of admissions and advising and on the HCC website.
HIGH SCHOOL ARTICULATION CREDIT – Students who have completed Howard County Public School System career programs through Career Academies may be eligible for academic credit at HCC through an articulation agreement with the school system. Eligibility for this credit is based on a number of factors, including the student’s area of study, other college coursework the student has completed, the student’s grade in the high school course, and the specific terms of the articulation agreement. Students must submit an official high school transcript and an articulated credit form (available in high school guidance offices, HCC’s office of admissions and advising, and on the HCC website) to the RRVA office. The award of credit for high school coursework does not guarantee that transfer institutions will grant credit for these courses or grant credit in the same way.
Nontraditional Prior Learning
State law limits the number of credits that can be awarded for prior learning to 30 for both two-year and four-year colleges and universities. This limit is based on a 60-credit associate degree or a 120-credit bachelor’s degree. The prior learning credit limit can be increased proportionally when degrees exceed these credit totals. However, exceptions may be granted by the Maryland Higher Education Commission for certain programs. The college awards applicable credits earned for the following prior learning experiences.
NON-COLLEGIATE PROGRAMS – Credit may be granted for educational programs that apply to students’ areas of study and have been successfully completed at non-collegiate organizations such as government agencies, corporations and businesses, trade and technical schools, apprenticeship training providers, and others. Non-collegiate courses will be evaluated in accordance with the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations, as well as other approved organizations, in accordance with relevant program requirements and the college’s articulation agreements. Official transcripts, or equivalent documentation of completed training or coursework, along with an official transcript evaluation request form, must be submitted to the RRVA office.
MILITARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING – Credit may be granted for a variety of formal military, vocational, or educational programs. Credits will be applied based on a student’s area of study at HCC. Students will be awarded credit based on recommendations made by ACE, as well as in accordance with the college’s articulation agreements with individual military branches and organizations. Official military transcripts, including Joint Services Transcript (JST), Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), or other military transcripts, must be submitted with a transcript evaluation request form to the RRVA office.
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION – Students may be awarded credit through nationally standardized or HCC institutional testing programs. HCC has specific policies for all testing programs for which it awards credits based on scores, other credits earned, and students’ areas of study. Credit is generally not awarded for institutional exams taken at other colleges and universities. Students must submit official score transcripts, declare an area of study, and submit an official request for a transcript evaluation to receive credit for national examination programs. HCC’s test center administers some of these exams to its current and prospective students. 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 College Board and generally administered through high schools at the culmination of advanced placement course offerings. The college accepts and awards credit for a minimum score of 3. Further information can be obtained by contacting high school guidance offices or the College Board website.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) EXAMS –
These are subject-matter exams administered in high school international baccalaureate programs. Credit is awarded with a minimum score of 4. For more information, contact the office of admissions and advising or the International Baccalaureate program website.
COLLEGE-LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP) – CLEP 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; a minimum exam score of 50 is required to award academic credit. HCC administers CLEP examinations to current and prospective students at its test center. Additional information regarding CLEP can be obtained by contacting the office of admissions and advising or the College Board website.
CAMBRIDGE ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION DIPLOMA PROGRAM EXAMINATION – Howard Community College will award credit for Cambridge Assessment exams for students who have earned a score of E or higher at the A-Level or AS-Level. Please contact the office of records, registration, and veterans’ affairs for more information about Cambridge Assessment credit and course equivalencies.
DSST (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) – Students participating in the DSST program can earn college credit for learning that has occurred outside the classroom. HCC administers the DSST program at the test center. Students may earn up to three credits for each examination based on their scores and score recommendations determined by ACE. Additional information regarding DSST can be obtained by contacting the office of admissions and advising or the DSST website.
EXCELSIOR COLLEGE EXAMS – Students may complete subject-based exams developed and offered through Excelsior College and Pearson VUE. Students must receive a grade of “C” or higher for these examinations to be equated to HCC courses. Exams are administered through the HCC test center. For more information and a list of accepted exams, please contact the office of admissions and advising.
Institutional Examinations – Institutional exams offered at HCC for selected courses include:
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 credit 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 50 percent of the current in-county tuition for the course will be charged for each proficiency examination. Proficiency exams must be taken within 30 calendar days after fee payment; students who do not take exams within this 30-day limit will be notified that credit will not be issued.
LPN-RN MOBILITY EXAM – HCC administers the LPN-RN Mobility Exam as one part of the process of determining advanced standing in the LPN Pathway program. This exam is designed to facilitate LPN to RN career mobility. The exam is one method to assess prior learning and experience in the nursing field. It is used by HCC in combination with other requirements to award clinical nursing transfer credit and advanced standing in the LPN Pathway program. Further information may be obtained through the office of admissions and advising.