Advanced Standing: Credit for Prior Learning
Students may be awarded credit for prior educational experiences in which college-level learning may be verified through documentation or assessment.
A maximum of 45 credit hours may be transferred for any one associate degree, of which not more than 30 credits may have been earned through nontraditional or non-collegiate sources. A student may not use a credit-through-examination procedure, which includes challenge or competency examinations (such as Advanced Placement, College-Level Examination Program, International Baccalaureate, and Cambridge Assessment) and portfolio assessment for the purpose of improving a grade or removing a withdrawal or incomplete from the academic record. A 15-credit limit per degree exists for any combination of portfolio or challenge exams.
Prince George's Community College has created a database to assist students in understanding how their credit will transfer. Please note that this is a planning tool for students and advising and is not a guarantee of credit. Courses are added to this database regularly, so check back often.
Transfer Credit for Work at Other Colleges and Universities
Students who enroll at Prince George’s Community College after completing one or more semesters at another college or university may be eligible to receive credit toward their community college degree or certificate without regard to the age of the prior credits. Students in the nursing program are subject to certain limitations with regard to the age of prior credits, as outlined below. The following guidelines apply:
- Credit must be earned at an accredited college or university.
- The student must request an evaluation by completing the Request for Transfer Credit Evaluation form. This form may also be completed and submitted in Owl Link. The student must clearly indicate the program of study to which the incoming credits are to be applied and all institutions from which transcripts will be coming.
- The student must arrange to have official transcripts from United States colleges previously attended sent to the Office of Records and Registration. No evaluation of transfer credits will be done until official transcripts are received from each source from which credits are to be transferred. Transcripts should be emailed directly from the institution to transfercredit@pgcc.edu or mailed to Prince George’s Community College, Transfer Evaluator, 301 Largo Road, Largo, MD 20774.
- The student must submit a syllabus to transfercredit@pgcc.edu if they are attempting to receive credit for an internship or other experiential learning (such as research, capstone, or special project) completed at another institution.
- Credit is transferable if a passing grade is earned (and all other credit eligibility criteria are met), provided it is applicable to the student’s program of study at Prince George's Community College as per catalog requirements. However, the overall grade-point average for the courses transferred must be at least 2.00. Note: No grade below a C will transfer from any out-of-state institution when the student’s cumulative GPA at that institution was below a 2.00.
- Students petitioning for admission to one of Prince George’s Community College’s nursing programs must have completed all prerequisite science courses no more than ten years before petitioning.
- Courses that are ineligible for transfer credit at Prince George's Community College include, but are not limited to, developmental courses, ESL courses, English composition courses taken at a non-U.S. institution, and allied health and nursing courses. These courses are not subject to an appeal process.
The transcript evaluation process will begin once the Request for Transfer Credit Evaluation form is received, along with official copies of all transcripts from previous institutions and score reports for credit for prior learning examinations (such as Advanced Placement, College-Level Examination Program, International Baccalaureate, and Cambridge Assessment). If a student is attempting to receive credit for an internship or other experiential learning (such as research, capstone, or special project) completed at another institution, a syllabus must also be submitted before the transfer evaluation process begins.
Students can expect to receive a full transfer evaluation via email within 20 business days of submission of all documents listed above. Students can also access their Transfer Equivalency Report in Owl Link by clicking the Academics link (graduation cap) on the left-hand navigation panel, then clicking on Transfer Summary.
Prince George's Community College will honor waivers of required courses by the sending institution due to the student’s demonstrated proficiency. Still, an equal number of credits must be earned in other coursework in order to meet the published credit hour requirement for graduation in the student's chosen program.
International Transcript Evaluation
In addition to following the policies and processes noted above, students with credit from outside of the United States must arrange to have their official transcripts sent to an evaluation agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) for translation and credit recommendations. The College recommends that students use the World Education Services (WES) evaluation agency, but urges students to consider the transcript evaluation requirements of their desired four-year institution if they wish to transfer in the future when choosing an evaluation agency.
An official copy of the original transcript is required in order to award transfer credit. If it is not included with the transcript evaluation, it must be sent separately.
Once all official transcripts and the Request for Transfer Credit Evaluation form have been received, the evaluation process will begin. Please contact transfercredit@pgcc.edu for more information.
Transfer Evaluation Course Denial and Appeal Process
Transfer Course Denials
Transfer evaluators collaborate with faculty and use catalogs from other colleges, a state-wide shared list of equivalencies, and recommendations from entities such as The American Council on Education and the Joint Services transcript. In cases where no equivalency can be determined, course syllabi may be requested for additional review.
