credit for prior learning

A college degree is awarded after you have completed all of the course requirements for the program in which you are matriculated. Traditionally, credit is received by completing college courses. Dutchess Community College recognizes that college-level learning may occur outside the traditional classroom setting.

DCC PROFICIENCY EXAMS

All students are eligible to receive credit for any course that is required in the curriculum by successfully passing a departmental proficiency examination. However, credit for successfully passing the examination will not be granted until a student is matriculated. Students may not receive credit for elective courses by proficiency examination.

Students who are interested in taking a proficiency examination should contact the appropriate department head for information regarding the format and the content of the examination and then pick up the Proficiency Exam application at the Registrar's Office.

A non-refundable fee of $45 is charged for each examination and is payable at the Student Accounts Office.

A receipt must be shown to the Registrar's Office in order to register for the examination.

After the student takes the proficiency exam, the Registrar sends it to the academic department head for grading. If the student passes the exam with an equivalent of a C, the department head submits to the Registrar’s Office a grade of “J” for the student on the form entitled Certification of Credit by Proficiency.

Students who take an examination for a course in which they are currently enrolled will be required to withdraw from the course if they successfully complete the examination. Students may not take a proficiency examination for a course that they have failed without special permission from the department involved. Students may repeat a proficiency examination only with approval from the appropriate department head.

The 2006-2007 test schedule is as follows:

STANDARDIZED EXAMS (CLEP, EXCELSIOR, DANTES)

The College Level Exam Program (CLEP), the Excelsior College Exam Program and DANTES offer college-level tests in a range of subjects which provide a means of testing knowledge acquired in a variety of ways.

CLEP

CLEP exams are offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) at test centers around the country including the Registrar's Office at DCC. The current test schedule is Thursday at 12 noon and 3:00pm by appointment. Please call 845-431-8099.

The exam fee for each CLEP exam as of July 1, 2006 is $60 plus a $10 service fee. Both fees must be paid at the time of the exam.

Dutchess Community College grants credit for CLEP exams as follows:

1. The student must be matriculated in a degree or certificate program at DCC and the exam must be equivalent to a course which is usable in the student's program.

2. The student must earn a score of 50 or better on the exam; this score is roughly equivalent to "C" level work in the actual course.

3. The credit earned will appear at the top of the student's DCC transcript with other transfer or advanced standing credits.

4. The maximum number of credits a student may use toward a DCC degree from all outside sources together is 40 credits.

5. CLEP credits may be used to meet the requirements for the 24 credit GED Program as described on page 11 in the 2005-2006 Dutchess Community College Catalog.

6. If the student took the CLEP exam(s) at a test site other than DCC, he/she must submit the exam scores to the DCC Registrar's Office on an official CLEP transcript by contacting the

CLEP Transcript Service
PO Box 6600
Princeton, NJ 05541-6000

Or
www.collegeboard.org

CLEP Examinations normally have the following course and credit equivalencies at Dutchess Community College.

EXCELSIOR

Excelsior exams are administered by the New York State Education Department. The exams are given at Prometric Centers (formerly Sylvan Learning Centers) around the nation including one in Wappingers Falls.

The Excelsior College website www.excelsior.edu provides a listing of the exams and credit recommendations. The site also explains how to obtain study guides for the exams.

Students considering Excelsior exams for credit at DCC should contact Associate Registrar Carl Marchese at 431-8097 to find out what exam is equivalent to a desired course at DCC. For more information contact:

Excelsior College,
7 Columbia Circle,
Albany, NY 12203-5159

DANTES

Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) are offered by the Registrar’s Office at DCC.

The exam fee for each Dantes Exam is $60 plus a $15 service fee.

Student information may be obtained through the DSST web site at www.GETCOLLEGECREDIT.com.

Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) normally have the following course and credit equivalencies at Dutchess Community College.