Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
1. How do learning experiences receive credit recommendations?
2. How can the credit recommendations be used?
3. Who may submit learning experiences for evaluation?
4. How do I know which learning experiences have been evaluated?
5. How do I request that a transcript of my evaluated learning experience be sent to my college?
6. Is college credit automatic?
7. Are policies the same at all colleges?
8. Is there a limit to the amount of credit colleges will award?
9. Do colleges charge a fee for the credit?
10. Which colleges are willing to consider awarding credit?
11. What if a college isn't familiar with National CCRS (formerly National PONSI)?
12. Can you earn credit for learning experiences that haven't been evaluated?
13. How do I choose a college to enroll in?
1. How do learning experiences receive credit recommendations?
National CCRS staff assemble a team of evaluators, usually comprising three college faculty in the subject matter area, to visit the organization on site. During the visit, the evaluation team, supervised by a National CCRS staff member, reviews texts, lesson plans, graded exams, homework assignments, and records of grades, and any other appropriate instructional/programmatic materials that will illuminate the scope of each learning experience. The evaluation team determines if a learning experience is at the college level and, if so, they make a recommendation about the amount of credit that would be appropriate for a college to award for each experience.
2. How can the credit recommendations be used?
The most common use of the credit recommendations is to obtain college credit, either by a college actually awarding credit or waiving a required or prerequisite course. Individuals have also used the credit recommendations to qualify for job advancement, obtain salary increases, meet educational requirements for professional licensure or certification, or obtain entry into new areas of employment.
3. Who may submit learning experiences or programs for evaluation?
Organizations whose learning experiences are conducted on a formal basis (in contrast to less structured on-the-job training), but which do not lead to a regionally accredited college degree, may submit these experiences for evaluation. Students may not submit learning experiences for review. They may, however, encourage the organization to consider an evaluation by National CCRS. They may also contact National CCRS with the name and address of the training director or other appropriate individual at the organization that sponsored the learning experiences. National CCRS staff will then contact the organization to explain the evaluation and credit recommendation system.
4. How do I know which learning experiences or programs have received a credit recommendation?
Contact the office within your organization that is responsible for administering formal learning experiences, and ask for a list of those that have been evaluated, the recommended number of credits, and the dates for which the credit recommendations apply. You can also check listings in CCRS Online for current member organizations or former member organizations. If you find a learning experience that you have taken from these listings and you do not know whom to contact, check with the National CCRS office for assistance.
5. How do I request that a transcript of my evaluated learning experience be sent to my college?
Transcripts are issued directly from the organization which sponsored the course or program and are endorsed by National CCRS. Students who successfully complete a LearningCount.org portfolio will be issued a joint transcript through learningcount.org and National CCRS. Many sponsoring organizations opt to send their transcripts through an NCCRS exclusive arrangement with Excelsior College.
6. Is college credit automatically earned when someone successfully completes a learning experience evaluated by National CCRS?
No. National CCRS credit recommendations are recommended credits. A credit recommendation results in actual college credit when a college or university awards credit for it and posts the credit on a student's record.
7. Are policies for granting credit the same at all colleges?
No. Academic institutions set their own policies regarding whether they will award credit for learning experiences completed at other colleges and universities or noncollegiate organizations, and these policies vary. Some colleges may grant credit for successful completion of a course or program sponsored by a noncollegiate organization for which another college will not. Another college may not grant credit but may, instead, waive a prerequisite or a required course. Some policies are institution-wide; others are set by each academic unit or department. An individual should check with the college he or she is interested in attending to determine its policies. Officials found on the list of cooperating colleges can serve as initial points of contact. If a college is not listed, the Registrar's or Admissions Office may be the appropriate office; if not, they should be able to provide the name of an official to contact.
8. Is there a limit to the amount of credit an academic institution will award for noncollegiate learning experiences?
Some colleges and universities have no official policy limiting the number of credits which can be earned through transfer from other academic institutions or from noncollegiate organizations. Many other colleges report they do set a limit, usually 15 to 30 credits for a four-year degree program. Institutions may also limit the amount of credit granted toward any given subject area. Further, an institution that does not have a degree program that complements the noncollegiate learning experiences the individual completed may decline to award credit or may modify the amount of credit awarded. Two-year colleges, while generally very willing to consider awarding credit for National CCRS evaluated learning experiences, usually have limited flexibility in awarding a large amount of transfer credit because many of their associate degree programs are very structured. When an individual seeks credit for a large number of National CCRS evaluated learning experiences or a large amount of credit, it is more likely that a four-year institution or a nontraditional college whose mission is to offer adult oriented, distance learning, or nonresidential degrees would have more latitude within their degree programs to award credit.
