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:

Current Olympic College students may apply to take a comprehensive examination covering the subject matter contained in a course designated by the division/discipline as eligible for credit by examination. Not all courses are eligible for such credit. An examination of this type for a particular course may be taken only once during any 12-month period. The procedure is as follows:

1. Obtain the required 'Credit by Examination' Form from the division office that offers the course.
2. Make an appointment with the division's Dean to discuss the examination and if appropriate, confer with a faculty member of the discipline in which the course is offered.
3. Upon approval of the division Dean, take the completed form to the Cashier's Office and pay the special examination fee.
4. Return the Form and Cashier's receipt to the division office.
5. Take the examination(s).

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.

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. Make an appointment with the appropriate division Dean to discuss what courses are approved for bypass.
2. Obtain the 'Credit by Vertical Challenge' form from the Dean's office.
   • Complete the form.
   • Obtain the Dean's signature prior to the third week of the term.
3. Take the form to the Registrar's Office and enroll in the advanced course or scan and email it to @email.
4. Take the form and the registration receipt to the Cashier's Office and pay the required transcription fee.
   • If you email it to Registration, the form will be forwarded to the Cashier's Office to post the fee to your account and you can pay online through ctcLink once it’s posted. 
5. Submit the form and the receipt to the Registration & Records Office prior to the third week of the quarter.
6. When the term is completed, the student will receive notification of the final decision and appropriate course will be posted to the student's 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 “B” 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.