Credit for Prior Learning

Students may be granted credit toward program completion for prior work, education, and life experiences, which are deemed equivalent to the program requirements.

Earning credit may be achieved through one of the following options: Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Competency Based Education (CBE), or Course Test Out.

  1. Credits received through alternative methods count toward graduation requirements but are not counted in Grade Point Average or minimum semester credit completion calculations and are not counted for financial aid status.
  2. Responsibility for possessing and retaining the content knowledge and skills required by course requirements for which alternative credit is granted rests with the student.
  3. Alternative Methods of Earning Credit procedures do not supersede the time frames for drop/add, withdrawal, or any refund of tuition.
  4. Credits earned by these alternative methods may or may not be accepted by other institutions.

Advanced Placement (AP)

It is the policy of Minnesota West Community & Technical College to award college credit to students who attend Minnesota West Community & Technical College and have achieved a score of 3, 4, or 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) examination(s). Credit may be given for a specific college course if a test covers substantially similar material. If the test material does not match an existing course, students may be given elective credits. Students are provided information on AP examination policies and procedures in the college catalog and on the college website. The college policy and procedure for Advanced Placement can be found on the Minnesota West Policies page.

Advanced Placement equivalency charts are available at Transferology to assist students in their educational planning. There is no limit to the total number of credits a student may earn through AP examinations. Credits earned through AP examinations are not resident credits and may not be used to satisfy resident credit requirements for graduation.

  1. The student requests an official AP score report from the College Board be sent to Minnesota West Community & Technical College. Minnesota West Code: 6945
  2. The AP scores are received and reviewed by an advisor.
  3. An equivalency credit form is completed and transcribed for each student.
  4. The appropriate signatures are obtained on the equivalency credit form.
  5. The student is notified of the number of credits that will be granted upon enrollment at Minnesota West.
  6. AP credits will be recorded on a transcript once the student has registered for classes at Minnesota

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

It is the policy of Minnesota West Community & Technical College to award college credit to students who attend Minnesota West Community & Technical College and have achieved the minimum required score as outlined in the equivalency chart on Transferology. Credit may be given for a specific college course if a test covers substantially similar material. If the test material does not match an existing course, students may be given elective credits. Students who have enrolled in a comparable class at Minnesota West or another institution are not eligible to receive credit through CLEP for the same course. Students are provided information on CLEP examination policy and procedures in the college catalog and on the college website.

An equivalency chart for CLEP credit is available at Transferology to assist students in their educational planning. There is no limit to the total number of credits a student may earn through CLEP examinations. Credits earned through CLEP examinations are not resident credits and may not be used to satisfy resident credit requirements for graduation. The Minnesota West - Worthington Campus is a National Test Center for CLEP. Students can contact Student Services at the Worthington Campus for cost information and to schedule a test. More information on other test centers and CLEP tests can be found at http://clep.collegeboard.org/.

  1. The student requests an official CLEP score report from the College Board (collegeboard.com) to be sent to Minnesota West Community & Technical College. Minnesota West Code: 6945
  2. The CLEP scores are received and reviewed by an
  3. An equivalency credit form is completed and transcribed for each student.
  4. The appropriate signatures are obtained on the equivalency credit form.
  5. The student is notified of the number of credits that will be granted upon enrollment at Minnesota
  6. CLEP credits will be recorded on a transcript once the student has registered for classes at Minnesota West

Competency Based Education (CBE)

Competency Based Education refers to learner- demonstrated knowledge, skill, and ability to perform a task or The learner uses prior experiences to support course competencies.

There is a $200 initial fee that includes career planning, development of an academic plan, and the application. Thereafter, regular tuition per credit will be assessed.

Students may be eligible to earn up to 44 credits for prior learning from work, volunteer services, conferences, workshop attendance, in-service training, and a vocational interest.

Course Test Out

Students who can demonstrate competence in specific disciplines may earn college credit by testing out of college courses with Minnesota West Community and Technical College. Students must initiate the Course Test-Out process by working with appropriate instructors and then completing a Course Test-Out Award Recommendation Form. Students should check with an advisor, instructors, and campus registrars to see if Course Test-Outs are available. Course Test-Out is not an option for all courses.

