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Student Services

For Transfer Students

How Do I Get Credit For CLEP, AP and Previous experiential learning?

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.

Virginia Western may award credit or the following competencies:

Curriculum Placed Students Only

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.

Advanced Standing / Graduation Requirements

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.

General Information

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.


Department Phone number
Records Office
540-857-7236
Admissions Office
540-857-7231
Counseling Office
540-857-7237

 

AP (Advanced Placement)

Many area high schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) or honors courses to their students giving them the opportunity to complete college level work while attending high school. A minimum Advanced Placement score of 3 is required for credit at Virginia Western. An official copy of the AP transcript must be submitted to the VWCC Records Office in order to obtain credit.  Unofficial, student copies, or high school transcripts noting the AP credit will not be accepted for credit at the college.

Obtaining an AP transcript

Students can order an AP official transcript by contacting AP Services:

Once received, credit may be awarded in the following disciplines:

Subject Exam Minimum Score VWCC Course Credits Earned
Art Studio 3 ART 131-132 6
Art History 3 ART 101-102 6
Biology 3 BIO 101-102 8
Calculus AB 3 MTH 175 3
Calculus BC 3 MTH 176 3
Chemistry 3 CHM 111-112 8
Computer Science A 3 CSC 201 4
Computer Science B 3 CSC 201-202 8
English Language and Composition 3 ENG 111-112 6
English Literature and Composition 3 ENG 243-244 6
French Language 3 FRE 101-102 8
French Literature 3 FRE 201-202 6
German Language 3 GER 101-102 8
Government and Politics 3 PLS 211-212 6
History, U.S. 3 HIS 121-122 6
History, World 3 HIS 111-112 6
Macroeconomics 3 ECO 201 3
Microeconomics 3 ECO 202 3
Physics 3 PHY 201-202 8
Psychology, Intro 3 PSY 200 3
Spanish Language 3 SPA 101-102 8
Spanish Literature 3 SPA 201-202 6
Statistics 3 MTH 157 3

 

Certified Professional Secretary (CPS)

The CPS/CAP examination is developed and administered by the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). The Institute offers two separate certification programs: the CPS rating and the CAP rating. To attain the CPS rating, a candidate must meet certain educational and work experience requirements and pass a three-part, one-day examination. To attain the CAP rating, a candidate must meet certain educational and work experience requirements and pass a four-part, one and one-half day examination. NEW CAP candidates do not receive the CPS rating upon passing parts 1-3 of the CAP exam. Current CPS holders are required to take only Part 4 of the CAP exam. New CAP candidates must pass all four parts of the exam before being awarded any credit.

To learn more about the CPS/CAP exams, and to obtain an official transcript, please contact:

Upon successful completion of all four parts of the exam, and with the authorization of a faculty advisor, successful candidates may be awarded credit for the following courses, provided that appropriate CPS/CAP documentation is submitted:

Certified Professional Secretary - Part 4 Only

(CAP) for Previous CPS Holder: Credits Allowed = 3

NEW Certified Admin Professional (CAP) - ALL FOUR PARTS:

CREDIT ALLOWED = 22

PARTS 1-3 (CPS/CAP)

 ITE 115: Introduction Computer Applications and Concepts 3 credits
  AST 102: Keyboarding II 3 credits
  AST 140: Introduction to Microsoft Windows 1 credit
  AST 205: Business Communications 3 credits
  AST 243: Office Administration 3 credits
  BUS 205: Human Resources Management 3 credits
  BUS 200: Principles of Management 3 credits
Part 4: (CAP) BUS 202: Applied Management Principles 3 credits

 

CLEP (College Level Examination Program)

CLEP is a national program of credit-by-examination that offers students the opportunity to obtain college credit for prior academic achievement. Virginia Western accepts most of the CLEP offered exams, and uses the American Council on Education recommended minimum score of 50 for awarding CLEP credit.  An official copy of the CLEP transcript must be submitted to the VWCC Records Office in order to obtain credit.  Unofficial or student copies of transcripts will not be accepted for credit. 

CLEP examinations are not offered through Virginia Western.  CLEP tests may be taken locally at the Roanoke Higher Education Center. For testing information,please visit their website at http://www.education.edu/library/standard.html, or contact:

Obtaining CLEP Transcripts

If you did not indicate recipient institution at the time of the CLEP exam and you want to request your CLEP scores, you can do so by ordering an official transcript via the official CLEP web site. The transcript is a cumulative score report of all the CLEP exams the student has taken and the scores earned in the last 20 years. Simply download the Transcript Request Form and mail the completed form with the required payment to CLEP to the address on the form. You may also call (800) 257-9558 if ordering with a credit card. Please provide your name (at testing time), date of birth, social security number, exam title(s), test date, testing location/center, and where you want your scores to be sent.

