You can earn credit through most of the qualifying College Board Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered in high school.
Get a head start
Save time and money by applying Prior Learning Credits to your degree at PennWest. Prior Learning Credit can be earned through nationally standardized exams such as College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.
On MOST College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) advanced placement tests, if you have received a score of 3, 4, or 5, you can expect credit. Any earned credit will be granted upon submission of your test scores to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
You can also earn credit with documentation of learning acquired through training, the military, or your workplace. Learn more about the type of credit accepted and how to apply these Prior Learning Credits to gain a head start at PennWest.
The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) offers exams that allow you to test out of introductory courses and move to more advanced courses sooner, saving time and money toward your degree.
Enrolled, degree-seeking students who appear to possess a proficiency equal to or greater than that required in a particular course may apply for an examination through the department of their major.
PennWest recognized the academic rigor of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme and accepted course equivalents. Participating students should refer to the IB chart to see what credits can be awarded.
You can be awarded credits for life experiences directly related to your course of study. Documented learning outcomes are required.
There are several ways that service members and veterans may apply Prior Learning Credits to their PennWest degree, and we recommend meeting with your ESO-Educational Services Officer/Counselor prior to enrollment.
- You may earn credit through qualifying DSST (DANTES) Courses & Scoring, up to 90 credits.
- ACE - The American Council on Education Through ACE, you can take academic credit for most of the training you have received, including Basic Training. The ACE military evaluations program is funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) and coordinated through DSST.
- JST (Joint Services Transcripts) For Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy: Active Duty, Reserve, and veterans. JST automatically captures your academic credits from military training and standardized tests. (JST) Home Page
- DD214 - You will need to provide your Discharge Documents to receive credit for your
experience.
- The university grants a maximum of four credits in HPE for active military service of four months or more with honorable discharge or continued reserve status. Credit is normally given for HPE 111 (2 credits) and two HPE activity courses of one credit each. To ensure that the credit is granted, students should provide an honorable discharge document (DD214 or official letter from their commanding officer stating active duty in years, months, or days) to the Registrar's Office.
A portfolio is a carefully selected group of documents put together by the student that demonstrates how the student has mastered each of the learning outcomes for a specific course. To receive equivalent course credit, students must first complete a self-paced portfolio development course at Learning Counts (www.learningcountsportal.org/create-account) before they can submit their portfolio for review. There is a fee associated with this course (currently $149)
Once complete, students submit their portfolios to Learning Counts for credit evaluation. There is a fee associated with the portfolio assessment (currently $125 for each portfolio assessment). Learning Counts will provide a written recommendation about course credit. The recommendation of credits is not guaranteed.
Students will forward the written recommendation to the PennWest Transfer Office for a final determination.