Award of Credit for Learning Outside Olympic College (Prior Learning Assessment)

About Transfer Credit Evaluation

Olympic College honors academic credits earned at other regionally accredited institutions and through military service schools. Olympic College subscribes to the statewide policy on Inter-College Transfer and Articulation amongst Washington public colleges and universities. Courses accepted in transfer must be essentially equivalent in academic level and content to coursework offered at Olympic College. Find out more about transfer credit evaluation and transferring credits to Olympic College. 

The chart included on this page represents course equivalencies awarded each Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores. Students who have taken high school AP classes and exams may be eligible for credit at Olympic College.  Student interested in transferring to a four-year university should check the requirements of their target school to determine the best way to use their AP Exam credits.

4.60.14 Advanced Placement (AP)

Washington state community and technical colleges will award unrestricted elective credit for an AP score of 3 or higher. Credit will be awarded on the basis of official AP results, not transcript notation.  Credits granted for general education or major requirements will be specified by the receiving institution's AP credit policies; otherwise, elective credit will be granted.

Please have the College Board submit AP official exam scores to be sent directly to the Registration and Records Office, and follow the Transcript Evaluation Process.

AP EXAM SCORES

The chart included on this page represents course equivalencies awarded each International Baccalaureate (IB) exam scores. Students who have taken high school IB classes and taken higher level exams may be eligible for credit at Olympic College.  Student interested in transferring to a four-year university should check the requirements of their target school to determine the best way to use their IB Exam credits.

4.60.52 International Baccalaureate (IB)

Washing state community and technical colleges will award unrestricted elective credit for an IB score of 4 on Higher-Level IB exams. Credit will be awarded on the basis of official IB results, not transcript notation.  Credits granted for general education or major requirements will be specified by the receiving institution's IB credit policies; otherwise, elective credit will be granted.

Please have the International Baccalaureate offices submit official exam scores to be sent directly to the Registration and Records Office, and follow the Transcript Evaluation Process.

IB EXAM SCORES

The chart included on this page represents course equivalencies awarded each Cambridge International (CI) exam scores. Students who have taken high school CI classes and score of E on A and AS level exams may be eligible for credit at Olympic College.  Student interested in transferring to a four-year university should check the requirements of their target school to determine the best way to use their CI Exam credits.

4.60.53 Cambridge International (CI)

Washington state community and technical colleges will award unrestricted elective credit for a CI score of E on A and AS level exams. Credit will be awarded on the basis of official CI results, not transcript notation. Credits granted for general education or major requirements will be specified by the receiving institution’s CI credit policies; otherwise, elective credit will be granted.

Please have the Cambridge International offices submit official exam scores to be sent directly to the Registration and Records Office, and follow the Transcript Evaluation Process.

CI EXAM SCORES

The chart included on this page represents course equivalencies awarded each College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam scores. Students interested in transferring to a four-year university should check the requirements of their target school to determine the best way to use their CLEP exam credits.

Please have the College Level Examination Program official exam scores to be sent directly to the Registration and Records Office, and follow the Transcript Evaluation Process.

CLEP EXAM SCORES

*Prior to 10/10/2001, a CLEP score of 500 was the minimum required score.

Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) is a Department of Defense organization created to help Service members pursue their educational goals and earn the degrees or certification they deserve while continuing to serve their country.  DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST) is the exam used by the program.  Students interested in transferring to a four-year university should check the requirements of their target school to determine the best way to use their DSST exam credits.

Please have the DANTES Subject Standardized Test exam scores to be sent directly to the Registration and Records Office, and follow the Transcript Evaluation Process.

DSST EXAM SCORES

Credit by Examination Procedure:

This process must be completed by the 8th week of the term.

NOTE: An examination for any course may be taken only once in any 12-month period.

Student Process: 

Student must be registered at Olympic College to be eligible for Credit by Examination. Meet with the Dean of the division office to see if a Credit by Exam is offered for the specific course. 

Complete ONLY student section and submit form to the Cashier for posting of required per credit fees to the student account. 

