Home » About MHCC » Meet the Board of Education » Administrative Regulations » Alternative Ways to Earn College Credit/ Non-traditional Credit

Alternative Ways to Earn College Credit/ Non-traditional Credit

Alternative Ways to Earn College Credit/ Non-traditional Credit

The College provides a number of ways a student may earn credit toward a degree or certificate in addition to classroom experience. Those options include Challenge, CLEP (College Level Examination Program), CPL (Credit for Prior Learning), IB (International Baccalaureate Diploma Program) and APP (Advanced Placement Program).  A maximum of 45 nontraditional credits may be applied toward an MHCC degree.  The Admissions, Registration and Records Office can provide interested students with procedures for all of the following.

1. College Level Examination Program (CLEP):  MHCC is an official CLEP testing center.  Students enrolled at MHCC may receive credit for certain college courses by submitting official scores from CLEP.  CLEP credit is not given for general exams of English and Mathematics. Credit may be granted only after the student has earned 12 or more credit hours at MHCC.  Successful CLEP exams result in a grade and credit on the MHCCD permanent record identified as CLEP.

2. Challenge:  Students who believe they have the required knowledge and skills may request to challenge a course by petition or examination. Laboratory classes may only be challenged with approval of the Division Dean.  Challenge opportunities vary by academic area. Challenge results in a grade (Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory) and credit on the permanent record identified as “credit by challenge.”   Credit for challenge may be granted only after the student has earned 12 or more credit hours at MHCC.  A student may not drop or withdraw from a challenge.  Students cannot use financial aid dollars to pay fees associated with a course challenge.

3. Advanced Placement Program (APP):  High school seniors who participate in the College entrance examination board’s AP program may seek advanced placement in a variety of courses.   An entering freshman who has taken the APP tests should have the results sent to the Admissions, Registration and Records Office.  Advanced placement and/or college credit may be granted upon recommendation of the appropriate Division Dean.  Credit may be granted only after the student has earned 12 or more credit hours at MHCC.  Successful AP exams will result in a grade and credit on the MHCCD permanent record identified as APP.

4. Credit for Prior Learning:  (As applied to Apprenticeship Training AAS degree programs only)
   The Oregon State Bureau of Labor and Industry (BOLI) journeyperson’s card may be used in conjunction with transcripts to verify that a portion of the MHCC Associate of Applied Science degree requirements have been met for approved apprenticeship degrees.

Credit for trade or industrial experience and training will be granted upon completion and recommendation by the appropriate local Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC). College fees assessed at the time of application will be based on two conditions: 1) the number of credits recommended by the JATC; and 2) current college fee per college credit.