Credit for Prior Learning Procedure - 10.08.01

College Policy Number/Title:

• 10.08  Credit for Prior Learning

Howard Community College (HCC) believes that learning is a lifelong process and knowledge is acquired in many ways. In addition to transfer credit gained via 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, national examinations, advanced high school courses, self-development, and other experiential learning. In accordance with Maryland State law regarding college credit for prior learning, credit for up to 75 percent (generally 45 credits) of an associate degree or a certificate program may be granted for prior learning. Students pursuing the CPA Candidacy Certificate are required to take a minimum of three applicable HCC credits and the remaining credits may be granted from prior learning.

Students who wish to receive credit for prior learning are encouraged to meet with the office of advising or admissions for additional information about the process. Active HCC students enrolling at another institution to take courses for their HCC program of study should contact the office of records, registration, and veterans’ affairs (RRVA) to determine if the course will satisfy HCC degree requirements. Students are responsible for ensuring transferability prior to enrolling in a course at another institution. Additional information about prior learning credit and transferring to HCC may be found on the HCC website.

HCC cannot guarantee that other colleges and universities will evaluate transfer credit in the same manner as HCC. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with transfer institutions regarding transfer credit policies.

To ensure students do not enroll in courses for which they have already earned credit, students using military tuition assistance programs, veterans education benefits, or veteran readiness and employment (VR&E) must provide all transcripts from prior learning within 45 days of admission to HCC.

Transfer Credit Evaluation Process

Information regarding the transfer credit evaluation process can be found on the HCC website. HCC follows all transfer credit regulations as set forth by COMAR (Code of Maryland Regulations) and the Transfer with Success Act.

Equivalency for prior learning which has no explicit course equivalency, such as experiential learning, shall be established by the receiving institution using the same validation procedures for evaluating specific learning outcomes that are used for non-transfer students at the institution.

In compliance with Maryland State law, HCC’s designated transfer coordinator is the assistant registrar for transcript evaluation and degree audit in RRVA. The transfer coordinator is responsible for:

• supporting student transfer at HCC by directing students to college staff and resources for credit for prior learning
• overseeing the transfer evaluation process and faculty support for course equivalencies
• establishing policies and processes in accordance with Maryland State law
• collaborating on the establishment of articulation agreements or course transfer agreements
• communicating with sending institutions and the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) regarding regulation implementation and the reporting of denial credit

Reverse Transfer

Former HCC students who have not completed their associate’s degree and have since transferred to another college or university may be eligible for graduation from HCC without re-enrolling in the college under the statewide Reverse Transfer agreement. To be eligible for reverse transfer at HCC, students must have completed 15 college-level HCC credits, have earned a minimum 2.0 GPA while attending HCC, and in accordance with Maryland State law, meet the graduation requirements for an associate degree. To apply for reverse transfer, students must submit an official transcript from the transfer institution(s) attended and complete a Reverse Transfer Graduation Application.

Articulation Agreements

Articulation agreements are signed written agreements between institutions of higher education, public and private organizations, and high schools regarding the transfer of credit or courses from one institution to the other. HCC has built partnerships with other institutions of higher education, the Howard County Public School System, and public and private organizations to support transfer student goals. A list of articulation agreements between HCC and other institutions can be found on HCC’s website.

Credit for prior learning may be obtained in a multitude of forms. Such credit is divided into two types: traditional and non-traditional prior learning.

Traditional Prior Learning

College and University Credit

Credit may be granted by HCC for coursework completed at regionally accredited colleges and universities (institutions accredited by non-regional accrediting agencies will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis). Transfer credit is granted by HCC based on a student’s area of study. Per Maryland law, a grade of “C” or higher is required for College Composition. For all other requirements, a grade of “D” or higher is acceptable unless otherwise specified by the student’s area of study. Please note that courses with “D” grades may not satisfy requirements at transfer institutions; students are advised to check with prospective transfer institutions about specific grade requirements.

