Credit by Examination

Credit by examination may be earned by: (1) standardized achievement tests (CLEP, CEEB Advanced Placement, SAT and ACT); (2) departmental examination; or (3) military programs. NO STUDENT WILL RECEIVE CREDIT BY EXAMINATION FOR MORE THAN EIGHTEEN SEMESTER HOURS. Credit will be awarded only in areas appropriately related to the student’s educational program. No student who has been given a grade other than W in the course is eligible for credit by examination unless the course is otherwise unavailable and is required for graduation. For each hour of credit earned by examination, the student must earn an equivalent hour enrolled as a student in regular classes. Grades for credit by examination are recorded as pass and are not considered in computing grade point averages. Credit awarded for testing (ACT, SAT, CLEP, Departmental, etc.) at Howard College/SWCID may or may not meet minimum requirements for credit at other institutions. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the school they intend to attend to verify further credit. Howard College/SWCID awards transfer credit for “credit by examination” if it is included on an official transcript from an accredited college or university, if it is within the 18 hour limit, and if it is appropriately related to the student’s educational program.

Standardized Achievement Tests

CLEP Examinations
College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations are administered through the Testing Center (Big Spring Campus). CLEP credit may be earned for the following subjects in accordance with the credit minimum scores and course equivalents listed. Students should check transferability of scores and/or courses with receiving institutions. The cost of each CLEP Exam is $80.

CEEB (College Entrance Examination Board) Advanced Placement Examinations
These examinations are not administered at the college. Arrangements to take these tests must be made through a high school counselor.

Advanced Placement scores of 3 or better are accepted for designated subject areas.   If you have scores in an area not listed below, please contact the Registrar’s Office.

ACT (American College Test)
Registration information is available on the Testing Center website for the Big Spring Campus. Howard College/SWCID awards credit on the basis of acceptable scores. Official transcript data must be filed with Howard College/SWCID prior to consideration of credit granted.

SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test)
Subject Tests: Registration information is available on the Testing Center website for the Big Spring Campus. Howard College/SWCID awards credit on the basis of acceptable scores. Official transcript data must be filed with Howard College prior to consideration of credit granted.

Departmental Examinations
Students may obtain permission from division director to challenge certain courses through departmental examinations in subject areas where CLEP examinations are not available. Students will not be permitted to challenge courses with laboratory and clinical hours unless they have had and can show proof of documented training or work experience equivalent to the requirements of the courses. Students must take the exam WITHIN 30 DAYS from the date the application is approved in order to receive credit. Cost of the exam will be the current tuition rate per semester hour. Students should contact the appropriate instructional administrator to begin this process.

Military Credit
Credit for military programs may be awarded in accordance with the guidebooks for evaluating credit for training received in the military service. Students must score in the fiftieth percentile or above and submit an official copy of the scores to the admissions office.

Audit
Attending a class in order to observe and learn the information without taking part in the discussion or completing the other course requirements is an audit. No credit or grade is earned for auditing a class. The same fees are charged if the course is taken for credit or audit. A request for non-credit form must be completed and on file in the registrar’s office by the twelfth class day in the fall and spring and by the fourth class day in the summer.  NOTE: School officials may allow a person to visit a class during a single class period for recruiting and / or other programming purposes.  This must first be approved by the faculty member and does not constitute a course audit.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is offered in participating high schools, and the examinations are administered at the high school. In accordance with SB 111, students will be granted a minimum of 24 hours of credit if they have earned the IB Diploma and have no scores lower than 4 on the Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) Exams. Howard College may grant fewer than 24 SCH to a student if the student has scored less than 4 on any IB examination administered as part of the diploma program. Students who participate in the IB Program may receive college credit for exam scores of 4 or better on most HL Exams and for a 5 or better on most SL Exams. Howard College will grant college credit based on the table below.

Applicants with the IB diploma must provide a completed IB transcript to the Admissions Office before enrolling in order to receive credit.