Four Things You Should Know about Transfer Credit

By Jamie N. Montgomery
Senior Manager, Transfer Credit Evaluations at American Public University

If you’re like many adult learners, you’re probably entering a degree program having already obtained a wealth of college-level knowledge and experience. Understanding how your background could potentially accelerate your path to graduation is an important consideration when making decisions about your academic pursuit.

Academic credit. One of the most commonly accepted forms of transfer credit is academic in nature and reflected on official transcripts from other institutions of higher learning. It is important to remember that each institution sets its own criteria regarding which credit can transfer into your new program. Common criteria include the accreditation of the previously attended institution, the grades that you earned there, the level of coursework that you completed, and the receiving institution’s own maximum transfer credit limits.

Military and nontraditional credit. It is not uncommon for adult learners to receive transfer credit for learning and experience which occurred outside of a traditional classroom environment. The American Council on Education provides colleges and universities with a summary of learning outcomes from numerous military, governmental, and private sector courses and exams. Credit by examination is another means by which students often “test out” of otherwise required courses. Ask your school about options such as ALEKS, CLEP, DSST, AP, and Excelsior exams and how they might apply to your chosen program.

Internal policies and inter-organizational agreements. In some instances, schools recognize that a combination of knowledge and skills gained through various non-traditional means can satisfy some of the learning outcomes in one (or more) of their own programs. In these instances, they might develop official agreements which guarantee a predetermined credit award based upon completion of an outside course/program/certification. These policies vary considerably from institution to institution and often offer the potential to help students significantly advance along their academic plan.

Work/volunteer experience. Perhaps you’re a civic leader, an avid hobbyist, or a seasoned professional in the field that you’re studying. Increasingly, universities are developing programs to assess and apply this type of prior learning to a student’s academic plan. This kind of credit can potentially cover a wide range of expertise and schools are tasked with following very specific criteria in terms of how it is applied.

There are a number of ways to transfer previously earned credit into a new (or continuing) program. The above list is not exhaustive and every student’s background is unique. Be sure you speak to an admissions representative who can help you understand all of the options designed to help you succeed.

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About the Author

Jamie is a manager and ambassador for American Public University System. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and is pursuing an M.A. in Management. Jamie is a member of Young Professionals in Foreign Policy and earned a TEFL certification in Czechia. The former Vice President of Sigma Iota Rho Gamma Omega, she also served as a contributor and associate editor for their Global Review publication.