Selective admissions programs at HCC, including the nursing and allied health programs, may have time limitations and minimum grade requirements on prerequisite coursework required for clinical admission. All students applying to these programs are encouraged to work with an academic advisor or admissions coach to discuss transfer course applicability. While time limitations do not apply to coursework in other programs, it is each student’s responsibility to ensure that they have adequate prerequisite knowledge to be successful in the chosen degree.

International College and University Credit

Credit is awarded, as appropriate, for coursework completed at international colleges and universities; however, HCC does not evaluate international transcripts. Students seeking credit for coursework completed at international colleges and universities must have a course-by-course evaluation of their transcripts. Evaluations must be completed by an accredited international credential evaluation agency in the United States which is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) at the time of the student evaluation. Students must request that an official copy of the evaluation be sent directly to HCC’s RRVA office. Students who have attended international colleges and universities which hold regional accreditation are not required to have their transcripts evaluated by an international credential evaluation agency. 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 to award transfer credit.

Non-Traditional Prior Learning

Howard Community College believes that education is a lifelong process where each individual learns through their own unique educational pathway. To that end, HCC awards credit for various aspects of prior learning and experience in an effort to allow students to more seamlessly integrate real-world experiences and their education, furthering their academic credentials and entering the workforce.

Howard Community College adheres to the principles outlined in the Transfer with Success Act and guidance issued by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) and other organizations. Key amongst these principles is the understanding of “equivalency vs applicability” in determining transfer evaluations. Prior traditional credits, examinations, and prior experience are evaluated not based on an individual student’s current program but rather based on the learning outcomes of the prior learning and its equivalency at Howard Community College. 

Within the maximum allowed total transferable prior learning credit, only 30 credits toward a degree or certificate may be awarded for non-traditional learning. With the exception of nationally recognized examinations, general education credit for State of Maryland-specified general education requirements may not be awarded via non-traditional learning.

To have credit reviewed and awarded, students must submit official documents (JST, score report, license, certification etc.) along with a Transcript Evaluation Request Form to the office of Records, Registration and Veterans’ Affairs.

Types of Non-Traditional Credit include:

• High School Articulation Credit
• Non-collegiate Programs
• Military Education and Training
• Nationally Recognized Examinations
• Institutional Examination
• Non-credit Articulated Credit
• Industry Recognized Credentials

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 counseling offices or on HCC’s RRVA webpage). 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.

Non-collegiate Programs

Credit may be granted for educational programs that apply to a student’s area of study and have been successfully completed at non-collegiate organizations such as government agencies, corporations and businesses, trade and technical schools, 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 line with the college’s articulation agreements. Official transcripts or documentation, along with a transcript evaluation request form, must be submitted to RRVA to have this credit evaluated.

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. HCC recommends students with credit from military experience and training submit an official Joint Services Transcript (JST); however, if one is not available, other military transcripts may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) and other military institutions that are regionally accredited are treated as traditional credit.

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 reports, declare an area of study, and submit a transcript evaluation request form 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 on HCC’s website.

Nationally Recognized 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 on 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 about the program, visit 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 visiting 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.

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 visiting 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.

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. These exams are offered at the discretion of the faculty and the academic department. 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, and is one method used to assess prior learning and experience in the nursing field. It is used by HCC in combination with other requirements to meet admissions requirements and award clinical nursing transfer credit and advanced standing in the LPN Pathway program. Further information may be obtained through the office of admissions or advising.

Non-credit Articulated Credit

Students who have completed coursework through Workforce, Career, and Community Education (WCCE) may have credit articulated to their undergraduate transcript. Coursework from WCCE must meet 70% of the learning outcomes and have similar contact hours to the undergraduate equivalent of the course, as determined by subject matter experts. Credits articulated from WCCE count towards the credits earned in residency at HCC.

Industry Recognized Credentials

Students who have completed recognized industry credentials may be eligible for articulated credits. These credentials must include mastery of content which must include 70% of the learning outcomes of the equivalent course at HCC, as determined by subject matter experts.

Effective Date: 03/09/2026

President's Office Use: Provost