Additional Ways to Earn Credit

Course Challenge Credit

Most departments grant credit for prior learning via the course challenge process. See the Prior Learning Assessment section below for more information.

Course challenge credits earned at another college may be accepted at Edmonds College. The acceptance of such credits toward Associate of Arts degrees, Associate of Science degrees, Associate of Applied Science-Transfer degrees, Associate of General Studies degrees, Associate of Technical Arts degrees, Certificates, or High School Diplomas will be considered by college Evaluators in consultation with academic deans and department heads when necessary.

College Level Exam Program (CLEP)/Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Educational Support (DANTES)

To receive credits by exams, the following rules apply:

• Only currently enrolled students receive these credits. No credits are awarded for an examination if the student has already earned credit in a duplicate course.
• CLEP and DANTES exams will be evaluated by guidelines set by the American Council on Education (ACE). Examination performances are graded as pass or fail and are not computed into the student’s grade point average. Since some two- and four-year colleges and universities do not accept CLEP credit, students should contact the college to which they are transferring for more information.
• No credits from the CLEP General Examination are applied to the Associate of Arts degree, the Associate of Sciences degree, or the Associate in Applied Science-T degree.
• Credits earned in the Freshman English Subject Examination are accepted at the discretion of individual academic divisions. Students should contact the appropriate dean before taking the examination.
• Subject to approval by the chief academic officer, up to 30 credits from the CLEP exam may be applied to any area of the Associate of General Studies Degree.
• Certain areas of the CLEP exam may be used as elective credit to fulfill requirements for the Associate of Technical Arts degree, including five credits of English Composition, Mathematics, Humanities, and Social Science.

Prior Learning Assessment

Prior Learning (PL)at Edmonds College (Edmonds College) provides students the opportunity to be awarded college credit for specific courses. The student will be asked to demonstrate prior learning based on the knowledge and skills acquired through work and training.

Knowledge that is current and corresponds to courses taught at our college may be eligible to be assessed for college credit. The level of competence should be comparable to that of students in regular courses, including theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject.

The process is done through the course challenge process. Most departments offer this option; however, not all courses can be challenged. This “course equivalency” model means that if the learning meets the specific outcomes of an approved Edmonds College course, students will have the opportunity to “challenge” the course. Learning that does not meet the outcomes of a specific Edmonds College course but is deemed college level learning in one of the college’s programs is validated through a special project that may result in elective credit or be used as a course substitution.

Credits earned through the course challenge or special project process are entered on the student’s transcript the quarter they are earned. These credits count towards the college’s residency requirement and the grade is calculated into the student’s grade point average (GPA).

Students who have received training through military or apprenticeship programs should request a transcript evaluation to determine possible credit.

See the PLA website for more information or to complete the electronic course challenge or special project request forms.

Satisfactory Credits

Credits are accepted as follows:

Special Project Credits

Many departments offer students the opportunity to earn credits through a special project. An electronic special project request form must be completed and the form and instructions for filling it out can be found at the PLA website. Approval must be given by the appropriate instructor and the division dean. An assessment fee is paid before the project begins. Transcripts reflect special projects as courses numbered 199 or 299 in the quarter the work is completed. These credits do count toward the Edmonds College residency requirement; however, the elective credit(s) may not transfer to other colleges. Students planning to transfer should meet with an adviser to determine whether or not the credit will transfer. Not all departments offer special project contracts.

Variable Credit Course

Students should consult with advisors before registering for variable credit courses. The credits completed may be less than, or equal to, the number of credits for which the student registered. The appropriate department determines how variable credit earned through multiple enrollments is transcripted and how it is applied to graduation requirements. Regardless of the number of credits attempted, the student will receive credit only for the work completed during the quarter for which registration occurred. Refunds and incomplete grades are not given.