Accelerated Credit Mechanisms
Life-Experience Acceleration Path (LEAP)
Eastern Florida recognizes that valid learning can take place in non-traditional and non-collegiate environments. The Life-Experience Accelerated Path (LEAP) program serves to assist students with previous work experience, prior education, military training, industry certifications, volunteering activities, etc., to accelerate their education by utilizing various Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) mechanisms, such as the ones listed below. For more information, complete the interest form at easternflorida.edu/go/leap or email registrar@easternflorida.edu.
Eastern Florida defines accelerated credit mechanisms as standardized ways to earn credit outside a traditional academic environment. Below are the generally accepted types of accelerated mechanisms:
- Credit by Exams (national standardized exams such as IB, CLEP, DSST, AP, AICE, etc.)
- Credit by Institutional Exam
- Credit for Military Training & Experience
- Credit for Professional Training (American Council on Education (ACE)
- Portfolio: Document Your Prior Learning (CAEL)
- Credit for Licensure, Certifications or Third Party Training
- High School Advance Standing Credit
Prior Learning Assessment Credit Evaluation Guidelines
A maximum of 45 semester hours of combined accelerated credit in any combination of correspondence and extension, credit by examination (national standardized exams such as IB, CLEP, DSST, AP, AICE, etc.), credit for military training and experience, credit for professional training (ACE), credit for licensure, certifications or third party training, DANTES and experiential learning (CAEL) or other non-tradional means of earning credit may be applied toward an Associate's degree of 60 hours.
Students must complete at least 25 percent of institutional credits of their degree through courses taken at EFSC. This is 15 institutional credits for the A.A. and A.S. degrees, and 30 institutional credits for the B.A.S. and B.S. degrees.
Eastern Florida reserves the right to evaluate credit from accelerated means other than those listed above. Students are welcome to submit documentation and official records for consideration. Examination scores must be submitted on an official score report from the organization administering the examination. Accelerated credit is posted to the academic record along with the source of the credit.
Students transferring to another institution after being awarded accelerated credit should review the transfer guidelines maintained by the receiving institution. Acceptance of credit awarded through any accelerated mechanism is dependent upon the policies of the other colleges and universities, even if the credit appears on a transcript from Eastern Florida. The decision to accept transfer credit is made by the receiving institution.
Eastern Florida follows the Florida Department of Education guidelines in acceptance of credit for nationally standardized accelerated mechanisms, allowing students to proceed toward their educational goals as rapidly as possible. Credit is awarded in accordance with recommendations established by the statewide Articulation Coordinating Committee (ACC). Section 1007.27(2) Florida Statutes requires the ACC to establish passing scores, course and credit equivalents for the following:
Advanced Placement (AP)
Advanced Placement exams are taken after students complete the corresponding AP course in high school. Credit toward an Eastern Florida degree is offered to those high school students who earn AP test scores of three (3) or higher. The amount of credit awarded depends on the score received. AP, including descriptions of courses and sample questions are available here.
Cambridge AICE (AICE)
The AICE program is an international, advanced secondary curriculum and assessment program equivalent to the British system of “A-Levels.” Credit is awarded based on passing scores as recommended by the statewide Articulation Coordinating Committee (ACC). Information about the program, including course syllabi, can be found online.
Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE)
Minimum satisfactory scores for accelerated credit are set by the State Board of Education and are subject to change. The state of Florida maintains an approved list of equivalencies and information for various kinds of accelerated opportunities. It can be found on the FloridaShines website.
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
CLEP exams test mastery of college-level material acquired in a variety of ways - through general academic instructions, significant independent study or extracurricular work. CLEP exam-takers include adults just entering or returning to school, military service members and traditional college students. More information about CLEP, including recent test information guides and how to order a transcript, can be found online at the CLEP website.
Credit by Institutional Exam (CBIE)
Eligible students may earn college credit at Eastern Florida through successful completion of a Credit by Institutional Exam (CBIE) also known as a Course Challenge Exam. This is a comprehensive course final exam created by EFSC faculty. This option is not available for credit in courses for which CLEP or other national exam mechanisms exist, or for a course that has not been identified as eligible for CBIE. Credits received through CBIE do not apply toward the 25% residency requirement for Eastern Florida degrees and/or certificates.
