In order to permit students to demonstrate that they have met the objectives of a
course through experience in the workplace, foreign language proficiency, or some
other process outside the conventional academic setting, students may earn credit
by receiving a passing grade on an examination administered by the college and appropriate
instructional department/ program. Students must demonstrate proficiency in subject
matter essentially equivalent to a course for which credit is being requested, in
lieu of completion of the course, provided the department designates the course as
suitable for credit by examination.
The nature and content of the examination shall be determined solely by faculty in
the discipline who normally teach the course for which credit is to be granted in
accordance with policies and procedures approved by the Curriculum Advisory Committee.
The faculty member shall determine that the examination adequately measures mastery
of the course content as set forth in the official course outline of record.
Credit by Examination Process and Procedures Students interested in Credit for Prior Learning using Credit by Exam should initiate
an informal discussion with the department chair or faculty designee and instructor
prior to initiating the formal process. The completion of Credit by Examination may
require the demonstration of other skills or the completion of assignments in addition
to an examination.
Students must petition for credit by examination by the end of the third week of the
semester. The examination must be taken at a time determined by the instructor but
no later than the last day of instruction. Department chairpersons shall submit the
name(s) of the student(s) who have successfully achieved credit by examination by
the end of the semester in which credit is granted.
Credit by examination is offered only by departments who maintain a list of eligible
courses and the department’s process for obtaining credit. Once the examination has been completed, the corresponding grade must be posted to
the student’s transcript accordingly, even in the circumstances of a substandard grade
on the exam.
A maximum of 12 units may be earned by credit examination.
Credit by Examination is not available where: ● The student has already completed a more advanced course in the discipline. ● The student previously has received an evaluative symbol grade (A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, D+, D, D-, F, W, FW, CR, P, NC or NP) for the course taken at SBCC. ● The student has failed the Credit by Examination test (cannot petition to retake the course by Credit by Examination)