Advanced standing is the administrative placement of a student that awards credit for subject matter competency based upon previous academic study or occupational experience. This may include, but is not limited to, college credit and advancement based upon individual college participation in the Advanced Placement Program (AP) or testing through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP); training provided by non-collegiate institutions, such as the armed forces; professional certification, or experiential learning/work experience.
Advanced standing policies at Virginia Western are consistent with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) principles and with Virginia Community College System (VCCS) policy.
To be eligible to apply for advanced standing credit, a student must be admitted to Virginia Western and officially placed in a program of study.
Virginia Western may award credit for the following competencies:
Credit awarded for CLEP, AP, departmental challenge exams, and credit for work experience may satisfy VWCC program of study requirements, but will not necessarily transfer to another institution. Students desiring to transfer credit awarded via these methods should contact their four-year college of interest to determine its policy. However, appropriate credit, when awarded, will be listed on the student’s official VWCC transcript.
Students desiring to earn college credit through one of the above advanced standing methods should contact the Admissions, Counseling, or Records Offices. Students wishing to take a locally developed departmental exam should contact the appropriate division office in which the course is taught.
Admissions Office: 540-857-7231
Counseling Office: 540-857-7237
Records Office: 540-857-7236
There is no limit to the number of credits that may be awarded through advanced standing credit, with the exception of previous experiential learning credit. Credit for previous experiential learning may be awarded for no more than 25% of the credit hours required for a degree. In addition, credit achieved through advanced standing may not be used to fulfill the graduation residency requirement. A minimum of 25% of the credit required in the graduation curriculum must be earned at Virginia Western.
All accepted advanced standing credits will be acknowledged and recorded on the student's permanent record with the transferring agency or other source of credit identified. No unsuccessfully attempted advanced standing applications or examination results will be recorded on the student's permanent record.
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