Credit for Prior Learning

Inver Hills Community College may accept the following as credit for prior learning:

• College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
• Advanced Placement (AP)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Examinations covered in the American Council on Education's (ACE) Guide to Educational Credit by Examination
• Prior Learning Assessments (PLA)/Competencies
• Advanced Standing Credit (Tech Prep)
• Military Education Experience
• Credit by Examination (administered by Inver Hills faculty)
• Credit by Examination (nationally recognized)
• Credit for I.T. Certification Exams

Please refer to the sections below and online at www.inverhills.edu for more information about how credit for prior learning will accepted and applied.

Alternative credit

College Level Exam Program (CLEP)

1. CLEP examinations are designed to assess student mastery of introductory college course material in particular subject areas.
2. A student who earns a score of 50 or higher on a non-language CLEP examination will receive college credit. In order to receive college credit for Level 2 foreign-language examinations, a student must earn a minimum score of 63 for German language, 62 for French language, and 66 for Spanish language. These scores are consistent with recommendations made by the American Council of Education (ACE).
3. Equivalent course credits shall be granted when a CLEP examination
   covers material that is substantially similar to an existing college course.
4. Elective course credits shall be granted when a CLEP examination
   covers material that is deemed to be college-level but is not substantially similar to an existing course.
5. A college or university shall not limit the total number of credits a student may earn through CLEP examination. However, credits earned
   through CLEP examinations are not resident credits and may not be used to satisfy resident credit requirements for graduation.
6. A student must provide the college with an official report of CLEP
   examination scores in order to receive credit.
7. For an up-to-date list of CLEP credits and their equivalents, see the attached CLEP chart.

Advanced Placement (AP) exams

1. College credit will be granted to students who earn a three or higher in an Advanced Placement examination.
2. College credit shall be granted for a specific college course for each AP examination that covers substantially similar material.
3. Elective credits shall be granted when an AP examination covers material that is deemed to be college-level but is not substantially similar to an existing course.
4. AP credit that overlaps completed coursework for which college credit has already been earned will count as liberal art elective credit.
5. A college or university shall not limit the total number of credits a student may earn through AP examinations. However, credits earned through AP examinations are not resident credits and may not be used to satisfy resident credit requirements for graduation.
6. A student must provide the college with an official report of AP
   examination scores in order to receive credit.
7. For an up-to-date list of Advanced Placement credits and their equivalents, see the attached AP equivalency chart.

International Baccalaureate (IB) credit

1. Students who attain an IB diploma with a score of 24 or higher shall be granted credit as follows:
   a. 8 semester credits each for four higher level examinations plus 2 semester credits each for two standard level examinations, for a total of 36 semester credits; or b. 8 semester credits each for three higher level examinations plus 2 semester credits each for three standard level examinations, for total of 30 semester credits.
2. A student may receive credits for individual higher level IB examination scores of 4 or higher.
3. Course credits shall be granted when an IB examination covers material that is substantially similar to an existing college course.
4. Elective credits shall be granted when an IB examination covers material that is deemed to be college-level but is not substantially similar to an existing course.
5. IB credit that overlaps completed coursework for which college credit has already been earned will count as liberal art elective credit.
6. A college or university shall not limit the total number of credits a student may earn through IB examination. However, credits earned through IB examinations are not resident credits and may not be used to satisfy resident credit requirements for graduation.
7. A student must provide the college with an official report of IB examination scores in order to receive credit.
8. For an up-to-date list of Advanced Placement credits and their equivalents, see the attached IB equivalency chart.

Educational credit for training (ACE/PONSI)

Inver Hills will use the American Council on Education's National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs to determine whether students who participate in formal training will be awarded transfer credit. An official transcript of completed training is required for the evaluation.

Military education and experience

Inver Hills Community College is an SOC (Servicemembers Opportunity College) and will consider academic credit for military education and experience gained while on active duty. The American Council on Education's Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Forces will be used to evaluate military education and experience. A copy of the student's Report of Transfer or Discharge (Form DD-214) and an official SMART or AARTS transcript are required for evaluation.

A maximum of 16 semester technical credits will be accepted as elective credits in transfer from military transcripts. General education credits satisfying the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC) will be accepted beyond the 16 semester credit maximum. Students may petition for an evaluation of military credits believed to be equivalent to a specific program.

