Alternative Ways to Earn Credit

As an adult learner, you want to earn your degree as quickly as you can. You may have taken courses at other institutions, or you may have extensive personal or professional experience. Can these apply toward your degree? Quite possibly! At the Champlain College Division of Continuing Professional Studies, we work with you to help you get the most out of your past experience.

Transfer credit evaluations

An unofficial transfer credit evaluation may be conducted free of charge at any time. Official transfer credit evaluations will be done for students after they have applied for and been accepted for admission to Champlain College.

All applicants with prior college credit must submit official (“raised seal”) copies of their college records. All previous college credit will be reviewed individually. A course taken at another institution may substitute for a required Champlain College course if the two courses are substantially similar, even though the course titles may differ. A student who transfers from another college may receive up to 30 of the required credit hours for an associate’s degree or up to 75 credits toward a bachelor’s degree—provided that the credit is transferred from an accredited institution, similar or elective courses are offered at Champlain College and the student has received a grade of C or better in that course.

Decisions of the Champlain College Division of Continuing Professional Studies Admissions Committee regarding credit awarded are based on criteria provided by the faculty in the related academic area of the College.

Credit hours for transferred courses are given full value, but grades are not transferred to the student’s permanent record at Champlain College and do not become a part of the cumulative quality point average (CQPA) at Champlain College.

The committee takes special care in cases of sequential courses to ensure that no student is under-prepared because of varying academic content in a prerequisite course. Technical courses taken many years ago may have to be repeated because of substantial changes in the field or emerging technologies.

A wide variety of academic courses may fulfill elective requirements. Fourth-year courses required for a major concentration, however, must be completed at Champlain College.

Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) A Levels and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes are all considered for advanced standing.

Finally, the number of credits that may transfer into a certificate program is 3, regardless of the length of the program.

Transferability of credits

Many institutions accept Champlain College credits. The decision to transfer a particular course credit is made by the receiving institution and NOT Champlain.

Community College of Vermont (CCV) transfer articulation agreement

Waivers or substitutions

Waivers or substitutions for specific courses may be authorized by the appropriate program director or the dean. We welcome requests for waivers and substitutions in cases where students have equivalent professional experience or lifelong learning. All waivers results in the course requirement being met, but credit is not awarded.

Challenge exams

Champlain College offers challenge examinations in Computer Applications, College Algebra and Financial Accounting, which can result in the waiver of a course requirement.

Credit for work/life experience

We respect that learning occurs through work and life experiences and that—sometimes—this learning can be applied toward degree programs. There are several options from which you can earn and transfer this credit to Champlain College. Contact one of our counselors for a free evaluation of your prior experiences.

Portfolio assessments

We will accept credit through prior learning assessment programs (typically portfolio assessments) from other accredited institutions.

External credentials

Professional certifications may provide evidence of sufficient content knowledge in a specific area to be considered for a waiver.

CLEP (and other nationally recognized exams)

Another option to garner alternative credits is to take college-level examinations through the College Board. These course credits, called CLEP tests, are accepted nationally and internationally and are recommended by the American Council on Education. CLEP is probably the best test-based option to “earn" college credit.

AARTS/SMARTS (for military personnel)

We will evaluate military transcripts for applicable transferable credit.

PONSI (The National Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction)

Through PONSI, you may be able to earn college credit for non-collegiate professional development or training. Champlain College will accept some PONSI credits in transfer.

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for a degree from Champlain College, you must complete the academic requirements of the degree and have at least a 2.0 GPA.

To be awarded a Champlain Associate’s degree you must complete a total of 60 credits (Accounting students, if you intend to sit for the CPA please speak to one of our counselors regarding the credit requirements of your state. We have several options available to meet the different state requirements.). You may transfer in up to 30 credits from a regionally accredited institution, at the discretion of Champlain College, but you must complete at least 30 credits at Champlain to be awarded an Associate’s degree.
To be awarded a Champlain Bachelor’s degree you must complete a total of 120 credits (Accounting students, if you intend to sit for the CPA please speak to one of our counselors regarding the credit requirements of your state. We have several options available to meet the different state requirements.) You may transfer in up to 75 credits from a regionally accredited institution, at the discretion of Champlain College, but you must earn at least 45 credits through Champlain College, including the fourth-year course requirements for the major or concentration, in order to be granted a Bachelor’s degree by Champlain.

Admissions contact information

Phone: (802) 865-5430
Toll-free: (888) 545-3459
Fax: (802) 865-6447
E-mail: cps@champlain.edu