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Credit for Prior Learning

Credit for Prior Learning Opportunities

Turn your work and life experience into college credits.

Student looking into a microscope

Oregon Coast Community College believes that college level learning takes place outside the traditional college class. Below are the approved opportunities that individuals can demonstrate college level learning and earn OCCC course credit. We believe that credit for prior learning saves students time, money, and recognizes college level learning from life experiences.

We recommend reviewing the courses required for a particular certificate or degree and noting which courses can be completed through one of the options listed below.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is best determined prior to your first term. Knowing what courses and credits you have earned from any of the options below assists you and your Success Coach to build a more accurate educational plan of your courses. CPL will be added to your academic transcript once validated. Only students admitted and enrolled are eligible to have transcripts available to be sent to other institutions or employers – you cannot obtain a transcript from OCCC that only contains CPL credit.

Unless noted below, official score reports, transcripts, or copies of certificates and licenses are to be submitted to the Registrar via email   along with the Request for Transfer or CPL (Credit for Prior Learning) Credit Evaluation form, electronic transcripts, official score reports, certifications, or licenses. If not available in electronic form, documents may be sent by snail mail to:

Registrar
Oregon Coast Community College
400 SE College Way
Newport, OR 97366

See Board Policy 4235, Administrative Procedures 4235 and 4236 for more information about Credit for Prior Learning at Oregon Coast Community College.

Credit by Exam: High School Students Only

Advanced Placement (AP) – these exams are offered by the College Board to students in identified high school courses. AP courses that prepare students for the exam are offered at most high schools.

International Baccalaureate (IB) – (Newport High School) – These exams are offered by the International Baccalaureate Organization in high schools where IB courses are taught.

Visit the OCCC Transcripts website to learn more about which exams and scores will earn which credits at OCCC and find information on how to request credit from OCCC.

How to submit your scores

Official score reports, transcripts, or copies of certificates and licenses are to be submitted to the Registrar via email   along with the Request for Transfer or CPL (Credit for Prior Learning) Credit Evaluation form, electronic transcripts, official score reports, certifications, or licenses. If not available in electronic form, documents may be sent by snail mail to:

Registrar
Oregon Coast Community College
400 SE College Way
Newport, OR 97366
 

All Prospective and Current Students: CLEP & DSST Tests

CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) 

Register to take your CLEP remotely, not at a test center. (Use this website to do so.) Don’t have a reliable computer, a quiet space to test, or dependable Internet access? You can reserve a study room and computer suitable for remote CLEP testing at the library on the Newport campus or at the College’s North County Center in Lincoln City.

Increase the possibility of earning credit by taking a FREE CLEP test preparation course in the subject area you are interested in from modernstates.org. Successfully complete the preparation course for a subject and earn a test voucher for the CLEP test fee.

Approved CLEP Tests

CLEP Subject ExamRequired ScoreOCCC CourseCredits
American Government50PS 2014
History of the US I: Ealry Colonization to 187750HST 2014
History of the US II: 1865 to the Present50HST 2034
History of the US I and II50 x2HST 201, 202, 20312
Introduction to Sociology50SOC 204, 2058
Principles of Macroeconomics60EC 2024
Principles of Microeconomics60EC 2014
Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 164850HST 1014
Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present50HST 1034
Western Civilization I and II50 x 2HST 101, 102, 10312
American Literature50ENG 2xx8
English Literature50ENG 2xx8
College Composition50WR 121z4
Calculus50MTH 2514
Calculus64MTH 251, 2528
College Mathematics50MTH 105z4
Precalculus50MTH 111z4
Precalculus61MTH 111z, 112z8
French Language: Levels 1 & 250FR 1xx12
French Language: Levels 1 & 260FR 2xx12
German Language: Levels 1 & 250GER 1xx12
German Language: Levels 1 & 260GER 2xx12
Spanish Language: Levels 1 & 250SPA 1xx12
Spanish Language: Levels 1 & 260SPA 2xx12

DSST (DANTES) Tests

DSST (DANTES) 

OCCC is an authorized DSST Test Center. You can register with DSST to take the exam at the Newport campus.

Active military, including Coast Guard, are not charged a test fee by DSST for the first attempt if valid ID is presented. See the DSST web site for more information on who is eligible and how to test for free.

Approved DSST Tests

ExamOCCC CourseCredits
Ethics in AmericaPHL 2024
Introduction to World ReligionsR 2104
Math for Liberal ArtsMTH 105Z4
Principles of StatisticsSTAT 2434
AstronomyGS 1074
Environmental ScienceESR 2004
Introduction to GeologyGS 1064
A History of the Vietnam WarHST 2xx4
Art of the Western WorldART 2xx4
General AnthropologyANT 1xx4
History of the Soviet UnionHST 2xx4
Introduction to GeographyGEO 1xx4
The Civil War and ReconstructionHST 2xx4

ALEKS – Math

ALEKS – Math

Select a Subscription. This is how long you will have to complete the ALEKS course, going at your own pace. Three (3) months is a typical term in which you would spend about 40-60 hours in a math course.

Create an account – you will create a new student account and Select “Higher Education Math” for the “Market” drop-down.

Select the Math Class you will pursue for credit: OCCC will grant credit for the following math classes:

ALEKS CourseALEKS Course NumberOCCC Course EquivalencyCredits Awarded
College AlgebraALEK-0003MTH 111Z4 credits
College Algebra w/ TrigonometryALEK-0004MTH 111Z & MTH 112Z8 credits
Intermediate AlgebraALEK-0002MTH 954 credits
PrecalculusALEK-0005MTH 111Z4 credits
Introduction to StatisticsALEK-0007STAT 243Z4 credits

Request that a transcript be sent to the Registrar at OCCC by completing this form from ACE. Fill in the blanks, save the form, then send it to support-admin@mheducation.com. Visit the ACE College Credit Recommendation Service for more information.

Contact ALEKS support number to help with any additional questions – (800) 258-2374.

GED + College Credit

GED® students who earn a 175 or higher on the GED® Math exam are eligible to receive credit for MTH 111z – College Algebra.

  1. Obtain your official transcript from GED.
  2. Apply for and be admitted to OCCC.
  3. Contact the Title II Specialist at 541-867-8535 to complete the request for math credits.

Credit for Certification/Licensure

Nursing & Allied Health

Medical Terminology (MP 111)
This course is a required pre-requisite for the nursing program. Individuals who have worked in the healthcare environment may have learned sufficient medical related terminology to successfully pass a challenge test for this course. Review the course description in the college catalog to understand the purpose of the course and content of the challenge exam. Contact the Nursing Department at 541-867-8548 to schedule a time to take the challenge test. (Have additional questions? Use our 24/7 form!)

HE 112: Standard First Aid and Emergency Care
Presentation of a valid certification for first aid and CPR will result in credit for this health course. Note that different programs will require specific certification based on the standards of their professional organizations.

All other programs that have HE 112 meeting a requirement accept the above and Red Cross certification.

Submit a copy of the certification card, front and back, along with the Request for Transfer or CPL (Credit for Prior Learning) Credit Evaluation form to the Registrar.

Early Childhood Education

ECE Step 7 Certification: ED 120, 232; ECE 121; HEC 201  

Early childhood employees pursuing the Early Childhood certificate can be granted credit for these four courses based on the training completed to have a Step 7 level certification. Review additional information on the ECE program website.

Submit valid CDA Step 7 certification to the Registrar.