1. Complete the Student section ONLY and submit to Cashier for posting of required $45 per credit fees to the student account 

2. Student will pay fees at Cashier who will forward the form to Registration and Records upon receipt of payment. 

3. Registration and Records will send form to the appropriate division office. (Note Fee Paid at bottom of form.) 

4. Division Dean will assign the instructor to administer the examination and notify student by email with a copy to @email. 

5. Student will pick up form from Division office once instructor is assigned. 

6. Student must contact the instructor to arrange time and date of the examination. 

7. Student will give this form to the instructor who administers the examination. 

8. Instructor will send graded Credit by Examination form to Registration and Records for posting to transcript. 

Credit by Vertical Challenge Procedure:

Current Olympic College students may apply to earn credit for certain courses designated by the division and discipline as appropriate for vertical challenge. Through this process, students may be permitted to register for a designated advanced course and receive credits with a grade of “P” for the bypassed course. A numerical grade of 3.0 or higher in the advanced course is required for consideration of the vertical challenge credit for the bypassed course. The only grade that can be earned in the bypassed course is “P.” To apply for vertical challenge credit:

1. Meet with the Division Dean
   Make an appointment and discuss which course(s) you can bypass.
2. Fill Out, Complete & Sign the Form
   Fill out the form and have the Faculty’s & Dean’s signatures before Week 3 of the term.
3. Pay the $50 Transcription Fee
   • In person: Bring the form and registration receipt to the Cashier’s Office.
   • By email: The fee will be posted to your ctcLink account. Pay online once available.
4. Submit the Form
   • In person: Take it to the Registrar’s Office and register for the advanced course.
   • By email: Scan and send it to @email.
5. Proof of Payment
   Payment will need to be paid prior to the third week of the term.
6. Final Decision
   After the term ends, you’ll be notified of the result. If approved, credit will appear on your transcript.

Challenge examinations are sufficiently comprehensive to determine that the student has the same knowledge and skills as those students who enroll in and successfully complete the course. The student should have previous training, private study, work experience, or other bona fide qualifications indicating that the student has the knowledge or abilities equivalent to course completers.

Through the “Direct Transcript of CTE Dual Credit” agreement, high school and college credit may be earned at the same time. High school or technical school students who have earned a “C” grade or higher in specific CTE Dual Credit courses may submit an application for college credit through their teacher. Articulated CTE Dual Credit courses are matched to OC professional/ technical courses and are transcribed to the student’s college transcript for college credit.

To learn more, visit the CTE Dual Credit webpage. 

CTE Dual Credit

Olympic College is committed to helping military personnel and their families pursue their academic goals. We offer many military educational support opportunities. For more information contact Military & Veteran Programs. 

Olympic College awards credit for military training and experience or college transfer credit. This credit can be applied towards an Associates or Professional Technical degree. Have your transfer credit officially evaluated.

When possible, Olympic College will use crosswalks and other equivalencies previously determined to award credit for knowledge and skills gained through work and life experience, and those gained through education or training at unaccredited institutions. Examples include American Council on Education recommendations for Military Experience, Armed Forces schools, DANTES SST scores, College Level Examination Program, Credit by Examination, and Credit by Vertical Challenge. See items 1, 3 and 4.

When no such equivalency has been established, credit for such knowledge and skills must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by a faculty advisor in the discipline. The following limitations apply:

• Students must be enrolled at Olympic College (or be accepted to a competitive entry program) before credit evaluation is considered.
• There is no assurance that any credit may be granted until after the credit evaluation review.
• Credit may be granted only for documented student achievement equivalent to expected learning achievement in curricular areas offered at Olympic College.
• Credit is granted only on recommendation of qualified teaching faculty appropriate to the degree goal.
• Credit from prior experiential learning is identified on the student transcript and is limited to 25% of the credits needed for a degree or certificate.

Contact the Faculty Advisor by searching by specific programs in the Academic Pathways section of our website.

Academic Pathways

Knowledge and skills acquired outside the institution and objectively verified through third-party certifications, industry-recognized testing/training, or crosswalks.

• Individual industry certifications (e.g., NCLEX-RN)
• Occupational Crosswalks (Police, Fire, AmeriCorps, etc.)
• Includes Military Service and American Council on Education recommendations for JST Military School courses and for Military Experience.