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Credit for Prior Learning

Credit for prior learning is a way for students to earn college credit for college level learning that occurs outside of the institution. CLC provides opportunities to earn credit for prior learning through a variety of methods. Students intending to transfer credits to another college are strongly advised to check with the transfer school to determine its policy toward credit for prior learning.

CLC board policy states that credit for prior learning is:

•   Not to exceed a total of 30 semester hours required toward completion of an associate degree

•   Not to exceed one-half of the semester hours required toward completion of a certificate

•   Not to count toward the fulfillment of residency requirement for degrees or certificates

There are three broad categories of credit for prior learning available to students enrolled at CLC: national standardized exams (such as AP, CLEP, DSST and IB), locally administered challenge exams and credential review. For details about fees, specific credit, passing scores and examination requirements, additional information is available at https://www.clcillinois.edu/get-started/credit-for-prior-learning. Students can also discuss credit for prior learning with an Academic Success Advisor. Credit earned from credit for prior learning is intended to be used towards a CLC degree or certificate. Approved credit will be posted as transfer credit and may not be accepted at other colleges or universities.

National Exams

Students who plan to earn CLC course credit through AP, CLEP and/or DSST must request an official transcript of their exam scores from the appropriate testing agency, and ask the agency to send the transcript directly to CLC Records Office.

•   Advanced Placement (AP): High school students can arrange for AP tests, administered by the College Board, through their local high schools. AP test scores determine specific placement and/ or college credit. Students may find more information about AP exams through the College Board’s website at http://apcentral.collegeboard.com.

•   College Level Examination Program (CLEP): The College Level Examination Program is a national program sponsored by the College Board. Additional information can be found, along with study guides on the College Board’s website: www.collegeboard.org – choose links for “Students” and “CLEP.”

•   DSST (formerly known as DANTES Subject Standardized Tests): The DSST program is a national credit-by-exam program offered by Prometric. Students can find more information on DSST at www.getcollegecredit.com.

 Each division determines which tests it will accept for credit and the amount of credit it will award. For details about exams offered and specific credit, additional information is available at https://www.clcillinois.edu/get-started/credit-for-prior-learning. Students can also discuss their options in person by visiting the Welcome and One Stop Center, Room B114, Grayslake Campus, or by meeting with a specific academic division.

The College of Lake County grants credit only to students enrolled at CLC. Results of these exams may also be sent to another school at which a student is enrolled for the purposes of credit recognition. Please call the Testing Center of your choice for testing schedules, registration procedures, related fees and other information:

•   Grayslake Campus, Grayslake (847) 543-2076

•   Lakeshore Campus, Waukegan (847) 543-2120

•   Southlake Campus, Vernon Hills (847) 543-6544

•   Great Lakes Center, Great Lakes (847) 543-2120

Challenge Exams

Challenge exams are available for students who possess prior knowledge of a subject area in a specific course. Students may not take a challenge exam for a course in which they were previously enrolled and received any grade inclusive of I, W or X. Students may only attempt a challenge exam one time for any particular course and may not take a challenge exam after the first week of a course for which they are currently enrolled. Challenge exams are not available for all courses and are offered at the discretion of the discipline/program faculty. Each division determines which tests it will offer for credit and the amount of credit it will award. For details about exams offered and specific credit, additional information is available at https://www.clcillinois.edu/get-started/credit-for-prior-learning. Students can also discuss their options with an Academic Success Advisor. Please call the Testing Center of your choice for testing schedules, registration procedures, related fees and other information:

•   Grayslake Campus, Grayslake (847) 543-2076

•   Lakeshore Campus, Waukegan (847) 543-2120

•   Southlake Campus, Vernon Hills (847) 543-6544

•   Great Lakes Center, Great Lakes (847) 543-2120

Credential Review of Certifications, Licensures and Industry Credentials

CLC awards college credit for credentials earned outside of a traditional college or university setting. Credentials may include professional certifications, licenses, and documented educational and training courses. The evaluation process will examine credentials on an individual basis and award college credit when appropriate. Credentials must be current at the time of evaluation and posting. Provisional or certificates of attendance will not be eligible for credit. Credential review is not available for all courses and is offered at the discretion of the discipline/program faculty. Each division determines which credentials it will accept for credit and the amount of credit it will award. For details about fees, currently accepted credentials, and required documentation, additional information is available at https://www.clcillinois.edu/get-started/credit-for-prior-learning. Students can also discuss credential review with an Academic Success Advisor.

There are other types of credit that may be considered credit for prior learning. For more information on articulation agreements with area high schools please see the catalog section on dual enrollment/dual credit (listed above in Dual Enrollment, Dual Credit, Articulated Credit section ). For more information on transcript evaluation, including international transcripts, please see the section on transfer of credit below.

Transfer of Credit

A student who has previously attended another college and who intends to earn a degree or certificate from the College of Lake County must have an official transcript from each college sent directly to the Office of Records and submit a “Request for Evaluation of Transfer Credit” form. Students who have earned credit at non-regionally accredited institutions must complete the “Appeal of Evaluation of College Transcript” and follow the steps on the form. For information on credit for prior learning related to exams or credential review see above on section titled Credit for Prior Learning .

Transfer evaluations are based on the student’s program of study at CLC. Credit will be granted for acceptable work completed at other approved colleges and universities for courses in which a student has earned a grade of C or better. Credit will also be awarded for courses in which a D has been earned provided a student’s overall average is C or better for the credits transferred. Transfer credits accepted from other collegiate institutions will be entered on the student’s permanent record at the College of Lake County, but the grades earned in these courses will not be used to compute the student’s cumulative grade point average.

International transcripts will not be evaluated; you must contact a NACES approved evaluator for evaluation for foreign coursework and have the official evaluation sent to Student Records. The evaluation must be a Catalog Match evaluation in order to be considered for transfer credit. Contact an Academic Success Advisor for a list of approved companies that provide Catalog Match services. All documents and transcripts submitted to the College of Lake County become part of CLC’s permanent record. Copies of documents and transcripts will not be released to the student or third parties unless required by law.