Alternative Ways to Earn Credit

Consistent with Florida Statute 1007.27 and College Policy 4.030 (Acceleration to Degree Completion) Seminole State will accept up to 45 credits from a combination of any of the following acceleration mechanisms. Students must earn at least 25 percent of degree requirements in residence at Seminole State in order to be awarded a degree from the College. Credit awarded by the College through acceleration mechanisms and termed "Institutional Credit," may or may not be accepted at other colleges or universities. Credits will not be awarded for examinations that duplicate coursework or other exam credits previously posted to a student's academic record.

Institutional credit earned at other institutions will be matriculated only by formal agreement(s) with Seminole State. The credit must be identified on the student's transcript as Institutional Credit. The student is responsible for providing documentation of how such learning was evaluated and the basis on which such credit was awarded.

1. College Level Examination Program (CLEP): A series of tests developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and offered by testing centers throughout the nation, CLEP enables students to demonstrate their competencies in certain subjects and thereby earn college credit for particular courses without attending classes. To assist members of the community, Seminole State serves as a CLEP national test center. Students interested in receiving college credit through the CLEP at the College must use the following procedures:

   1. Apply directly to the College to take an examination. Students should contact the Assessment and Testing Center for the proper forms or download the application from www.seminolestate.edu/testing/clep.
   2. Official scores from ETS should be mailed to the Director of Enrollment Services and Registrar, who will determine the number of credit hours to be awarded based upon state guidelines and examination results.
   3. To receive maximum benefits, it is suggested that students take advantage of this program prior to their initial registration. Credit will not be awarded in areas covered by the CLEP examination when it would duplicate credit already awarded to the student for successful completion of college-level work.
   4. It is the student's responsibility to contact the senior institution to which they wish to transfer to determine the acceptability of CLEP credit.
   5. Gordon Rule courses given credit by CLEP shall be treated no differently from credit earned by students taking the course. There are 33 CLEP examinations, and a student may earn three to 10 credits by passing any one exam. CLEP Registration Guides, which include application forms, are available in the College's Assessment and Testing Center and at www.seminolestate.edu/testing. These registration guides also contain other pertinent information, such as detailed instructions for completing the application, test fees, dates on which tests are given and the method for reporting scores. This registration guide should be studied carefully before applying to take a CLEP test.

2. The College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Program: Seminole State cooperates fully with accredited high schools and colleges in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. AP courses are available to juniors and seniors in most Seminole County high schools. To qualify for college credit, students must earn a score of three or higher on the nationally administered examination in May. Credits will not be awarded for examinations that duplicate coursework or other exam credits previously posted to a student's academic record. In order to award credit, the College needs an Official Grade Report. Students are awarded credits only; they are not given grades for AP courses, and AP courses are not included in the GPA.

   Students are responsible for making test arrangements with the College Entrance Examination Board, P.O. Box 592, Princeton, NJ 08541. Students should contact their high school guidance counselors regarding the cost of examinations and verification of examination centers. Additional information can be obtained from high school guidance counselors or the Assessment and Testing Center. For additional copies of AP test results, write, AP Services, P.O. Box 6671, Princeton, NJ 08541 or call 888.225.5427; or e-mail apexam@info.collegeboard.org. There is a fee for AP copies.

3. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program: Students who successfully complete the International Baccalaureate examination with grades of four or higher will be granted college credit. An official IB transcript is required and must be received by Seminole State's Registration and Records Office directly from the International Baccalaureate Office in New York. Awarded credit will appear on the student's permanent record as earned credit only, without any indication of grades or quality points. Evaluations of IB examinations are made after the student has been admitted to the College.

4. Defense Activity of Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES) Examination/DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST): Military personnel and former military personnel may request credit based on the results of their DANTES examinations, including DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) after they have been admitted to the College.

5. Excelsior College Examination Equivalents: Excelsior College Examinations (formerly known as Regents College Exams or the Proficiency Examination Program/PEP) are developed by Excelsior College using national committees of faculty consultants and national studies to assess how well the tests measure the performance of students in actual college courses. Excelsior College Examinations are approved by the American Council on Education, and Excelsior College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS). More information about Excelsior College Examinations, including detailed test descriptions, can be found at www.excelsior.edu. For official copies of the Excelsior exam call Excelsior College at their toll free number 888.647.2388 or write to: Excelsior College; Attention Business Office; 7 Columbia Circle; Albany, NY 12203. There is a fee for transcripts.

6. Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Examination Equivalents: The AICE program is an international, advanced pre-college curriculum and assessment program modeled on the British pre-college curriculum and "A-Level" examinations. Note: Florida's public colleges and universities provide college credit for successfully passed exams. Students in Florida's public secondary schools enrolled in AICE courses do not have to pay to take the exams. More information can be found at www.fldoe.org/flbpso/otherpubschopt/advinternational.asp.

7. Credit for Industry Certifications: The Florida Department of Education has established state-wide articulation agreements for specified industry certifications. Seminole State also has agreements for certifications that pertain to academic programs offered at the College, including Automotive, Child Care, EMT, Fire Science, Paramedic and Information Technology. Agreements are posted on the Seminole State Articulation Agreement website at www.seminolestate.edu/articulation/listing.php.

8. Specified Credit Earned While in Military Service: A student who has served continuously six months or more of active duty in one of the regular military services (not reserve) may request college credit for training and experience in accordance with the recommendation of the American Council of Education. To receive such credit at Seminole State, the request must be for similar courses offered at the College.