  1. A fee of $40 per lecture credit and $65 per lab credit payable to Minnesota West Community & Technical College is required prior to completing a Course Test-Out exam. This fee is nonrefundable even if examinees do not pass exams and do not receive credit for the course.
  2. Course Test-Outs must be completed at least ten days prior to the start of the semester or after the fifth day of the semester; however, the President or designee has the authority to allow a faculty member to grant a Course Test-Out at any time if circumstances warrant.
  3. Testing out is not an option for students who desire to earn credit for courses previously attempted. Course Test-Outs cannot be used to improve grades for courses previously completed.
  4. Students who fail a Course Test-Out exam must complete the  course  to  fulfill  graduation requirements. Failing Course Test-Out grades will not be recorded on transcripts.
  5. Course Test-Out exams are instructor-generated to reflect the objectives of the course. Only grades of "C" or higher will be recorded as credit (CR).
  6. Credits earned by the Course Test-Out option are not computed in a student's GPA, nor will they count towards the enrollment figures of the college. Financial Aid is not available for Course Test-Out
  7. Course Test-Out credits will not be recorded on a transcript once the student has registered for classes at Minnesota West.

School to Work Articulated Courses

Minnesota West Community & Technical College participates in the school to work program and has entered into agreements with several area high schools. Students enrolling in articulated high school courses and successfully meeting specific criteria for each course may be eligible to receive credit at the College. Credit will be granted for competency mastered within the preceding two years at a skill level of "B" or better on a grade scale of "A-F". Credit will only be awarded for articulated high school courses in which the student has met the criteria after the student has enrolled in and successfully completed 15 credits at the College.

International Baccalaureate Credit

It is the policy of Minnesota West Community & Technical College to award credit for the International Baccalaureate (IB) programs completed by students who subsequently attend Minnesota West Community & Technical College. The examination for the diploma covers six subjects, three or four of which must be at a higher level and others at the subsidiary level. Students may present a full IB diploma or a certificate recognizing specific higher level or subsidiary level test scores.

Those students completing a standard level course of 150 hours will earn three (3) or four (4) credits as appropriate. Students completing a higher level course of 240 hours will receive six (6) or eight (8) credits as appropriate. Students are provided information on IB examination policies and procedures in the college catalog and on the college website.

An equivalency chart for International Baccalaureate (IB) is available at Transferology to assist students in their educational planning. There is no limit to the total number of credits a student may earn through IB examinations. Credits earned through IB examinations are not resident credits and may not be used to satisfy resident credit requirements for graduation.

  1. The student requests an official IB score transcript from the International Baccalaureate Organization be sent to Minnesota West Community & Technical
  2. The IP scores are received and reviewed an
  3. An equivalency credit form is completed for each
  4. The appropriate signatures are obtained on the equivalency credit form.
  5. The student is notified of the number of credits that will be granted upon enrollment at Minnesota
  6. IB credits will be recorded on a transcript once the student has registered for classes at Minnesota West

Other Nationally Recognized Examination Programs

It is the policy of Minnesota West Community and Technical College to consider awarding credit for nationally recognized examination programs such as Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), Thomas Edison College Examination Program (TECEP), Excelsior Examinations, New York Foreign Language Proficiency, and National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI). Credits earned through a nationally recognized examination are not resident credits and may not be used to satisfy resident credit requirements for graduation. Official score report or transcript for each of the above nationally recognized examination programs is required for transfer evaluation.

  1. The student requests an official score report from the appropriate testing service be sent to Minnesota West Community and Technical College.
  2. The score reports are received are reviewed by appropriate college staff.
  3. An equivalency credit form is completed and transcribed for each student.
  4. The appropriate signatures are obtained on the equivalency credit form.
  5. The student is notified that credit has been
  6. Credits granted will be recorded on a transcript once the student has registered for classes at Minnesota West

Military Training

It is the policy of Minnesota West Community and Technical College to consider awarding college credit from the student’s military transcript using the “ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Experiences in the Armed Forces.” The Minnesota West transfer policy will apply to military training transcripts. See Minnesota West Policies.

  1. The student requests an official military transcript through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) system or the Community College of the Air Force be sent to Minnesota West Community and Technical
  2. The student’s declared degree goal will be used as the transfer evaluation If the student changes his/her degree goal, the student is responsible for seeking information on the application of credits toward the new degree goal.
  3. The student should make an appointment with the program advisor.
    1. A copy of the official transcript should be present when meeting with the program
    2. The student’s assigned program advisor will review any technical credits to ascertain their validity within the student’s major study.
  4. If the transcript contains general education courses, the Campus Resource Specialist will forward a copy of the official transcript to the College Registrar for review. The College Registrar will verify applicability of transfer credits and respond back to the Campus Resource Specialist.
  5. Military credits will be recorded on a transcript once the student has completed 12 credits at Minnesota West.