Subject Exam Required Score VWCC Course Credits Earned
American Literature 50 ENG 241-242 6
College Composition (w/essay) ** 50 ENG 111-112 6
English Literature 50 ENG 243-244 6
Humanities 50 HUM 201-202 6
Algebra-Trigonometry 50 MTH 166 5
Biology 50 BIO 101-102 8
Chemistry 50 CHM 111-112 8
Calculus with Elementary Functions 50 MTH 271-272 6
College Mathematics 50 MTH 151 3
Pre-Calculus (with Trig.) 50 MTH 163 3
French, Level 1 50 FRE 101-102 8
French, Level 2 59 FRE 101-102
FRE 201-202 		14
German, Level 1 50 GER 101-102 8
German, Level 2 60 GER 101-102
GER 201-202 		14
Spanish, Level 1 50 SPA 101-102 8
Spanish, Level 2 63 SPA 101-102
SPA 101-102		 14
American Government 50 PLS 211 3
U.S. History I, Early Colonization to 1877 50 HIS 121 3
U.S. History II, 1865 to the Present 50 HIS 122 3
Human Growth and Development 50 PSY 235 3
Macroeconomics 50 ECO 201 3
Microeconomics 50 ECO 202 3
Psychology, Introductory 50 PSY 200 3
Sociology, Introductory 50 SOC 200 3
Western Civilization I, Ancient Near East to 1648 50 HIS 101 3
Western Civilization II, 1648 to the Present 50 HIS 102 3
Accounting, Principles of 50 ACC 211-212 6
Business Law, Intro 50 BUS 241 3
Information Systems & Computer Applications 50 ITE 115 3
Management, Principles 50 BUS 200 3
Marketing, Principles 50 MKT 100 3

**College Compostion (with essay) is the appropriate CLEP exam for AA, AS, and AAS degrees at Virginia Western. Virginia Western does not accept the the older English Composition CLEP exam.

 

Credit-by-Exam

In disciplines where no CLEP or AP exam is accepted by Virginia Western, locally developed department "challenge" exams may be a means of earning college credit for prior learning by demonstrating satisfactory academic competency in a particular subject.

In order to be eligible for credit-by-exam, the student must be admitted to the college in a program of study, and the request must be made with at least two weeks' prior notice of the requested exam date. Departmental exams are not available for all courses taught at the college. Requests for department exams must be submitted to the appropriate division office.

Each departmental exam may be taken only one time for a course, and the student must attain a grade of "C" or better in order to receive credit for the exam. An exam may not be used to removed grades of "I", "F", "X", or "W", or to improve a grade already earned. Credits awarded by challenge examination may apply toward graduation requirements and will become part of the student's permanent record. However, the grade earned on the exam will not be recorded or calculated into the student's cumulative GPA. The grade earned earned on a department exam will be recorded as a grade of "T" on the student's official transcript.

 

Early Childhood Development Program Exemptions

Students enrolled in the Early Childhood Development curriculum at Virginia Western may earn advanced standing credit for CHD 120 and CHD 265 when specific conditions are met. To be awarded credit for these courses, the student must have successfully completed CHD 165 and earned a minimum grade of "C" in the course. In addition, the student must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

Students enrolled in the Early Childhood Development curriculum are never exempt from CHD 165.

If a student has met the above criteria and wishes to be awarded credit for CHD 120 and CHD 265, they must submit appropriate documentation (i.e., transcripts, certificates) to the Dean of Social Sciences or to the Early Childhood Development program head at Virginia Western.

 

Firefighter Certificates

Students who have completed and have successfully graduated from a certified firefighting training program may be granted credit for a variety of courses at the college. In order to be awarded the following credit, the student must submit the appropriate documentation to the Dean of the Humanities division:

Firefighter II Certificate - Credits awarded: 3
FST 105 Fire Suppression Operations 3 credits
Hazardous Materials Certificate - Credits Awarded: 3
FST 111 Hazardous Materials Response 3 credits
Fire Officer I Certificate - Credits awarded: 3
FST 140 Fire Officer I 3 credits
Fire Officer II Certificate - Credits awarded: 3
FST 240 Fire Administration 3 credits
Fire Instructor I Certificate - Credits awarded: 6
CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking 3 credits
FST 135 Fire Instructor I 3 credits
Emergency Medical Tech. Certificate - Credits Awarded: 6
EMS 112 Emergency Medical Technology I 3 credits
EMS 113 Emergency Medical Technology II 3 credits

 

IBO (International Baccalaureate Organization)

Students who have completed the Standard Level certificate with a score of 4 to 7 in the International Baccalaureate program may be granted advanced standing credit for a variety of courses.