9. Seminole State Instructor Created "Credit-By-Exam": Credit-by-exam for a course is offered by some faculty in some departments. Evidence of proficiency in a subject area, when presented to the appropriate department chair, instructor or director, may qualify a student to request an examination for credit, if available. Students should use the following procedures to request an examination:

   1. An application must be filed with the Office of Enrollment Services, signed by the instructor who is giving the examination, and by the department chair or director. The application must be submitted a minimum of four weeks before the last day of the term.
   2. A fee per course is charged, payable prior to taking the examination. The credit does not affect maximum load limitations nor affect part- or full-time status. Please see the Residency and Fee Section in the catalog for the appropriate fee.
   3. A grade of "P" is assigned, and the appropriate credit is awarded for an examination marked "passed." No other letter grade is assigned. Credit-by-exam does not affect GPAs.
   4. Students must apply for admission to the College and complete at least one college-level course before credit by examination can be posted to a student's permanent academic record.

10. Early Admissions: Early Admissions is a form of Dual Enrollment through which eligible high school students enroll in a postsecondary institution on a full-time basis in courses that count toward credit for a high school diploma and the associate or baccalaureate degrees. High school students who have completed the required 24 high school credits for graduation may enroll in a postsecondary institution. Early Admissions students shall be exempt from the payment of all application, registration, matriculation, laboratory and textbook fees. To be eligible, students must submit appropriate test scores that meet course requirements and meet the following criteria:

    1. The student must have achieved at least a 3.0 cumulative unweighted high school GPA.
    2. The student must have the recommendation of the high school principal or appropriate designated representative.
    3. The student must complete an application for admission to the College.
    Courses taken under Early Admissions are subject to the same requirements as dual enrollment courses.

11. Early College/Dual Enrollment: Early College/Dual Enrollment is a program by which qualified high school students may enroll in college credit or vocational credit courses that apply toward their high school diploma. Students shall be exempt from the payment of all application, registration, matriculation, laboratory and textbook fees. Once enrolled in a dual enrollment course, students may not withdraw. To be eligible, students must submit appropriate test scores, which meet course requirements and meet the following criteria:

    College Credit General Education Dual Enrollment of High School Students

    1. Students must have completed the 10th grade and be enrolled in at least five high school credit courses during each term, excluding summer.
    2. Students must have a cumulative unweighted high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and the approval of their high school principal.
    3. Students desiring to enroll in college-credit courses at the high school must meet the same entrance requirements, including taking the Computerized Placement Test (CPT), as students desiring to enroll in the same courses on the College campus prior to beginning the courses.
    4. Students will initiate their application for Dual Enrollment courses with their high school guidance department. The high school guidance department and the College's Office of Admissions are responsible for screening students prior to enrollment.
    5. Approval by the College's Vice President for Educational Programs (or designee) or the appropriate academic dean (or designee) is needed before an exemption can be granted. The high school guidance department will notify the College, in writing, of the reasons the principal wishes to exempt a student from the stated criteria. It is the responsibility of the Vice President for Educational Programs (or designee) or the academic dean (or designee) to notify the principal of the approval or disapproval of the exemption within 10 working days from receipt of the exemption request.
    6. High school guidance personnel will provide Seminole State's Director of Admissions a completed college application and an advanced instruction (Dual Enrollment) contract (868 Form) for each student pre-registered in a dual enrollment course offered at a high school facility.

    College Level Elective or Career Preparation Dual Enrollment of High School Students

    1. Students must have completed the 8th grade and be enrolled in at least four high school credit courses during each term, excluding summer.
    2. Students must have a cumulative unweighted high school GPA of 2.5 or higher and have the approval of their high school principal to enroll.
    3. Students desiring to enroll in college-credit or career-credit courses at the high school must meet the same entrance requirements as students desiring to enroll in the same courses on the College campus prior to beginning the courses.
    4. Students will initiate their application for Dual Enrollment courses with their high school guidance department. The high school guidance department is responsible for screening students prior to enrollment. General Attendance Policy Exemptions to the criteria set forth above may be initiated by the high school principal. Approval by the College's Vice President for Educational Programs (or designee) or the appropriate academic dean (or designee) is needed before an exemption can be granted. The high school guidance department will notify the College, in writing, of the reasons the principal wishes to exempt a student from the stated criteria. It is the responsibility of the Vice President for Educational Programs (or designee) or the academic dean (or designee) to notify the principal of the approval or disapproval of the exemption within 10 working days from receipt of the exemption request.
    5. High school guidance personnel will provide Seminole State's Director of Admissions a completed college application and an Advanced Instruction (Dual Enrollment) Contract (868 Form) for each student pre-registered in a dual enrollment course.
12. Career Pathways (formerly Tech-Prep) - College Credit for High School Coursework: This partnership program between Seminole State College and Seminole County Public Schools is designed to allow students to earn free college credit in technical areas that apply toward an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree or technical certificate. Students may also use this credit towards electives in the Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree. In Florida, the Career Pathways program ties directly to the Gold Seal Scholarship. Students complete a defined sequence of courses in high school with at least a "B" average in the sequence and also pass the assessment to be eligible for college credit for corresponding courses at Seminole State. To have the college credit posted to the transcript, students must enroll in and complete at least one college-level class at the College within two years from the date of high school graduation. The student must also complete the Seminole State College Request for Career Pathways Credit form.
13. Formal Articulation Agreements with Other Educational Institutions: A list of agreements, including scanned copies of agreements, is available at www.seminolestate.edu/articulation/listing.php.
14. Formal Internal Articulation Agreements: Formal internal articulation agreements exist between some programs at the College. Students may check with appropriate department chairs and program managers for information. These requirements are also posted at www.seminolestate.edu/articulation/listing.php.

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