Advanced Standing

Transfer credit or advanced standing may be sought by NOVA students for educational experiences that fall into five basic categories.

1. Credits earned in post-secondary institutions. Credit is generally acceptable for transfer if it is earned from an institution that is accredited by the Commission on Colleges or the Commission on Higher Education of one of the regional accrediting agencies and is comparable to the required course credit in the student's chosen NOVA curriculum. Credit also may be transferred from institutions if the Transfer of Credit Practices of Designated Educational Institutions, published by AACARO, states that credit from the institution "is generally accepted for courses that are appropriate to the reporting institution's baccalaureate programs." Credits earned at other post-secondary institutions usually do not transfer to NOVA even if the institution is accredited through a commission other than those that accredit colleges and universities.

2. Credits earned in non-traditional educational/training programs (military, industry, state and federal government). Students may be granted credit for courses or programs offered by employers, professional organizations and other agencies only if those courses or programs have been evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE). ACE's Center for Adult Learning Experiential Web site is: www.acenet.edu/calec.

3. Credit by examination. Credit will be granted for selected national exams in accordance with the recommendations of the ACE Guide to Credit by Examination. In addition, NOVA has prepared exams (called ABLE exams) for selected courses to validate learning achieved through work-related experience, formal education, etc.

4. Credit for life experiences. Students may obtain credit for life experiences by developing portfolios through the Prior Learning Activity for Credit Evaluation (PLACE) program. PLACE is for adults who have gained college-level learning through work, volunteer activities, participation in civic assignments, travel, independent study, and similar life experiences.

5. Credit for Articulated Secondary School Programs. NOVA has developed specific agreements that grant college credit for selected high school courses in northern Virginia.

For more information on advanced standing, view the College Credit Through Advanced Standing Handbook.