9. Do colleges charge a fee for granting credit for evaluated learning experiences?
Many colleges and universities charge no fee to the student. When a fee is charged, it is more often an assessment fee rather than full tuition. Such fees are often charged to defray the costs of evaluating a student's prior learning, which may include National CCRS evaluated learning experiences.
10. How do I find out which colleges are willing to consider awarding credit for the National CCRS evaluated learning experiences I've completed?
View a list of the names of cooperating colleges and universities and contact information at each institution. Inclusion on this list of cooperating colleges does not mean that an institution automatically awards the credit recommended; requests for credit are typically evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The way a noncollegiate learning experience fits into an individual's degree program must also be taken into account.
In addition to the colleges and universities on the list of cooperating colleges, there are many others that will consider awarding credit through an individualized portfolio assessment of prior learning. National CCRS credit recommendations may become part of such portfolios. If a college is not listed, you should contact the Registrar, the Admissions Office, or the chairperson of the degree program you wish to enroll in.
11. What if a college isn't familiar with National CCRS?
A college often asks for more information when it is not familiar with National CCRS or the college credit recommendation service. If questions arise, you should contact National CCRS directly. National CCRS will contact the college directly via letter, email, and/or phone to explain National CCRS’s college credit recommendation procedures on your behalf. You may also suggest that the college official visit the National CCRS website. Use this form to request National CCRS assistance.
12. Can someone earn credit for learning experiences offered by noncollegiate organizations that are not listed in College Credit Recommendations or CCRS Online?
Yes, some institutions will evaluate a potential student's prior knowledge by means of an individualized assessment of prior learning (PLA) or through examinations either developed by the college or those administered by nationwide proficiency examination programs (CLEP, etc.). Contact the admissions office at the college of your choice or go to LearningCounts.org to find out how to get credit for your prior learning and work experience.
13. How do I choose a college to enroll in?
Certainly, your college choice will depend in part on what degree program you are interested in pursuing and whether a particular college offers that degree program. Other considerations might be costs of attending and whether the college offers part-time degree studies, evening courses, minimal or no residency requirements, special academic counseling and information services, and awarding credit for previous learning off-campus, including learning experiences recommended for credit by National CCRS. For information on colleges willing to consider awarding credit based on National CCRS credit recommendations, see our list of cooperating colleges.
2. How can the credit recommendations be used?
3. Who may submit learning experiences for evaluation?
4. How do I know which learning experiences have been evaluated?
5. How do I request that a transcript of my evaluated learning experience be sent to my college?
6. Is college credit automatic?
7. Are policies the same at all colleges?
8. Is there a limit to the amount of credit colleges will award?
9. Do colleges charge a fee for the credit?
10. Which colleges are willing to consider awarding credit?
11. What if a college isn't familiar with National CCRS (formerly National PONSI)?
12. Can you earn credit for learning experiences that haven't been evaluated?
13. How do I choose a college to enroll in?
1. How do learning experiences receive credit recommendations?
National CCRS staff assemble a team of evaluators, usually comprising three college faculty in the subject matter area, to visit the organization on site. During the visit, the evaluation team, supervised by a National CCRS staff member, reviews texts, lesson plans, graded exams, homework assignments, and records of grades, and any other appropriate instructional/programmatic materials that will illuminate the scope of each learning experience. The evaluation team determines if a learning experience is at the college level and, if so, they make a recommendation about the amount of credit that would be appropriate for a college to award for each experience.
2. How can the credit recommendations be used?
The most common use of the credit recommendations is to obtain college credit, either by a college actually awarding credit or waiving a required or prerequisite course. Individuals have also used the credit recommendations to qualify for job advancement, obtain salary increases, meet educational requirements for professional licensure or certification, or obtain entry into new areas of employment.
3. Who may submit learning experiences or programs for evaluation?
Organizations whose learning experiences are conducted on a formal basis (in contrast to less structured on-the-job training), but which do not lead to a regionally accredited college degree, may submit these experiences for evaluation. Students may not submit learning experiences for review. They may, however, encourage the organization to consider an evaluation by National CCRS. They may also contact National CCRS with the name and address of the training director or other appropriate individual at the organization that sponsored the learning experiences. National CCRS staff will then contact the organization to explain the evaluation and credit recommendation system.
4. How do I know which learning experiences or programs have received a credit recommendation?
Contact the office within your organization that is responsible for administering formal learning experiences, and ask for a list of those that have been evaluated, the recommended number of credits, and the dates for which the credit recommendations apply. You can also check listings in CCRS Online for current member organizations or former member organizations. If you find a learning experience that you have taken from these listings and you do not know whom to contact, check with the National CCRS office for assistance.