Inver Hills Community College has a crosstown agreement with the University of St. Thomas.  Students enrolled full time at Inver Hills Community College can take ROTC classes at the University of St. Thomas.

Prior Learning Assessments (PLA)/Competencies

Students with a variety of work and life experiences have the opportunity to receive college credit for knowledge and skills they have gained outside of a formal classroom.  A one-credit course (CBE 1103) is required prior to completing prior learning assessment competencies.  This course will help students reflect on their knowledge and skills and learn the processes for completing PLA competencies.  Prior learning assessments (PLA) can be evaluated in a variety of ways, such as demonstration, written documentation, performance, and/or evaluator/student discussions. PLA competencies are based on individual course outcomes and the credits earned are counted as meeting the 20 credit residency and college graduation requirements. Courses completed through PLA competencies are recorded on the student transcript the semester in which the student registers.  An official grade of Pass or No Credit will be reflected on the transcript and the student will receive other documentation that denotes grade equivalencies. The  cost per credit is $75. Inver Hills Community College adheres to  MnSCU policies and procedures on credit for prior learning and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) national standards for awarding college credit for previous learning outside the classroom.  Interested students should contact the Adult Success through Accelerated Learning (ASAP) office in the College Center, Suite 270, 651-450-3367.

Advanced Standing Credit (formally Tech Prep)

Agreements may exist between Inver Hills and area high schools which will allow the student to take college-level classes at the high school. Students who successfully complete the course at the high school will be awarded an Advanced Standing Certificate. If the student then enrolls for at least one credit at Inver Hills or completes the Advanced Standing Credit form, the credits earned in high school will be recorded on the college transcript for college credit. The Advanced Standing Credit form can be found on the Inver Hills website.  Questions can be directed to the high school or the college's Enrollment Center.

Credit by Examination (administered by Inver Hills faculty)

Students who have acquired knowledge and skills comparable to those obtained by completing a course may take an examination in some courses and, if passed, receive academic credit for that course. The Credit by Exam form and instructions for completing the process are available from administration in the Liberal Arts building. Before completing the form, students should consult with the appropriate instructor and academic dean to determine whether credit for a particular course can be earned through credit by examination.  The instructor and academic dean will sign the form approving the credit by examination. This form is taken to the Enrollment Center along with the fee of $30.00 per credit.

When the student has completed and passed the examination, the instructor will sign the Credit by Exam form and turn it in to the Enrollment Center.  The Enrollment Center staff will process the form and record completion of the course on the student's transcript.  Courses completed by examination have a notation on the transcript with a grade of P (pass).

Credit by Examination (nationally recognized)

Inver Hills Community College will also consider Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP), Excelsior examinations, New York University Foreign Language Proficiency (NYUFLP) examinations, the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) assessments, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education (DANTES), and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST). Official score reports for each of the above exam programs are required for transfer evaluation.

Credit Equivalency for I.T. Certification Exams

Inver Hills Community College will grant credit equivalencies to the information technology courses listed based on certification examination results that meet the following criteria:

1. Exam is administered by Pearson VUE, Thomson/Prometric or a future authorized industry certification testing company. Certification results are confirmed directly from a certifying agent (e.g., Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA) through mail, a secure website, or other means initiated by the certifying agent. The student is responsible for making arrangements to provide this documentation.
2. The certification exam is based on outcomes and objectives that correspond substantially to the content being taught in current courses. In cases where the current course content is based on technology that is substantially different from the certification exam taken by the student, for example Windows 2003 compared to the Windows NT version for MCSE courses, credit will not be granted. Students may retake current exams to qualify for credit equivalency.
3. In the specific case of the four Cisco CCNA courses, students may earn credit for prior versions of the CCNA curriculum at the pre-2004 value of two credits per course. Certification exam scores taken between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2003, will qualify for the two credit-per-course equivalency. Exams taken after January 1, 2004, will qualify for the three-credit-per-course equivalency. Exams taken prior to January 1, 2000, will not be accepted due to the substantial revision of curriculum since that time. Students may retake current exams to qualify for credit equivalency.

For an up-to-date list of  I.T. Certification credits and their equivalents, see the attached Credit Equivalency for I.T. Certification Exams Chart

NOTE: This chart is a general guideline and does not assure that academic credit will be granted for specific exams. Exams vary in content and structure over time and may not measure the current outcomes and objectives of  a course; in such cases, credit cannot be given for current courses.