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HARTNELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
AP 4235 Credit by Examination Credit for Prior Learning
Reference: Education Code Section 79500; Title 5 Sections 55050 and 55052
Credit by Examination Credit for Prior Learning may be obtained by one of the following
methods:
Credit by satisfactory completion of an examination administered by the college in lieu of
completion of a course listed in the college catalog. Credit by examinations may be written,
oral, and/or demonstrative/manipulative.
Achievement of a satisfactory score on an Advanced Placement (AP) examination.
Achievement of a satisfactory score on a high level International Baccalaureate (IB)
examination.
Achievement of a satisfactory score on the College Level Examination Program (CLEP).
Evaluation of Joint Service Transcripts (JST)
Achievement on an examination administered by other agencies approved by District.
Evaluation of industry recognized credit documentation.
Evaluation of student-created portfolios.
Determination of Eligibility to Take the Examination for Credit for Prior Learning
The course is listed in the current college catalog.
The student must have completed a minimum of six semester units at Hartnell College.
The student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better.
The student must meet all course prerequisites.
In the case of Credit for Prior Learning, The student must pay all of the fees associated with a
credit by examination before the examination will be administered. T the student will be
charged the same per-unit fee for her/his residency status as for any other course. (Financial
Aid programs do not cover the enrollment fees for credit by examination.)
The student will not be permitted to petition for credit by examination for the course in which
she/he was previously enrolled or a course for which the student has already received credit
for a more advanced course in the same subject. in the preceding semester.
The student will not be permitted to petition for credit by examination for the course in which
she/he was enrolled in the current semester after the No Grade of Record “NGR” period.
In the case of Credit for Prior Learning, only one credit for prior learning per course may be
administered regardless of grade earned.
Administration:
The student’s academic record clearly indicates that the credit was earned under Credit for
Prior Learning. by examination.
Credit for Prior Learning acquired by examination shall not be counted in determining the 12
semester hours of credit in residence required for an Associate degree.
Credit for Prior Learning acquired by examination does NOT count toward Selective Service
deferment, veterans’ or Social Security benefits, financial aid, or scholastic honors.
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Applications for Credit for Prior Learning by Examination are available in the Admissions and
Records Office, and require the approval/signature of a full-time faculty member (if available)
in that discipline, who will evaluate the request, be administering the examination and the
Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Credit by examinations are only offered between the 1
st
and the 14
th
week for fall and spring
semesters; and the 1
st
and 4
th
week for summer sessions.
In no case may credit be awarded for more than one course in a sequence of courses.
An applicant for the Associate Degree program in nursing who uses a challenge procedure
must challenge Nursing courses in sequential order and will receive an examination grade and
number of units for each course.
The College reserves the right to deny a Credit by Examination for Prior Learning to any
specific course.
Procedures
1. Students can pick up the Credit by Examination for Prior Learning Petition in the Admissions and
Records Office.
2. The student completes and signs the top portion of the petition following the appropriate
process.
Advanced Placement (College Entrance Examination Board)
Submit official scores and a Request for Evaluation to the Admissions and Records Office. Refer
to the Advanced Placement section in the catalog for information on specific course credit.
International Baccalaureate
Submit official scores and a Request for Evaluation to the Admissions and Records Office. Refer
to the International Baccalaureate section in the catalog for information on specific course credit.
College Level Examination Program
Submit official scores and a Request for Evaluation to the Admissions and Records Office. Refer
to the College Level Examination Program section in the catalog for information on specific
course credit.
Credit for Military Service/Training
Credit for Prior Learning using Joint Service Transcripts will be based on recommendations
by the American Council on Education (ACE) Directory and approved by the appropriate
discipline faculty of the college. Official transcripts must be on file in the Admissions and
Records Office. These may include Joint Services Transcript (JST), Sailor/Marine American
Council on Education Registry, Transcript (SMART), Army and American Council on
Education Registry Transcript Service (AARTS), Community College of the Air Force (CCAF),
Coast Guard Institute (CGI), DANTES/USAFI, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language
Transcripts (DLIFLC), Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), DLPT Examinee Results, DA
Form 330 Language Proficiency Questionnaire, or verified copies of DD214 or DD295
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military records. Credit course equivalency shall be determined by the faculty of the
appropriate discipline.
Industry Recognized Credentials
Credit for Prior Learning using industry recognized credential(s) shall be reviewed and
recommended by the appropriate dean or designee. Admissions and Records shall record
credit for industry recognized credential(s) that have been evaluated and approved by the
appropriate dean or faculty as designated by the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Student-Created Portfolio Assessment
Credit for Prior Learning using a student-created portfolio shall be reviewed and
recommended by the appropriate dean or designee under the following circumstances:
A portfolio assessment rubric for the course approved by faculty in the discipline is
on file in the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
The student meets with the dean or designee to receive further instructions for
evaluation of student-created portfolio assessment.