5. How do I request that a transcript of my evaluated learning experience be sent to my college?
Transcripts are issued directly from the organization which sponsored the course or program and are endorsed by National CCRS. Students who successfully complete a LearningCount.org portfolio will be issued a joint transcript through learningcount.org and National CCRS. Many sponsoring organizations opt to send their transcripts through an NCCRS exclusive arrangement with Excelsior College.
6. Is college credit automatically earned when someone successfully completes a learning experience evaluated by National CCRS?
No. National CCRS credit recommendations are recommended credits. A credit recommendation results in actual college credit when a college or university awards credit for it and posts the credit on a student's record.
7. Are policies for granting credit the same at all colleges?
No. Academic institutions set their own policies regarding whether they will award credit for learning experiences completed at other colleges and universities or noncollegiate organizations, and these policies vary. Some colleges may grant credit for successful completion of a course or program sponsored by a noncollegiate organization for which another college will not. Another college may not grant credit but may, instead, waive a prerequisite or a required course. Some policies are institution-wide; others are set by each academic unit or department. An individual should check with the college he or she is interested in attending to determine its policies. Officials found on the list of cooperating colleges can serve as initial points of contact. If a college is not listed, the Registrar's or Admissions Office may be the appropriate office; if not, they should be able to provide the name of an official to contact.
8. Is there a limit to the amount of credit an academic institution will award for noncollegiate learning experiences?
Some colleges and universities have no official policy limiting the number of credits which can be earned through transfer from other academic institutions or from noncollegiate organizations. Many other colleges report they do set a limit, usually 15 to 30 credits for a four-year degree program. Institutions may also limit the amount of credit granted toward any given subject area. Further, an institution that does not have a degree program that complements the noncollegiate learning experiences the individual completed may decline to award credit or may modify the amount of credit awarded. Two-year colleges, while generally very willing to consider awarding credit for National CCRS evaluated learning experiences, usually have limited flexibility in awarding a large amount of transfer credit because many of their associate degree programs are very structured. When an individual seeks credit for a large number of National CCRS evaluated learning experiences or a large amount of credit, it is more likely that a four-year institution or a nontraditional college whose mission is to offer adult oriented, distance learning, or nonresidential degrees would have more latitude within their degree programs to award credit.
9. Do colleges charge a fee for granting credit for evaluated learning experiences?
Many colleges and universities charge no fee to the student. When a fee is charged, it is more often an assessment fee rather than full tuition. Such fees are often charged to defray the costs of evaluating a student's prior learning, which may include National CCRS evaluated learning experiences.
10. How do I find out which colleges are willing to consider awarding credit for the National CCRS evaluated learning experiences I've completed?
View a list of the names of cooperating colleges and universities and contact information at each institution. Inclusion on this list of cooperating colleges does not mean that an institution automatically awards the credit recommended; requests for credit are typically evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The way a noncollegiate learning experience fits into an individual's degree program must also be taken into account.
In addition to the colleges and universities on the list of cooperating colleges, there are many others that will consider awarding credit through an individualized portfolio assessment of prior learning. National CCRS credit recommendations may become part of such portfolios. If a college is not listed, you should contact the Registrar, the Admissions Office, or the chairperson of the degree program you wish to enroll in.
11. What if a college isn't familiar with National CCRS?
A college often asks for more information when it is not familiar with National CCRS or the college credit recommendation service. If questions arise, you should contact National CCRS directly. National CCRS will contact the college directly via letter, email, and/or phone to explain National CCRS’s college credit recommendation procedures on your behalf. You may also suggest that the college official visit the National CCRS website. Use this form to request National CCRS assistance.
12. Can someone earn credit for learning experiences offered by noncollegiate organizations that are not listed in College Credit Recommendations or CCRS Online?
Yes, some institutions will evaluate a potential student's prior knowledge by means of an individualized assessment of prior learning (PLA) or through examinations either developed by the college or those administered by nationwide proficiency examination programs (CLEP, etc.). Contact the admissions office at the college of your choice or go to LearningCounts.org to find out how to get credit for your prior learning and work experience.
13. How do I choose a college to enroll in?
Certainly, your college choice will depend in part on what degree program you are interested in pursuing and whether a particular college offers that degree program. Other considerations might be costs of attending and whether the college offers part-time degree studies, evening courses, minimal or no residency requirements, special academic counseling and information services, and awarding credit for previous learning off-campus, including learning experiences recommended for credit by National CCRS. For information on colleges willing to consider awarding credit based on National CCRS credit recommendations, see our list of cooperating colleges.
Last Updated:
April 2, 2013
