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ARTICULATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE CREDIT-BY-EXAM GUIDELINES FOR POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS Adopted November 14, 2001 Section
240.4015, Florida Statutes, requires the Articulation Coordinating Committee to
establish passing scores and course and credit equivalents for Advanced
Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College-Level Examination
Program (CLEP) exams. The list adopted
by the ACC at its September 19, 2001 meeting satisfies that requirement. The DANTES/DSST and Excelsior College exam
equivalents on the list are not part of that requirement, but are authorized by
State Board of Education Rule 6A-10.024. Public
community colleges and universities in Florida are required to award credit for
AP, IB and CLEP exams as designated.
This requirement applies to all students, not just Bright Futures award
recipients. In order to comply with the
letter and intent of section 240.4015, Florida Statutes, the ACC recommends
that institutions make these equivalents effective
no later than the beginning of the 2002-2003 academic year. Following are some guidelines for institutions to use in applying the list of credit-by-exam equivalents: AWARDING CREDIT FOR COURSES
ON THE LIST (AP, IB, and CLEP only) If
a student achieves the score listed on an AP, IB or CLEP exam, state
universities and community colleges must award credit for the course or course
numbers listed, even if they do not
offer the course. Not all
institutions necessarily offer the course that was determined to be the best
match for a given exam. Some numbers
were created specifically for the exams, when it was important to distinguish
the credit from other courses. If
a specific course number is listed, institutions may not use a different
number. If
no specific course number is listed, but a number of credits is given,
institutions must award credit. They may use any appropriate course number in
the subject area, or no number. If
no minimum credit is recommended for a particular exam, award of credit is at
the discretion of the institution.
Institutions may not use course numbers that will automatically
transfer. Institutions
must give the same number of credits that they ordinarily give for the course
or the minimum listed, whichever is greater. Institutions
may award more credit than the minimum listed, but may not use additional
course numbers that will automatically transfer. Institutions should carefully consider what is required for
students’ degree plans before awarding additional credit. Credit
awarded by exam may not duplicate other credit. Up
to 45 total credit-by-exam credits may be awarded. Up to 30 credits may be granted for the IB diploma. Institutions
may not award credit for scores below those listed. If
students have old scores, institutions may either use the new minimum scores
and course equivalents, or the institution’s policy in effect when the student
took the exam. GENERAL EDUCATION, COMMON PREREQUISITES, AND GORDON RULE (AP, IB and CLEP only) For
purposes of general education, Gordon Rule, or major prerequisites, credit for
specific course numbers awarded by exam should be treated no differently from
credit earned in the same courses at the institution. If
institutions do not offer a general education course for which a student
receives credit by exam, the ACC strongly recommends that, for purposes of
fulfilling general education requirements, institutions allow the course to
substitute for a general education course they do offer. DANTES/DSST, EXCELSIOR, AND OTHER EXAM PROGRAMS Institutions
are not required to initially award credit for DANTES/DSST, or Excelsior
(formerly Regents or PEP) exams listed. They
are, however, required to accept the credit in transfer if another institution
has awarded credit based on the list of equivalents. Institutions
may award credit at their discretion for any exam not listed. All DANTES/DSST and Excelsior exams were
reviewed, but course equivalents were only recommended when there was a
reasonable equivalent in the Statewide Course Numbering System. Credit awarded for exams not listed may
transfer at the discretion of the receiving institution. MORE INFORMATION You can find more information about the different exam programs, including detailed descriptions of exams, current and historical grading scales and score information, at the following web sites: Advanced Placement Program: www.collegeboard.com/ap College-Level Examination Program: www.collegeboard.com/clep (for general information) or http://ntis01.ets.org/onyx/cbtguide.htm (for recent exam specifications) DANTES/DSST Examinations: www.getcollegecredit.com International Baccalaureate
Program: www.ibo.org Excelsior Examination Program: www.excelsior.edu For further information about implementation of the credit-by-exam equivalents, please contact: Community Colleges: Dr. Heather Sherry Division of Community Colleges Florida Board of Education 325 West Gaines Street, 13th Floor Tallahassee, Florida 32399 850-488-0555 State Universities: Ms. Nell Kelly Division of Colleges and Universities Florida Board of Education 325 West Gaines Street, 15th Floor Tallahassee, Florida 32399 850-201-7212 |