A grade of “S” is given for each successfully completed exam and will not calculate into student’s GPA.
Eligibility for students to take a CBIE Exam
- Student may only request an exam based upon the bank of exams that are currently available.
- Student must be currently enrolled and in good academic standing at Eastern Florida.
- Student must be an active degree-seeking student. If exam is requested to satisfy a prerequisite for admission to a limited access program, the program must be listed as a minor on the student’s record.
- Students may be provided the opportunity for CBIE for those courses where accelerated mechanisms have been identified in the course plans and/or otherwise approved by the appropriate cluster chair.
- Student must have completed the residency requirement of 25% of credits for the applicable Eastern Florida degree or certificate.
- Student must be otherwise eligible for enrollment in the course (i.e. has met placement and prerequisite standards, be within the allowable number of course attempts, etc.)
- Student must not be currently enrolled in the course.
- Student must not previously have received a grade of “C” or higher in the course.
- Student must not previously have attempted CBIE for the course.
- Student must have completed the appropriate request form, obtained the appropriate approvals, and paid the appropriate fee.
- Student may attempt the same subject exam only once.
Procedure for student to request CBIE
- Student will contact the office of the Coordinator of Accelerated Learning to obtain the Credit by Institutional Exam form to petition for CBIE. Student completes the student section of the form and submits it to Coordinator for review.
- Coordinator will review the request to include:
- The eligibility of student for CBIE
- The eligibility of course for acceleration method
- The availability of exam in current inventory
- If the course and student meet eligibility requirements and a test for that course is not in the CBIE inventory, an exam may be requested from faculty. If an exam is in current inventory, the Coordinator, will verify with the faculty, Department Chair or Cluster Chair, the validity of the exam form matching current course content, prior to administration. If test form is made available and/or is current to administer, the CBIE process may continue.
- Coordinator will complete the Credit by Institutional Exax form indicating approval for the process to administer the CBIE exam.
- Student will take the Approved request form to any cashier on any campus to pay the current exam fee (per the College Fee Schedule/Testing Fees).
- Student will contact the office of the Coordinator of College-wide Testing to schedule the exam. At the scheduled appointment, student must provide photo Identification and approved form with proof of fee payment.
Additional information may be obtained by contacting leap@easternflorida.edu.
Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT)
As part of the Army Training and Doctrine Command, the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center provides resident instruction at the Presidio of Monterey in two dozen languages, five days a week, seven hours per day, with two to three hours of homework each night. Per AAC recommendation, credit may be awarded for Arabic, Chinese Mandarin, Japanese, Portuguese, or Russian.
Defense Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
The Defense Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) Examination Program (formerly DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) measures earned achievement in specific college courses and in calculated credit hours. More information about DSST exams, including descriptions of test content and sample examination questions, is available here.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
The International Baccalaureate program is a challenging curriculum offered in high schools around the world. It is designed to prepare students for advanced work in many countries’ postsecondary systems. Because it is international, the curriculum is not always as closely aligned with courses in American colleges and universities as are Advanced Placement courses. Eastern Florida will award IB diploma students college credit based upon IB exam scores. Students must request that official IB exam scores and high school transcript be sent to Eastern Florida for evaluation and the awarding of credit per State Board Rule 6A – 10.024(8). To request transcripts or for more information visit IB program.
UExcel Excelsior College Examinations
The UExcel Excelsior College Examination Program (formerly known as Regents College Exams or the Proficiency Examination Program), encompasses exams developed by Excelsior College using national committees or faculty consultants and national studies to assess how well the tests measure the performance of students in actual college courses. Excelsior College itself is accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSACS) and are approved by the American Council on Education. More detailed information about Excelsior College Examinations can be found online.
General Guidelines
- Scores must be submitted on an official score report from the organization administering the examination.