The student submits all portfolio documents to the dean or designee for evaluation
of prior learning.
Credit for Prior Learning from within the District
The dean or faculty designee shall determine whether or not a student requesting Credit for
Prior Learning is sufficiently well prepared to warrant being given this opportunity. This
determination is based upon a review of previous course work and/or experience. Students
wishing to receive Credit for Prior Learning are encouraged to informally discuss the matter
with the dean, faculty designee, or instructor prior to initiating the formal process. The
District will award college course credit for successful completion of a District examination
administered by the appropriate faculty in lieu of completion of a course listed in the
college catalog.
3. If the dean or designee determine that the prior learning adequately ensures mastery of the
course content as set forth in the course outline of record, the dean shall sign the petition with
the recorded grade or P/NP. Upon approval from the instructor, recommendation of the dean or
designee, the student then submits the petition to the Vice President of Academic Affairs for final
approval. All steps must be completed in the order listed on the Petition for Credit for Prior
Learning, or the credit shall not be processed. The completed Petition for Credit for Prior
Learning must be submitted to the Vice President of Academic Affairs prior to the end of the
current semester or session in order to award credit during that session. The student then
obtains the approval/signature of the full-time faculty member in the discipline who will be
administering the examination.
4. Upon final approval, the Vice President of Academic Affairs or designee will forward the petition
to the Scheduling Office within 5 working days.
In-lieu In cases of denying the petition, the Office of the Vice President of Academic
Affairs will contact the student.
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5. Within 5 working days, the Scheduling Office will create a section and annotate the information on
the petition and forward the original petition to the Admissions and Records Office.
6. The Admissions and Records Office will enroll the student in the designated section, and mail the
student a copy of the processed petition as well as a copy of the registration receipt showing the
appropriate fee owed.
7. Upon receiving the registration receipt, the student will pay appropriate fees for the course to the
Cashier’s Office. and make arrangements with the instructor to complete the exam within 2
weeks of receipt of the approved petition. Fees must be paid in full before the examination can
be administered. The student will provide proof of payment to Admissions and Records in order
to record the credit on the transcript.
8. If the student is petitioning for credit by exam, the student will make arrangements with the
instructor to complete the exam within 2 weeks of receipt of the approved petition. Fees must be
paid in full before the examination can be administered. the Admissions and Records Office will
also send the original petition to the instructor of record so that the instructor knows that the
examination may be administered within 2 weeks.
9. The Admissions and Records Office will also send the original petition to the instructor of record
so that the instructor knows that the examination may be administered within 2 weeks.
10. After completion of the examination, the instructor will submit the student’s final grade on PAWS
and complete the Examination Certification portion of the petition and return it to the Vice
President of Academic Affairs with the original exam for their signature.
11. The Vice President of Academic Affairs will then forward the signed petition back to Admissions
and Records for their records.
See Board Policy BP 4235
Approved by Superintendent/President: October 9, 2012, Rev: ________________
Revised: June 2017
HARTNELL COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
BOARD POLICY AND PROCEDURE
ROUTING/TRACKING FORM
Review and consideration to approve by the various governance groups is requested Yes No Courtesy Review
Policy/Procedure # Policy/Procedure Name
New Revised Replaces existing policy/procedure:
New policy/procedure or revisions initiated/proposed by:
Reason for new policy/procedure or revisions:
Reviewing Group
Date Out
Forward by
Routed to
Academic Senate President
HCFA President
CSEA President
L-39 Chief Steward
Hartnell College Faculty Date of Action:
Association
Recommend approval Recommend approval with changes Do not recommend approval
Comments:
Academic Senate Date of Action:
Recommend approval Recommend approval with changes Do not recommend approval
Comments:
CSEA Date of Action:
Recommend approval Recommend approval with changes Do not recommend approval
Comments:
L-39 Date of Action:
Recommend approval Recommend approval with changes Do not recommend approval
Comments:
AP 4235
Credit for Prior Learning
Academic Affairs
New Title 5 regulation
10/9/20
10/9/20
10/9/20
10/9/20
11/9/20
11/9/20
11/9/20
11/9/20
Revised: June 2017
Council Date of Action:
Recommend approval Recommend approval with changes Do not recommend approval
Comments:
Council Date of Action:
Recommend approval Recommend approval with changes Do not recommend approval
Comments:
Council Date of Action:
Recommend approval Recommend approval with changes Do not recommend approval
Comments:
Superintendent/President Date of Action:
Executive Cabinet
Recommend approval Recommend approval with changes Do not recommend approval
Comments:
First Reading Second Reading
Board of Trustees
Approved Approved with changes Not approved
Comments:
ANTICIPATED TIMELINE
Board of Trustees first reading to occur on
Board of Trustees consideration to occur on
Additional Comments:
Academic Affairs
Student Affairs
December 2020
N/A