Acceptance of Academic Credit

College credit may be awarded up to a maximum of 75% of the applicable program requirements if appropriate conditions are met by transfer credit, Credit by Examination, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test scores, Regional Articulation for Career Education (R.A.C.E.) courses, Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), or professional certifications. Contact the Student Services Division for details.

Advanced Placement Courses

Blue Ridge Community College academic credit may be awarded to enrolled students who receive scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP tests offered by the College Board. AP credit accepted at other postsecondary institutions is not automatically transferred to Blue Ridge Community College but is reviewed when scores are received.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Blue Ridge Community College credit may be granted to students who have satisfactorily passed certain CLEP tests. Credit may be considered only for those courses which have been approved by the various divisions and/or programs of the College. A listing of CLEP equivalencies is available from the Student Services Division or on the Blue Ridge Community College Website at blueridge.edu.

Regional Articulation for Career Education (R.A.C.E.)

Blue Ridge Community College will grant advanced placement credit to high school graduates for successful completion of certain high school courses. This credit expires two years after the student graduates from high school. The requirements for each course include:

  • The student must obtain a grade of “B” or higher in the course.
  • The student must obtain a score of 93 or higher on the standardized CTE post-assessment. The student must complete all application procedures and enroll in a member institution of the NCCCS authorized to offer the applicable college courses within two years of their high school graduation.
  • The student must notify (with the method established by the community college) the appropriate admissions officer of his/her qualifications for college credit under this agreement.
  • The student must receive a teacher recommendation for the completed course.

Blue Ridge Community College programs eligible for advanced placement credit include Automotive Systems Technology, Business Administration, Information Systems, Office Administration, Cosmetology, Early Childhood, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Electronics Engineering Technology, Horticulture Technology, Computer-Integrated Machining, and Welding Technology.

For information about specific courses, contact the Blue Ridge Community College Registrar or high school counselor.

Reverse Transfer

In accordance with the UNC General Administration and the North Carolina Community College System policies, reverse transfer of credit for students who transfer before completing a credential at the community college will be supported. Students will be able to “transfer back” credits completed at the university that fulfill the AA/AS requirements, so that Blue Ridge Community College may award an associate degree. The Registrar’s Office follows NCCCS Policies and Procedures entitled “Credit When It’s Due/Reverse Transfer Process” when implementing this procedure.

Transfer Credit

Coursework transferred or accepted for credit toward an undergraduate degree must represent collegiate coursework relevant to the degree, with course content and level of instruction resulting in student competencies at least equivalent to those of students enrolled in a Blue Ridge Community College degree program. This work must be documented by an official transcript and must meet the minimum Blue Ridge academic standards of a grade of “C” or better. In assessing and documenting equivalent learning and qualified faculty, Blue Ridge Community College uses recognized guides that aid in the evaluation for credit. Such guides include those published by the American Council on Education, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, and the National Association of Foreign Student Affairs. Coursework transferred or accepted for credit toward the Degrees and Diplomas which are part of the College Transfer program is governed by the North Carolina Comprehensive Articulation Agreement. Students wishing to use credit from foreign institutions for transfer may, at the discretion of the College, be required to provide a foreign credential evaluation from a nationally recognized service such as “World Education Services.” For further information, contact the Student Services Division.

Continuing Education (CE) to Curriculum (CU) Transfer Credit

Continuing Education coursework from Blue Ridge Community College only and related to curriculum instruction may be transferred or accepted for credit towards curriculum courses in specific programs. Students must have earned a minimum letter grade of a “C”, passed the final assessment with a proficiency of 70% or better, or successfully passed the applicable credentialing exam. The appropriate Dean for each division will approve continuing education course material prior to the official granting of curriculum credit and the “Continuing Education to Curriculum Articulation Form” will be completed based on approval from the Dean that all appropriate learning outcomes have been met. A handout outlining the specific continuing education to curriculum course equivalencies is available in Student Services. In order to meet the requirements of a Curriculum credential, the minimum number of credit hours that must be completed in curriculum at Blue Ridge Community College is 25% of a certificate, diploma, or degree. Students are not allowed to receive CU credit for a CE course taken while currently enrolled in or after they have received credit for a CU course in the same certificate, diploma, or degree.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)

The College follows procedures consistent with the State Board code. Blue Ridge is authorized to award CPL using the following prior learning methods:

  • Apprenticeship
  • Certifications and licensures
  • Courses listed in high school to community college articulation agreements
  • Military education and training
  • Standardized examinations
  • Challenge exams/proficiency
  • Portfolio assessment
  • Public Safety Training (PST) prefix courses

CPL may be used to fulfill program requirements except for mandatory institutional requirements. Examples may include but are not limited to, requirements of external agencies that specifically prohibit the use of CPL to fulfill the program requirements

No more than seventy-five percent (75%) of the credit hours required for graduation from a curriculum program of study may be earned through CPL.

To be eligible to receive CPL, students must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Meet all admission requirements for their program of study.
  2. Be enrolled in a curriculum program to which the credit will directly apply; and
  3. Request a prior learning assessment consistent with the college’s CPL procedures and provide all documentation by the published deadlines.
  4. The student may request credit for prior learning by submitting the Request for Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) form with the appropriate Academic Dean or Chair. Additional documentation supporting the credentials previously earned, apprenticeships, certifications and licensures, military credit, etc., will be required in order to submit the Request for CPL form.

Industry Recognized Credentials

Blue Ridge Community College may award Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) for successful completion of industry-recognized credentials consistent with the CPL standards approved by the state Curriculum Course Review Committee (CCRC). Blue Ridge Community College may award CPL for industry-recognized credentials for which statewide articulations have not been established by CCRC.

Professional Certifications

Blue Ridge Community College currently recognizes the following:

  • Automotive Service Excellence certification (A.S.E.) and awards credit in the Automotive Systems Technology curriculum program;
  • Basic Law Enforcement Training certification and awards credit in the Criminal Justice Technology curriculum program;
  • Emergency Medical Technology certification and awards credit in the Emergency Medical Science curriculum program; and
  • Firefighter certification and awards credit for the Fire Protection Technology curriculum program.
  • Courses in the Combined Course Library with Public Safety Training (PST) prefix can be used for awarding prior-learning credit for industry-recognized public safety training and/or credentials.

A document outlining specific course credit for certification levels is available in Student Services.

Request Credit for Prior Learning

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Request Review for Credit for Prior Learning

View Credit for Prior Learning Opportunities

Business & Service Careers

  • Accounting
  • Business
  • Information Technology
  • Office Administration
  • Medical Office

Advanced Technologies

  • Automotive
  • Engineering
  • Machining

Public Safety

  • Fire Protection Technology
  • Criminal Justice
  • EMS
  • Public Safety Administration

Allied Health

  • Nurse Aide

Military

Work Credit

  • Work Credits under Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) are determined on a case-by-case basis. Please submit the above “Request Review for Credit for Prior Learning” form along with your supporting documentation so that the appropriate Dean may review your request.