• earn credit for specific Tri-County Technical College courses; and/or
• skip over specific content and/or course requirements.

TAP results from an educational process called articulation. Each year faculty from area high schools, career centers and the College meet together to review their courses for curriculum overlaps. When they determine that significant overlaps exist, TAP procedures are identified, allowing students like you to earn advanced standing at the College.


How can TAP credit help me?

TAP credit is a way to . . .

• get a head start on your college studies;
• obtain College credit and/or advanced standing for one of Tri-County's degree, diploma, or certificate programs;
• save time and money; and/or
• carry a lighter course load during one or more terms at Tri-County.

While students may earn a number of credits at Tri-County Technical College by participating in Technical Advanced Placement, a minimum of twenty-five percent of the credit hours required for a certificate, diploma, or associate degree must be earned through courses taken at Tri-County Technical College. Included in the approved course work for a diploma or degree must be two courses selected from the curriculum major, unless specifically exempted by both the department head and division chair.


What subjects offer TAP credit?

Over fifty courses at Tri-County are available for TAP credit in the following subject areas:

• English
• electronics
• engineering graphics
• industrial electronics
• machine tool
• welding
• industrial mechanics
• HVAC
• health science
• child development
• office systems technology
• computer technology
• radio and television broadcasting/production

How do I know if I might be eligible for TAP credit?

If you have completed specific high school courses as identified in the TAP Student Handbook and plan to pursue a degree, diploma or certificate at Tri-County, TAP could be right for you!


How much does it cost?

There is no fee for participating in the TAP process.


What are the steps for earning TAP credit?

Earning TAP credit involves obtaining a teacher recommendation and one or more of the following . . .

• completing a TAP exam;
• verifying competencies you have achieved through portfolio or skills assessment;
• completion of a transition course; and/or
• placing into appropriate academic courses.

What do I do next?

Follow these three steps to get started . . .

Step One:

Review the TAP Student Handbook which contains:

• General information about TAP, as well as background on the articulation process;
• The specific high school and Tri-County courses which have been articulated for TAP credit, organized by college major. (For example, in the Office Systems Technology program there are eleven courses that have been articulated for TAP credit.)

Step Two:

After determining which course(s) you wish to pursue for TAP credit, have a Competency Verification/Teacher Recommendation (CVTR) form completed by your occupational/career center teacher.

Step Three:

Mail or take the CVTR form to the appropriate Tri-County department head or division secretary (the contact person is listed on the form). This will officially start the TAP process, which is described in more detail in the TAP Student Handbook.

Step Four:

See the TAP Student Handbook for additional procedures that must be completed (like a TAP exam) for the course(s) in which you are seeking TAP credit and/or advanced standing.