Credit for Prior Learning

Below are several ways current Whatcom Community College students can earn WCC credit for prior learning experiences. These ways include transfer credit, military credit, credit by testing, credit by certification crosswalk, credit by course challenge and credit by vertical challenge.

Transfer Credit

Transfer-in credits are evaluated by the College upon entrance to a degree, certificate or diploma program. See the transferring credit site for more information.

Military Credit

Documented military training will be evaluated by the college upon entrance to a degree, certificate or diploma program. See Veteran Services for information.

Credit by Testing

Students can receive credit for completing a higher education equivalency exam while meeting subject and score criteria. Exams include: CLEP, AP, IB, and CI. More information on each type of examination is included below. Students who are seeking credit based on examination must request to have their official scores sent to Whatcom Community College’s Entry and Enrollment Services. Completion of the Transfer Credit Evaluation Request form is also required. See the Transferring Credits page.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Whatcom awards credits for CLEP exams that meet subject and score criteria agreed upon by the college departments that oversee each appropriate discipline. Students may use CLEP exams as part of their DTA but are advised that not all colleges and universities will accept CLEP credits. It is the student's responsibility to contact transfer institutions regarding the acceptance of these credits. The following is the list of CLEP scores and WCC course equivalencies effective Fall '24: CLEP scores and WCC equivalencies.

Advanced Placement (AP)

The Advanced Placement program consists of college-level courses and exams for high school students. Whatcom Community College follows statewide guidelines in awarding credit for AP exams. Students will need to request official AP Scores from the College Board be sent to Whatcom Community College (college code 1275). The following is the list of AP scores and WCC course equivalencies effective Spring '24: AP scores and WCC equivalencies

International Baccalaureate (IB)

The International Baccalaureate program consists of college-level courses and exams for high school students. The college follows statewide guidelines in awarding credit for IB exams. The following is the list of IB scores and WCC course equivalencies effective Spring '22: IB scores and WCC equivalencies

Cambridge International (CI)

Whatcom Community College grants credit for Cambridge International A level tests based on statewide guidelines. The following is a list of the tests and the credit awarded: CI scores and WCC equivalencies.

Certification Crosswalks

Credit may be awarded for certain industry licensures or certifications that have established crosswalks to WCC courses. Certification(s) will be reviewed by a faculty member assigned from the relevant department. Please note that departments may place time constraints on the completion dates for some industry certifications (e.g., completed within the past 5 years). Additionally, the reviewer may request additional documentation from the student. Please contact the Prior Learning Coordinator for more information and to request a review. There is currently a $75 flat fee for each certification review. The following is a link to a list of WCC’s current industry certification crosswalks: WCC Industry Certification Crosswalks

Course Challenge

Enrolled students may earn college credits when they demonstrate by examination or evaluation that their professional experience, substantial prior learning, or industry certification meet the learning outcomes for a specific WCC course. Not all courses are appropriate for course challenge. Each department determines the method required for students to demonstrate mastery of the course outcomes. A member of the respective department will be assigned to grade the examination or evaluation. The following is a link to a sample of the criteria for a course challenge evaluation for EDUC& 130: Course Challenge EDUC& 130: Comprehensive Portfolio and Reflection-based Demonstration

The fee for course challenge by examination is $40 per credit. Fees vary for other types of evaluation. A course challenge is expected to be completed in the quarter it was initiated. The course will appear on the student’s transcript for the quarter it was initiated. Contact the Prior Learning Coordinator for questions and more information. Ide

The following additional conditions apply:

The student must be enrolled at WCC for at least 10 credits for a minimum of 30 calendar days or have completed a minimum of quarter hours of credit at WCC.
The student may not be evaluated for a course for which they have previously attempted or received credit.
The student may not be evaluated for a course more than once.
If successful, the student will have the equivalent course credit and grade earned posted to their official WCC transcript. Grading system may be letter grade or S/U, as determined by the appropriate instruction area, prior to exam. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm the grading system with the assigned instructor.
Course challenge fees are not covered by Financial Aid. Credits earned through course challenge do not count towards full or part time enrollment.
Course challenge fees are nonrefundable.

Credit by Vertical Challenge

Whatcom students may apply to earn credit in certain Professional Technical courses designated by the department and discipline as appropriate for vertical challenge. Currently, vertical challenges are only available for students in the CIS program. They give students with considerable computer skills but without industry certification the ability to earn credit for CIS 105: Computer Operating Systems I. The student must receive approval from the department to register for CIS 205: Computer Operating Systems II. A numerical grade of 3.0 or higher in CIS 205 is required for consideration of the vertical challenge credit for the bypassed course – CIS 105. There is currently a $75 flat fee to initiate this process and receive credit for the bypassed course. A request for a vertical course challenge must be received by the third week of the quarter in which the higher-level course is taken. Please contact the Prior Learning Coordinator for more info and to initiate the process.

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