There are several options for you to receive transfer credit for skills and knowledge you have developed through your life and career including national test based options, and Champlain College Online internal options. If you are unsure of the path you should take, speak with your advisor.
National Test-Based Evaluation Tools
CLEP
One option for earning credit for knowledge you already have is to take the CLEP (or other regionally accepted exams). CLEP is offered through The College Board and is recommended by the American Council on Education. CLEP is the best test-based option to earn college credits.
DSST Dantes Subject Standardized Tests
Once only for Military Service Members, DSST is now available to anyone looking to receive college credit for knowledge earned outside of a college classroom. DSST offers exams equivalent to general education and college courses taught at the introductory level.
NOCTI National Occupational Competency Testing Institute
NOCTI offers multiple choice exams that cover a range of occupational areas, including auto mechanics, plumbing, administrative assisting, and many others. The National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) has evaluated the NOCTI Business Solution exams and recommended them for college credit.
ACTFL American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
ACTFL has several options for students to demonstrate proficiency in a wide range of languages. The number of credits awarded will vary, based on the level of proficiency demonstrated.
Champlain Knowledge Evaluation Tool (C-KET)
C-KET offers students the opportunity to reduce the number of courses they are required to take for an undergraduate degree program by successfully demonstrating they already have the competencies associated with select courses. Students may enroll in a C-KET course after they have completed at least one term at Champlain College Online. There is a select list of courses available for C-KET credit. Please speak to your academic advisor to determine if there are courses available for your program.
How Does C-KET work?
Students will work with their advisor to identify courses for which they believe they already have mastery of the material. They will then discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of using C-KET versus taking a course. If the student decides to proceed with C-KET, their academic advisor will register the student, the student will pay a non-refundable $250 fee per C-KET, and the student will have up to 7 weeks to access the timed assessments. Once the assessments are submitted, a Champlain College Online evaluator will review the student’s work, and determine a pass/no pass result. If the work receives a pass (grade of C or higher), the student will receive credit for that course, and it will appear on the official Champlain College transcript as a Non-Course Equivalent with a grade of “P.” An unsuccessful C-KET attempt will also appear on the official transcript with a grade of “NP” for no pass, but will not affect the student's GPA.Because C-KET is designed to evaluate prior learning - and is not a self-paced course - the student will not be provided with any course materials.
The maximum number of potential credits a student can earn through C-KET is 60 for a bachelor’s degree and 30 for an associate degree. Since C-KET is considered as non-institutional credit at Champlain, a student may not exceed a total of 90 credits for a bachelor’s degree and 45 credits for an associate degree for credit earned through a combination of C-KET and other awarded transfer credits.
Champlain Portfolio Assessment of Prior Learning (CRIT 200)
Through this course, Champlain College Online offers admitted undergraduate degree students an opportunity to demonstrate skills and knowledge from work and other life experiences equivalent to courses included in their degree programs. CRIT 200 uses a guided workshop and feedback approach to help students develop portfolios to request credit for these outstanding degree requirements. Each portfolio is then evaluated by a Champlain College faculty subject matter expert to determine whether credit will be awarded.
This course is only for students who have been admitted to a Champlain College Online associate or bachelor’s degree program, and who have had their degree audit completed. If you are interested in this opportunity, contact your academic advisor to discuss a plan for earning prior learning credit that could include both testing and portfolio options, depending on your background and outstanding requirements.
CCV Assessment of Prior Learning Course
CCV offers students the opportunity to demonstrate competency and the value of their prior professional experiences through the Assessment of Prior Learning (APL)—EDU 1240 portfolio course. At Champlain College Online, we want to ensure CCV students get the maximum possible transfer credits to all of their CCV coursework, including the portfolio course. For this reason, we request specific documentation, as outlined below.
Documents Required for a Transfer Credit Review of the CCV Portfolio Course:
- If you have completed, or are in the process of completing, the CCV portfolio course, please request to have an official Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) transcript sent directly from the Vermont State Colleges to Champlain College Online.
- In addition, please email your personal copy of the document titled "Marked-up Areas of Study" from your CCV award packet to cco@champlain.edu.