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Previous Registrar's Office / Student Data Center

The College allows students the opportunity to earn credit through transfer of courses from other post-secondary institutions and through advanced standing opportunities. However, a student must earn a minimum of 25% of the credit hours required for a degree, diploma, or certificate through courses taken at Tri-County. Included in the approved coursework for a diploma or degree must be two courses selected from the curriculum major (excluding electives), unless specifically exempted by both the department head and dean.

A student does not have to be admitted to the College in order to have experiences or coursework evaluated for advanced standing credit. A student must, however, be enrolled in a curriculum program to have advanced standing credit documented on an official College transcript.

There are numerous ways you can enter the College with advanced standing (receive credit based on previous coursework or learning experiences). Several conditions will apply in awarding advanced standing through any of the methods described below.

Transfer of Credit from Other Regionally Accredited Postsecondary Institutions

Tri-County Technical College will grant credit for courses taken at other regionally accredited postsecondary institutions provided the student earned a “C” (or minimum grade point of 2.0) or above in those courses. Transfer credit will be granted according to the following guidelines:

  • A student’s official transcripts from other colleges will be evaluated and credit determined by the appropriate subject department head.
  • Credit will be given for the equivalent College course.
  • If the equivalent College course credits do not exceed the course credits being transferred by more than one-half credit hour, full credit for the College course will be granted. If the college course credits exceed the course credits being transferred by more than one-half credit hour, the student has the option of taking an exemption exam or requesting a course waiver.
  • Elective credit may be granted for courses for which the College does not have an equivalent course.
  • Transfer credit may be granted for all applicable courses without regard to when the credit was initially earned. (Exceptions: Some curricula may require that credit be earned within a specified period of time. In some technical courses, the student may also be advised to validate competency.)

While enrolled in a degree, diploma, or certificate program at the College, the student must secure permission from his/her advisor prior to taking courses at other post-secondary institutions for transfer credit. The form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office/Student Data Center prior to taking the course.

Technical Advanced Placement (TAP)

The College will award credit for specific College courses to area high school students who have successfully completed all procedures outlined in TAP Teacher Recommendation forms. Students taking high school courses, especially in occupational and technical areas, that cover skills and competencies equivalent to content in Tri-County Technical College courses, may qualify to earn credit for the Tri-County courses. Students may have their skills verified through examination or by completing coursework that requires the use of skills acquired in high school. Validation guidelines for each course are included in the Teacher Recommendation forms in the TAP section of the College website. High school students who would like more information about TAP should contact their guidance counselor or occupational teacher and/or review the TAP section of the College website. TAP credit will be documented on College transcripts as “Technical Advanced Placement” credit. A copy of the test, or other equivalency verification, must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office/Student Data Center along with the Advanced Standing Credit form.

Experiential Learning

Military Education

The College recognizes educational experiences in the armed services. In determining credits to be awarded for such experiences, recommendations provided in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, published by the American Council on Education, are considered. Credit will be recorded on the student’s transcript as “Educational Experience.”  A copy of the supporting documentation must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office/Student Data Center with the Advanced Standing Credit form.

Documented Work Experience

The College may grant credit for documented work experience. The work experience must be documented in writing from the student’s employer. The justification must tie the prior experience to the competencies of the relevant course. The subject-matter department head will determine the relevancy of the documented work experience to a specific course and ensure the work experience does not duplicate credit already awarded or planned for the student’s academic program. Elective credit may be awarded at the discretion of the subject-matter department head. Documented work experience credit may be awarded for no more than 25% of the credit hours applied toward a degree, diploma, or certificate. Credit will be recorded on the student’s transcript as “Work Experience.”  A copy of the supporting documentation must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office/Student Data Center with the Advanced Standing Credit form.

A group of female and male students sitting on a brick wall.

Credit by Examination

Examinations are administered by Tri-County Technical College.

If a student believes he/she has mastered course outcomes through work or educational experiences and they wish to receive course credit without enrolling in classes by taking an examination, he/she is required to do the following:

  • Present evidence documenting education or work experience that is similar to the content of a particular course to the appropriate department head.
  • Submit a request for the examination to the appropriate department head who will determine eligibility for the exam.
  • Pay a fee of $75 for each examination, and present the receipt at the time the exemption exam is administered.
  • Earn a grade of at least a “C” on the examination, as defined in current course syllabi. Credit will be recorded on the student’s transcript as “Exemption Exam.”
  • A student may not retake an exemption exam. (Exceptions due to extenuating circumstances may be granted by the Associate Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction upon receipt of a written request from the student.)

In no case can the exception be granted more than once for a course. A student who has enrolled in a course (i.e. audited, failed, withdrawn, etc.) will not be permitted to take an exemption examination for that course. A copy of the test must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office/Student Data Center along with the Advanced Standing Credit form.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Students may receive credit for courses by making an acceptable score on the CLEP tests. Although the College does not administer the CLEP, students may contact the Registrar’s Office/Student Data Center for more information. Credit will be recorded on transcripts as “Advanced Placement.”

Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)

The College recognizes the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board. High school students interested in receiving Advanced Placement credit are encouraged to participate in their high school’s Advanced Placement (AP) programs. Examination results should be sent to Tri-County Technical College by the College Board. Credit is awarded to those who earn 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board AP examination. Credit will be recorded as “Advanced Placement” on transcripts.

International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examinations (IB)

Students may receive credit for courses by making an acceptable score (4 or higher) on IB Higher Level Exams.  Students may contact TC Central for more information.  Credit will be recorded on transcripts as “Advanced Placement.”

Conditions in Awarding Advanced Standing

  • You do not have to be admitted in order to have experiences or course work evaluated for advanced standing credit. You must, however, be enrolled in a credit curriculum program in order to have your advanced standing credit documented on an official Tri-County Technical College transcript.
  • You must earn a minimum of 25 percent of the credit hours required for a certificate, diploma, or associate degree 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.