Credit for Prior Learning

Credit by Exam

Credit by Examination — Specific Course Credit

Currently enrolled students may qualify for credit by examination for courses in the current Saddleback College catalog for which they appear to be reasonably qualified by training or experience, and for which they have not received previous college credit, attempted credit by examination, or ever enrolled in the course. However, the course in which the student seeks credit by examination should be one in which the course content can be tested by examination in the opinion of the department and of the instructor assigned. A student may not receive credit by examination for any course which is prerequisite to one for which credit has been received.

The procedures for securing permission to obtain Credit by Examination for a course are as follows:

1. The student obtains a Credit by Examination petition form from the Office of Admissions and Records which will determine eligibility.
2. The student contacts an instructor who teaches the course for which Credit by Examination is requested. If it is the judgment of the instructor that the course content can be tested by examination, and that the student possesses sufficient background, previous training, and/or skills to attempt the examination, the instructor signs the form.
3. The student, following policies and procedures developed within the department, obtains the signature of the appropriate division dean.
4. Following division endorsement, the request is forwarded to the Vice President for Instruction for signature.
5. The initiating instructor prepares, administers, and grades the examination.
6. A grade of Pass (P) or No Pass (NP) will be assigned and the course will be identified as “Credit by Examination” on the transcript.
7. The student will pay for the course for which Credit by Exam is obtained

Note: Students should be aware that some universities will not recognize credit earned through credit by examination for languages other than English in which they have received formal schooling in that language.