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ARTICULATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE CREDIT-BY-EXAM GUIDELINES FOR POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS

Adopted November 14, 2001

Section 240.4015, Florida Statutes, requires the Articulation Coordinating Committee to establish passing scores and course and credit equivalents for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. The list adopted by the ACC at its September 19, 2001 meeting satisfies that requirement. The DANTES/DSST and Excelsior College exam equivalents on the list are not part of that requirement, but are authorized by State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.024.

Public community colleges and universities in Florida are required to award credit for AP, IB and CLEP exams as designated. This requirement applies to all students, not just Bright Futures award recipients. In order to comply with the letter and intent of section 240.4015, Florida Statutes, the ACC recommends that institutions make these equivalents effective no later than the beginning of the 2002-2003 academic year.

Following are some guidelines for institutions to use in applying the list of credit-by-exam equivalents:

AWARDING CREDIT FOR COURSES ON THE LIST (AP, IB, and CLEP only)

If a student achieves the score listed on an AP, IB or CLEP exam, state universities and community colleges must award credit for the course or course numbers listed, even if they do not offer the course. Not all institutions necessarily offer the course that was determined to be the best match for a given exam. Some numbers were created specifically for the exams, when it was important to distinguish the credit from other courses.

If a specific course number is listed, institutions may not use a different number.

If no specific course number is listed, but a number of credits is given, institutions must award credit. They may use any appropriate course number in the subject area, or no number.

If no minimum credit is recommended for a particular exam, award of credit is at the discretion of the institution. Institutions may not use course numbers that will automatically transfer.

Institutions must give the same number of credits that they ordinarily give for the course or the minimum listed, whichever is greater.

Institutions may award more credit than the minimum listed, but may not use additional course numbers that will automatically transfer. Institutions should carefully consider what is required for students’ degree plans before awarding additional credit.

Credit awarded by exam may not duplicate other credit.

Up to 45 total credit-by-exam credits may be awarded. Up to 30 credits may be granted for the IB diploma.

Institutions may not award credit for scores below those listed.

If students have old scores, institutions may either use the new minimum scores and course equivalents, or the institution’s policy in effect when the student took the exam.

GENERAL EDUCATION, COMMON PREREQUISITES, AND GORDON RULE (AP, IB and CLEP only)

For purposes of general education, Gordon Rule, or major prerequisites, credit for specific course numbers awarded by exam should be treated no differently from credit earned in the same courses at the institution.

If institutions do not offer a general education course for which a student receives credit by exam, the ACC strongly recommends that, for purposes of fulfilling general education requirements, institutions allow the course to substitute for a general education course they do offer.

DANTES/DSST, EXCELSIOR, AND OTHER EXAM PROGRAMS

Institutions are not required to initially award credit for DANTES/DSST, or Excelsior (formerly Regents or PEP) exams listed.

They are, however, required to accept the credit in transfer if another institution has awarded credit based on the list of equivalents.

Institutions may award credit at their discretion for any exam not listed. All DANTES/DSST and Excelsior exams were reviewed, but course equivalents were only recommended when there was a reasonable equivalent in the Statewide Course Numbering System. Credit awarded for exams not listed may transfer at the discretion of the receiving institution.

MORE INFORMATION

You can find more information about the different exam programs, including detailed descriptions of exams, current and historical grading scales and score information, at the following web sites:

Advanced Placement Program: www.collegeboard.com/ap

College-Level Examination Program: www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html

DANTES/DSST Examinations: http://www.getcollegecredit.com/

International Baccalaureate Program: www.ibo.org/ibo/index.cfm

Excelsior Examination Program: http://www.excelsior.edu/

For further information about implementation of the credit-by-exam equivalents, please contact:

Community Colleges:

Dr. Heather Sherry

Division of Community Colleges

Florida Board of Education

325 West Gaines Street, 13^th Floor

Tallahassee, Florida 32399