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The College allows students to earn credit through transfer of course credit earned at other post-secondary institutions and through advanced standing opportunities. However, a student must earn at least 25% of the credit hours required for a degree, diploma, or certificate through courses taken at the College. Two courses selected from the curriculum major (excluding electives) must be included in the approved coursework for a diploma or degree unless specifically exempted by the department head and dean.
A student does not have to be admitted to the College to have experiences or coursework evaluated for advanced standing credit. A student must, however, be enrolled in a curriculum program to have advanced standing credit documented on an official College transcript.
Advanced Placement Examinations (AP)
The College recognizes the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board. High school students interested in receiving Advanced Placement credit are encouraged to participate in their high school’s Advanced Placement (AP) programs. Examination results should be sent to Tri-County Technical College by the College Board. Credit is awarded to those who earn 3, 4, or 5 on a College Board AP examination. Credit will be recorded as “Advanced Placement” on transcripts.
International Baccalaureate Higher Level Examinations (IB)
Students may receive credit for courses by making an acceptable score on IB Higher Level Exams. Students may contact TC Central for more information. Credit will be recorded on transcripts as “Advanced Placement.”
Cambridge International Advanced AS and L Level Examinations (CI)
Students may receive credit for courses by making a score of E or higher on the Cambridge International Advanced AS and A Level exam. The amount of college course credit awarded for a higher-level Cambridge Assessment International Education AS and A Level examination will be equivalent to the credit hour value of the college course for which the Cambridge Assessment International Education credit is being accepted. Students may contact the Registrar’s Office for more information. Credit will be recorded on transcripts as “Advanced Placement.”
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Students may receive credit for courses by making an acceptable score on a CLEP exam. Although the College does not administer the CLEP, students may contact the Registrar’s Office for more information. Credit will be recorded on transcripts as “Advanced Placement.”
Examination Credit
Students who believe they have mastered course outcomes through work or educational experiences and wish to receive course credit without enrolling in classes by taking an examination must:
- Present evidence documenting education or work experience that is similar to the content of a particular course to the appropriate department head or assistant dean.
- Submit a request for the examination to the appropriate department head who will determine eligibility for the exam.
- Pay a fee of $75 for each examination, and present the receipt at the time the exemption exam is administered.
- Earn a grade of at least a “C” on the examination, as defined in current course syllabi. Credit will be recorded on the student’s transcript as “Exemption Exam.”
- A student may not retake an exemption exam. (Exceptions due to extenuating circumstances may be granted by the Senior Vice President upon receipt of a written request from the student.)
In no case can the exception be granted more than once for a course. A student who has enrolled in a course (i.e. audited, failed, withdrawn, etc.) will not be permitted to take an exemption examination for that course. A copy of the test must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office/Student Data Center along with the Advanced Standing Credit form.
Technical Advanced Placement (TAP)
The College will award credit for specific College courses to area high school students who have successfully completed all procedures outlined in TAP Teacher Recommendation forms. Students taking high school courses, especially in occupational and technical areas that cover skills and competencies equivalent to content in Tri-County Technical College courses, may qualify to earn credit for the Tri-County courses. Students may have their skills verified through examination or by completing coursework that requires the use of skills acquired in high school. Validation guidelines for each course are included in the Teacher Recommendation forms in the TAP section of the College website (www.tctc.edu/TAP).
High school students who would like more information about TAP should contact their guidance counselor or occupational teacher and/or review the TAP information on the College’s website.
TAP credit will be documented on College transcripts as “Technical Advanced Placement” credit. A copy of the test, or other equivalency verification, must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office/Student Data Center along with the Advanced Standing Credit form.
Experiential Learning
Military Education: The College recognizes educational experiences in the armed services. Recommendations provided in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services, published by the American Council on Education (ACE), are considered in determining credits to be awarded for such experiences. Credit will be recorded on the student’s transcript as “Educational Experience.” A copy of the supporting documentation must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office/Student Data Center with the Advanced Standing Credit form.
Documented Work Experience: The College may grant credit for documented work experience in writing from the student’s employer. The justification must tie the prior experience to the competencies of the relevant course. The subject-matter department head or assistant dean will determine the relevancy of the documented work experience to a specific course and ensure the work experience does not duplicate credit already awarded or planned for the student’s academic program. Elective credit may be awarded at the discretion of the subject-matter department head. Documented work experience credit may be awarded for no more than 25% of the credit hours applied toward a degree, diploma, or certificate. Credit will be recorded on the student’s transcript as “Work Experience.” A copy of the supporting documentation must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office/Student Data Center with the Advanced Standing Credit form.
Transfer Credit
Tri-County Technical College may grant credit for courses taken at other regionally accredited post-secondary institutions provided the student earned a “C” (or minimum grade point of 2.0) or above in those courses. The Chief Academic Officer must approve transfer credits from a college without regional accreditation. Exceptions will be documented and submitted to the Registrar’s Office. A student’s official transcript from other colleges will be evaluated, and the appropriate subject department head or program coordinator will determine credit. Transfer credit will be granted according to the following guidelines
- A student’s official transcripts from other colleges will be evaluated and credit determined by the appropriate subject department head or assistant dean.
- Credit will be given for the equivalent College course.
- If the equivalent College course credits do not exceed the course credits being transferred by more than one-half credit hour, full credit for the College course will be granted. If the College course credits exceed the course credits being transferred by more than one-half credit hour, the student has the option of taking an exemption exam or requesting a course waiver.
- Elective credit may be granted for courses for which the College does not have an equivalent course.
- Transfer credit may be granted for all applicable courses without regard to when the credit was initially earned. (Exceptions: Some curricula may require that credit be earned within a specified period of time. In some technical courses, the student may also be advised to validate competency.)
- If a student has exempted prerequisite courses and earned credit for advanced courses at an institution where previously enrolled, the student may request that the College grant exemption credit by providing appropriate documentation. In lieu of appropriate documentation, the student may take an exemption exam (for credit) or request a course waiver (no credit).
While enrolled in a degree, diploma, or certificate program at the College, students must secure permission from their advisor prior to taking courses at other post-secondary institutions for transfer credit. The form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office/Student Data Center prior to taking the course.
CHE State Policies and Procedures
The Commission on Higher Education (CHE) for the state of South Carolina coordinates post-secondary education in public-supported institutions, including policies and procedures for students and their course credits transferring between and among these institutions. CHE has established transfer policies and procedures that all State public institutions must follow.
Most courses in the Associate in Arts and Associate in Science majors are designed for transfer to other colleges and universities (see Arts and Sciences Division section). Other institutions may evaluate credits earned in other majors on an individual basis.
The chief transfer officer at the College is the Dean of the Arts and Sciences Division. This officer administers the transfer degree programs (Associate of Arts and Associate of Science) and coordinates the advising of transfer students. Students may consult the dean of their programs of study for questions concerning the transfer of courses into program curricula. CHE regulations and procedures are listed in Appendix 2 .
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