- Students may earn a maximum of 45 credits for an associate level degree and 90 semester hours toward a bachelor’s level degree through a combination of accelerated mechanisms.
- Duplicate credit cannot be awarded, i.e. if student has already received a grade of “C” or higher for a course, student will not be awarded credit for the course again. This includes elective credit, i.e. if a student has credit for ENC 1101 Composition 1, and submits transfer credit for ENC 1101 Composition 1, elective credit will not be awarded.
- Courses may be used for grade forgiveness purposes if student did not previously pass the course.
- The grade of “S” is given for each course and will not calculate into student’s GPA.
- Students must be cognizant of initial testing and retake policies for each exam. Some exams require students to wait a specific amount of time before they can retake the exam.
- For graduation purposes, exams must be taken and successfully passed prior to the last date of the month in which graduation is sought.
American Council on Education – ACE
Professional Training/Experience
The American Council on Education’s National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training contains transfer credit recommendations for formal courses or examinations offered by various organizations, from businesses and unions to the government and military.
Eastern Florida considers equivalency course guidelines for the American Council of Education (ACE) but College reserves the right to exercise its own judgment when evaluating the credit-granting recommendations of ACE. To request evaluation for credit, the student must provide an official transcript from ACE. For information on ordering an ACE transcript, please visit the American Council on Education (ACE) website.
Military Training/Experience
In recognition of the advanced academic and technical content of many military educational experiences, Eastern Florida may grant appropriate credits for military training that is evaluated by the American Council of Education (ACE) as suitable for postsecondary credit.
It is at the discretion of the College to award this credit; recommendations in the ACE Guide are advisory only and not binding on the College. Eastern Florida does not accept certificates or other training documents for evaluation.
Credits will appear on the student’s transcript as earned credit with an "S" grade only. No duplicate credit may be earned. A maximum of 45 semester hours of combined credit from accelerated mechanisms and/or prior learning assessment can be applied toward an associate level degree and 90 semester hours toward a bachelor's level degree.
Students who wish to receive transfer credit for military service in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard must provide an official Joint Services Transcript (JST). Order transcripts online at Joint Services Transcript.
Students who wish to receive transfer credit for service in the Air Force must provide an official transcript from the Air University. Order transcripts online at Air University.
Credit for Licensure, Certification or Third Party Training through Articulated Agreements
Students who possess current industry certifications, licensures, specified training, post-secondary adult vocational (PSAV) certificates and/or applied technology diplomas (ATD) may be eligible to receive free college credit in various Associate in Science (AS) programs. You also can learn more about statewide articulation agreements at the Florida Department of Education website — plus the American Council on Education (ACE) also has an online listing of approved licensures, certificates or educational experiences that may transfer to EFSC.
High School Articulated Credit/Advance Standing Credit
Students who have recently completed approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs at Brevard Public Schools may be eligible to receive Eastern Florida credit at no cost. Agreements exist in areas such as Drafting, Graphic Design, Criminal Justice, and TV Production. Students who are working toward the related Associate in Science degree, a College Credit Certificate or a Postsecondary Adult Vocational Certificate can save time and money by following this career pathway and receive college credit at no cost. View the EFSC website for more information.
Industry Certifications
Credit may be awarded when a credential or a license is broadly recognized in the industry or in the career area and the student has demonstrated experience in the field. Competency-based credit pertains to specific national or state credentials or licenses as reviewed and agreed upon by college faculty and administration. Students who hold current industry certifications may be eligible to receive college credit in the related career program. Specific industry certification agreements identify the equivalent college credit.
Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) Certificates & Applied Technology Diplomas (ATD)
Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) certificate and Applied Technology Diploma (ATD) programs consist of a series of courses that prepare students for entry level employment in specific career fields. Students who have earned a PSAV certificate or an ATD, and are continuing their education in a related AS degree program, may be eligible to earn college credit via state mandated articulated agreements.
Third Party Agreements, Industry Exams & Licensure
EFSC may award credit for industry training or licensure provided by external agencies for designated programs. Agreements have been created between external agencies and the College. These agreements include in-house training by local employers with the equivalent college credit identified.