Students requesting IB credit must have an official transcript sent from the International Baccalaureate Organization to the VWCC Records Office in order to be considered for credit. You can contact the IB Organization at:

How to Order IB Transcripts


Exam Score of 4 or 5 Score of 6 or 7
Art Design ART 131 (3 credits) ART 131-132 (6 credits)
Biology BIO 101 (4 credits) BIO 101-102 (8 credits)
Chemistry CHM 111 (4 credits) CHM 111-112 (8 credits)
Computing Studies CSC 201 (4 credits) CSC 201-202 (8 credits)
Economics ECO 202 (3 credits) ECO 201–202 (6 credits)
English A1 ENG 111 (3 credits) ENG 111-112 (6 credits)
English B ENG 111 (3 credits) ENG 111 (3 credits)
French A1 or B FRE 101-102 (8 credits) FRE 201-202 (6 credits)
German A1 or B GER 101-102 (8 credits) GER 201-202 (6 credits)
Geography GEO 210 (3 credits) GEO 200-210 (6 credits)
History HIS 101 (3 credits) HIS 101-102 (6 credits)
History of the Americas HIS 121 (3 credits) HIS 121–122 (6 credits)
Mathematical Methods MTH 166 (5 credits) MTH 166 and MTH 271 (8 credits)
Mathematical Studies MTH 151 (3 credits) MTH 151-152 (6 credits)
Philosophy PHI 101 (3 credits) PHI 101-102 (6 credits)
Physics PHY 201 (4 credits) PHY 201-202 (8 credits)
Psychology PSY 200 (3 credits) PSY 200  and PSY 230 (6 credits)
Social Anthropology SOC 211 (3 credits) SOC 211-212 (6 credits)
Spanish A1 or B SPA 101-102 (8 credits) SPA 201-202 (6 credits)
Visual Arts Art 101 (3 credits) ART 101 (3 credits)

 

Credit for Military Training

A student’s military training, courses, and occupational specialty can all be considered for college credit. As a participating member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), Virginia Western follows the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services in determining the value of learning acquired in military service when applicable to the service member’s program of study. Military service credit in the occupational/technical areas (i.e., Engineering, Health Technology) may require approval by the appropriate division dean prior to award.

In order to receive credit for your military training, the student must submit a military transcript which includes the ACE recommended credit, and initiate a request for evaluation to the VWCC Records Office. Note: If the student submits only the DD214 and no military transcript, only credit for HLT 110 will be awarded. Students who have completed basic training, regardless of the date of military experience, may receive credit for HLT 110.

Each branch of the service has its own transcript request service. Depending on the branch in which you served, a transcript can be requested from the following agencies:  

Air Force
Army
  • Website: http://aarts.army.mil/
  • Email: leav-aarts@conus.army.mil
  • Mail: AARTS-Operations Center, 415 McPherson Avenue, Ft. Leavenworth, KS 66027-1373
  • Fax: (913) 684-2011, or DSN 552-2011
Navy or Marine
  • Website: https://smart.navy.mil
  • Email: ncc@navy.mil
  • Mail: SMART Operations Center, NETPDTC, N2, 6490 Saufley Field Road, Pensacola, FL 32509
  • Phone: (877) 253-7122 (toll free)
Coast Guard

 

Police Academy Certificates

Per the Articulation Agreement between the Virginia Community College System and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, students who have satisfactorily documented successful completion of the VA State Police Academy or a Regional and Independent Certified Training Academy shall be awarded the following credit. Appropriate documentation is required and must be submitted to the Administration of Justice program advisor or to the Dean of Social Sciences.

Credit for the courses listed below is not transferable.


