Frequently Asked Questions & Answers (FAQs) for Students
NCCRS staff plans an academic evaluation with the organization and assembles a team of evaluators (three college faculty who teach similar courses). During the review, the evaluation team, supervised by an NCCRS staff member, reviews text books, syllabi, graded exams, homework assignments, grade rosters, student evaluation forms, and other appropriate instructional/programmatic materials that illuminate the scope of the learning experiences. The evaluation team determines if the learning experiences are comparable to similar college level courses and, if so, they make recommendations about the amount of credit that would be appropriate for a college to award as transfer credit.
The most common use of the credit recommendations is to obtain college credit, either by a college actually awarding credit or waiving a required or prerequisite course. Individuals have also used the credit recommendations to qualify for job advancement, obtain salary increases, meet educational requirements for professional licensure or certification, or obtain entry into new areas of employment.
Organizations whose learning experiences are conducted on a formal basis (in contrast to less structured on-the-job training) and do not lead to regionally accredited college degrees, may submit these experiences for evaluation. Students may not submit learning experiences for review. They may, however, encourage the organization to consider a possible evaluation by NCCRS and contact NCCRS with the name and address of the training director or other appropriate individual at the organization who sponsored the learning experiences. NCCRS staff may then contact the organization to review the evaluation process and make a preliminary determination regarding eligibility.
Contact the office within your organization that is responsible for administering formal learning experiences and ask for a list of courses that have been evaluated by NCCRS, the recommended number of credits, and the dates for which the credit recommendations apply. You can also check listings in CCRS Online for current member organizations or former member organizations. If you find learning experiences that you completed and you do not know who to contact, call (518) 486-2070 or email NCCRS (nccrs@nysed.gov) for assistance.
Official transcripts are issued directly from the NCCRS member organization that sponsored the courses or programs. Transcripts are sent directly to the registrar at the college where transfer credit is being considered. Many member organizations opt to send their transcripts through an NCCRS exclusive arrangement with Excelsior College. NOTE: Students who successfully complete a LearningCounts portfolio are issued a transcript through LearningCounts.
No. NCCRS credit recommendations are recommended credits and only result in actual college credit when a college or university awards credit toward a degree program and posts the credit on a student's record.
No. Academic institutions set their own policies regarding whether to award credit for learning experiences completed at other colleges and universities (or noncollegiate organizations). These policies vary among institutions. Some colleges may grant credit for successful completion of courses or programs sponsored by noncollegiate organizations; other colleges may not. Other colleges may not grant credit but may, instead, waive a prerequisite or a required course. Some policies are institution-wide; others are set by each academic unit or department. Students should check with the college they are interested in attending to determine its policies. Check the list of cooperating colleges here and contact the Registrar or Admissions Office.
Is there a limit to the amount of credit that colleges award for noncollegiate learning experiences?
Some colleges and universities don't have official policies limiting the number of credits which can be earned through transfer from other academic institutions or from noncollegiate organizations. Many other colleges report a maximum amount, usually 15 to 30 credits for a four-year degree program. Institutions may also limit the amount of credit granted toward any given subject area. Furthermore, institutions that do not have degree programs that complement the noncollegiate learning experiences may modify the amount of credit awarded or may even decline to award credit for the courses completed by students. Two-year colleges, while generally very willing to consider awarding credit for NCCRS evaluated learning experiences, usually have limited flexibility in awarding a large amount of transfer credit because many of their associate degree programs are very structured. When individuals seek credit for a large number of NCCRS evaluated learning experiences (or a large amount of credit), it is more likely that a four-year institution or a nontraditional college whose mission is to offer adult oriented, distance learning, or nonresidential degrees would have more latitude within their degree programs to award credit.
Colleges and universities do not always charge a fee to students; however, when a fee is charged, it is more likely an assessment fee rather than full tuition. Such fees are often charged to defray the costs of evaluating students' prior learning, which may include NCCRS evaluated learning experiences.
View a list of the names of cooperating colleges and universities. Inclusion on this list of cooperating colleges means that an institution has indicated a willingness to consider acceptance of transfer requests and may award the recommended credit. Requests for credit are typically evaluated on a case-by-case basis. As part of the decision-making process, college officials consider how the noncollegiate learning experiences might fit into individual students' degree programs. In some cases, transfer credit requests are accepted as electives.
In addition to the colleges and universities on the list of cooperating colleges, there are many others that may consider awarding credit through an individualized portfolio assessment of prior learning. NCCRS credit recommendations may become part of such portfolios. If a college is not listed, you should contact the Registrar, the Admissions Office, or the chairperson of the degree program you wish to enroll in for specific information on their transfer policies.
A college often asks for more information when they are not familiar with NCCRS or the college credit recommendation service. If questions arise, you should contact NCCRS and we will contact the college to explain the college credit recommendation procedures. You may also suggest that the college official visit the NCCRS website. Use this form to request NCCRS assistance.
Yes, some institutions may evaluate potential students' prior knowledge by means of an individualized assessment of prior learning (PLA) or through examinations either developed by the college or those administered by nationwide proficiency examination programs (CLEP, etc.). Contact the admissions office at the college of your choice or go to LearningCounts to find out how to get possible credit for your prior learning and work experience.
Certainly, your college choice depends in part on what degree program you are interested in pursuing and whether a particular college offers that degree program. Other considerations might be the costs of attending and whether the college offers part-time degree studies, evening courses, minimal or no residency requirements, special academic counseling and information services, and awarding credit for previous learning off-campus, including learning experiences recommended for credit by NCCRS. For information on colleges willing to consider awarding credit based on NCCRS credit recommendations, see our list of cooperating colleges.
