North Seattle Community College offers many options for evaluating various academic and training credentials and transfering credits toward our certificates and degrees. If you plan to continue on to a 4-year school, note that some of NSCC's policies and practices may be different than those of other colleges and universities, so you should check carefully with an advisor at the college or university to which you are planning to transfer.
You should also plan early if you need your previous coursework evaluated for advising or financial aid purposes, or you are seeking transfer information from or to another college.
College Credit Options
- Credit by Exam (CE)
- Regionally Accredited Colleges and Universities (TR)
- Recognized International Colleges or Universities (IC)
- Advaced Placement and Internation Baccalaureate Exams (AP & IB)
- Military Training (MT)
- Nationally Accredited Post-Secondary Institutions (NA)
- State, Industry or Professional Association Approved Training (CC)
- Work Experience (WE)
- Prior Experiential Learning Portfolio (EL)
-
Credit By Exam
NSCC provides the opportunity to challenge certain courses for students who demonstrate that they have the knowledge and skills equivalent to a course offered at NSCC; see the current College Catalog for procedures regarding Credit by Exam (CE). A maximum of 25% of the required credits in any program of study may come from Credit by Exam. Credit by Exam has a fee of $66.85 per credit.
-
Regionally Accredited Colleges & Universities
An official credit evaluation is done based on an official transcript from each institution you may have previously attended. Generally, the following limits are observed:
- Only college level lower division (first and second year) coursework completed at that institution will be considered
- Subject matter may not duplicate credit previously awarded in transfer, or at NSCC
- Credit is not granted for religion or theology courses that are sectarian in nature
- For some programs, credits may not be considered if older than 5 years (example: science courses used as prerequisites, or core courses of certain programs)
- Some programs may only accept courses where a grade of C (2.0) or better is earned
Credit from regionally accredited colleges and universities may be applied toward any of our certificates and degrees, meeting either requirements or electives, at the discretion of the Credentials Evaluator.
Washington Community and Technical Colleges (CTCs) offer reciprocity to students transferring within the CTC system who are pursuing the A.A., A.B., A.S. or A.S.-T. Degrees. Students who completed an individual course that met distribution degree requirements or fulfilled entire areas of their degree requirements at one college will be considered to have met those same requirements if they plan to complete the same degree when they transfer to another Community or Technical College in Washington. For more information on this policy see the current College Catalog.
-
Recognized International Colleges or Universities
NSCC utilizes guidelines suggested by the National Council for Foreign Credential Evaluation in accepting and applying credit from non-US institutions. Students must provide a copy of their credentials translated to English and an official evaluation of those credentials by an evaluation agency.
Credit from non-US colleges and universities may be applied toward any of our certificates and degrees, meeting either requirements or electives, at the discretion of the Credentials Evaluator. Some restrictions exist for English courses. Credit transfer limitations outlined in Regionally Accredited Colleges & Universities also apply to non-US credentials. See the International Credits page, or contact ARRC if you need additional information about tranfer of international credits.
-
Advanced Placement & International Baccalaureate
Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exam programs will be awarded credit depending on which tests were taken and the scores received. See the AP Scores and IB Scores tables for acceptable exam scores and credit equivalencies.
The College Board CLEP exam is not accepted by NSCC for the following transfer degrees: Associate in Business, Associate of Arts, Associate of Science & Associate of Science options 1 & 2.
-
Military Training
NSCC follows recommendations made by the American Council on Education when evaluating military training and education records. Please submit the appropriate record for evaluation. Each branch of the military has a different service center holding your training and education records. Upon written request by you, they will send a copy to us. Active Duty and Reserve Sailors and Marines, and Sailors and Marines who separated or retired within the past 10-15 years may download the request form for their SMART record from https://www.navycollege.navy.mil
A maximum of 15 credits for military training and education may be applied toward the restricted electives for the following degrees (3 additional credits may be applied as PE credit): Associate in Business, Associate of Arts & Associate of Science.
-
Nationally Accredited Postsecondary Institutions
Transcripts from schools which are not regionally accredited, but are accredited by national agencies such as the Accrediting Commission on Independent Colleges and Schools, the Accrediting Commission on Trade and Technical Schools, Distance Education and Training Council and the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges, may be reviewed and considered for credit. In such cases, please supply a copy of the catalog or course descriptions as well as an official transcript. Courses which are similar to those offered at NSCC may be considered.
Credit from Nationally Accredited Institutions will only be applied toward professional & technical programs and will not be considered for the following degrees: Associate in Business, Associate of Arts, Associate of Science & Associate of Science options 1 & 2.
-
State, Industry or Professional Association Approved Training
Certificates of Completion or other documentation proving successful completion of training/coursework from schools which are approved by State, Industry or Professional Associations may be reviewed and considered for credit at NSCC. In such cases you will meet with the Faculty Coordinator for your program of study. You will need to supply a copy of all relevant documents to substantiate your training/coursework.
State, Industry or Professional Association Approved Training will only be considered for professional & technical programs and will not be considered for the following degrees: Associate in Business, Associate of Arts, Associate of Science & Associate of Science options 1 & 2.
-
Work Experience
Prior work experience may be reviewed for credit. To have your work experience reviewed you must meet with the faculty coordinator for your program of study and provide appropriate documentation. NSCC's evaluation process relies on information that substantiates that your experience is comparable to college-level programs; faculty will evaluate appropriate documentation to determine equivalency. If a Faculty Coordinator decides to award credit based on your experience then they will fill out a Professional/Technical Academic Exceptions Plan (must be signed by Dean), which you take to the Cashier's Office to pay a $39.06 fee per course.
A maximum of 25% of the required credits in any program of study may come from Work Experience. Work Experience will only be considered for professional & technical programs and will not be considered for the following degrees: Associate in Business, Associate of Arts, Associate of Science & Associate of Science options 1 & 2.
-
Prior Experiential Learning Portfolio
Through the Prior Experiential Learning Portfolio program (PELP), you may be able to receive college credit for knowledge you have gained outside the classroom. If your previous life experiences are comparable or equivalent to credit courses or programs offered at NSCC, then the PELP program may be for you. This program is appropriate for persons who have acquired knowledge and skills in ways that are not covered by any of the other methods described above. An extensive review process is required, including a written portfolio in which you describe what you have learned, how you have learned it, and how it relates to the type of learning that occurs in NSCC courses and programs.
To have Prior Experiential Learning evaluated contact the Faculty Coordinator for your program of study. A Fee of $39.06 per class is charged for participation in this program. Documentation of your experiences will be required. For more information please see the NSCC PELP brochure.
A maximum of 25% of the required credits in any program of study may come from PELP. Credit for Prior Experiential Learning will only be considered for professional & technical programs and will not be considered for the following degrees: Associate in Business, Associate of Arts, Associate of Science & Associate of Science options 1 & 2.
© 2003—2009