Entry Level Law Enforcement Officer Certificate -

Credits Allowed - 15:

(VA State Police Academy)
(Regional and Independent Certified Training Academy)
ADJ 110 Introduction to Law Enforcement 3 credits
ADJ 115 Patrol Operations 3 credits
ADJ 229 Law Enforcement and the Community 3 credits
ADJ 236 Criminal Investigation 3 credits
HLT 110 Concepts of Personal and Community Health 2 credits
PED 137 Martial Arts 1 credit
 
TOTAL CREDITS
15
     
  ENTRY LEVEL JAILOR / COURT SERVICES  
ADJ 140 Introduction to Corrections 3
ADJ 146 Adult Correctional Institutions 3
 
TOTAL CREDITS
 6
     
  GENERAL INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT  
CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking 3
 
TOTAL CREDITS
3
     
  LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT  
ADJ 195 Leadership Topics in ADJ 3
ADJ 295 Police Administration 3
 
TOTAL CREDITS
 6

 

Previous experiential learning/ Work Experience Credit

The purpose of the Virginia Western policy on non-traditional credits is to award credit or advanced standing to students with documented experience related to specific course work offered at Virginia Western.

Students may be awarded college credit if they can demonstrate previous educational study or training/work experience that entitles them to credit for specific courses applicable to their program of study.  Documentation for special training or experience must be submitted with the request for credit and will be retained in the student's file.  The supporting documentation must include samples of work or projects completed to assist the division in credit determination.

Students wishing to be awarded previous completion credit for a specific course should contact the appropriate division office in which the course is taught (i.e., a request for credit for First Aid must be submitted to the Health Technology division.)

Virginia Western reserves the right to place a time limit on prior learning experiences for which advanced standing may be granted.  The college has a time limit for accepting credit for technical courses taken previously at Virginia Western or other institutions.  The division dean, in consultation with the registrar, will determine if courses taken more than five years previously can be used in your current program of study.

 

Transfer credit from post-secondary institutions

Official Transcripts Required: Students transferring from another post-secondary institution must submit a Virginia Western Application for Admission an should have all transcripts from previous institutions attended sent to the college Admissions Office.

Curriculum Enrollment: A student must be enrolled in a program of study at the college in order to have a transcript evaluation and award of credit. The evaluation of transcripts is intended as a service to students who are pursuing academic programs at Virginia Western. It is not intended a s a means for credentialing students or providing documentation for job promotions.

Request for Transcript Evaluation: Students must initiate a formal request to have transcripts from other institutions evaluated. A Request of Transcript Evaluation can be submitted in the college Admissions, Records, or Counseling offices. Only official transcripts will be evaluated.

Regional Accreditation Required: Credit is transferable from colleges and universities that are accredited by SACS or another Commission on Colleges regional accrediting association, or by the Commission on Higher Education.

If you are requesting transfer credit from an institution that is not recognized by a regional accrediting agency or association, y ou will need to make an appointment with the academic dean for the curriculum in which you are enrolled (i.e., Business/Engineering= Jim Poythress; Social Science=Dr. James Sargent; Humanities=Dr. Elizabeth Wilmer; Math/Science/Health Tech=Shirl Lamanca). You will need to provide the dean with the following information for each of the courses you wish to transfer: a) course description, b) course syllabus, and c) faculty credentials of the instructor who taught the course.

Course Credit: All acceptable courses will be transferred as closely to the Virginia Western course equivalent as possible. Transfer credit may be allowed for certain courses which do not directly correspond to a Virginia Western course. These courses are classified as Humanities, Social Science, Natural Science, or Business, and will be notates with an "EEE" on the student's permanent record.

Required Grades: Generally, no credit will be given for transfer courses with grades lower than a "C", courses with grades of "P" or "S", or for developmental courses. In determining transfer credit, coursework applicable to the curriculum at VWCC will be accepted if the work completed at an institution is applicable to the student's program at VWCC and the course content and level of instruction is at least equivalent to the content and level at VWCC.

Advanced Standing Awards on Transcripts: Virginia Western does not award transfer credit for tests (e.g., AP or CLEP) or credit evaluated by another institution or recorded on an external transcript. Students must submit appropriate documentation or official copies of transcripts for Virginia Western to evaluate an award credit according to college policy.

Evaluation of International Transcripts: Virginia Western will review an international transcript for possible credit if the transcript is printed in English or translated into English by a private evaluation agency.

For review of an international transcript, the student must make an appointment with the academic dean for the course(s) for which they are requesting credit (i.e., Business/Engineering = Jim Poythress; Social Science = Dr. Elizabeth Wilmer; Humanities = Dr. Elizabeth Wilmer; Math/Science/Health Tech = Shirl Lamanca). You will need to provide the dean with the following information for each of the courses you wish to transfer: a) course description, b) course syllabus, and c) faculty credentials of the instructor who taught the course.