In the event that credit for a course from a Maryland public institution is denied, PGCC will collaborate with the sending institution to review the course and complete further analysis. The student does not need to take further action. After the analysis is conducted, the student will receive either an updated Transfer Equivalency Report or a notification that no changes were made to the initial review. This decision is considered to be final. When there is a denial of credit from a Maryland public institution, the entire process may take up to 80 business days (from the date that all materials outlined above are received).
When a transfer course from a Maryland public institution is denied, students will see a placeholder course of NT-0000 along with the reason for the denial in the grade field of the Transfer Equivalency Report. The following grade codes are used to indicate transfer course denial reasons:
NT1: Course is not applicable to the program of study.
NT2: Unique discipline or course.
NT3: Does not meet the minimum course objectives or hours for credit.
NT4: Developmental course.
NT5: Graduate-level course.
NT6: Institution not accredited.
NT7: Unsatisfactory grade for institution.
NT8: Unsatisfactory grade for program.
NT9: Course taken multiple times (may only receive credit for a course once).
N10: Student did not provide syllabus as requested.
Students should contact transfercredit@pgcc.edu if they have any questions about transfer course denials.
Appeal Process
Students who believe that a course has been unfairly evaluated by Prince George's Community College may follow these steps to appeal:
- Contact the Transfer Credit Evaluator for an explanation of the decision by emailing transfercredit@pgcc.edu.
- If the student is not satisfied with the explanation, they may contact the department responsible for the course's subject area and provide a course syllabus for a second evaluation.
- If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the department, submit a formal request in writing to the Transfer Credit Evaluator that contains the following: name, student ID number, an explanation of the steps taken already to appeal the previous decisions and why the student feels that credit should be awarded, course syllabus, and any other applicable supporting documentation. Upon receipt, the Transfer Credit Evaluator will send the request to the appropriate dean and, if necessary, the Executive Vice President and Provost for Teaching, Learning, and Student Success, or their designee. The decision of the Executive Vice President and Provost for Teaching, Learning, and Student Success, or their designee, is final.
Credit for Nontraditional Learning
Work and Military Experience
A maximum of 30 college credits may be awarded for various educational and training activities conducted by such non-collegiate organizations as the military, businesses, and government agencies. The College considers the credit recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE) and requires an ACE evaluation for all non-collegiate and nonmilitary credit documented on the Joint Services Transcript, but the final determination of the transferability of credit rests with the College.
For further information or assistance, email transfercredit@pgcc.edu.
Credit for Military Training
To receive credit for military training, students must complete the Request for Transfer Evaluation form and send an official Joint Services Transcript to the Office of Records and Registration.
Note: The Department of Veterans Affairs requires students receiving veterans' educational benefits to do this before the end of their second semester of attendance to avoid interruption of benefit payments.
Credit for Prior Learning Examinations (AP, CLEP, IB, and Cambridge Assessment)
Students may earn nontraditional credit through the Advanced Placement (AP), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Cambridge Assessment programs. Students who wish to have their AP, CLEP, IB, or Cambridge results evaluated for transfer credit should have official score reports sent directly to the College’s Office of Records and Registration and complete the Request for Transfer Credit Evaluation form.
The following tables explain how credit from these examinations will be articulated. However, the Office of Records and Registration will not award this credit until it receives the Request for Transfer Evaluation form and official score reports. Please email transfercredit@pgcc.edu if you have any questions.
Advanced Placement (AP) - minimum score of 3
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) - minimum score of 50
International Baccalaureate (IB) - minimum score of 4 (HL and SL)
Cambridge Assessment Program - minimum score of E (A-Level and AS-Level)
- Choose question
Challenge Examinations
Students who wish to earn college credit by demonstrating their prior mastery of the content of certain courses may participate in the College’s Challenge Examination Program. Challenge examinations are prepared and graded by college faculty members and administered by the Testing Center. If a passing score is obtained, credit is granted for the course, although no grade is assigned and the credit awarded is designated on the student’s transcript as having been earned by examination. A 15-credit limit per degree exists for portfolio and challenge exams. For further information, including a list of available examinations, contact the Testing Center by emailing testingcenter@pgcc.edu.
Prince George's County Career and Technical Education
Prince George’s Community College, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce, and Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation participate in a consortium designed to ensure that high school students acquire more rigorous academic and technical competencies. A coordinated sequence of courses prepares students for lifelong learning and provides a choice of career options including employment, advanced study at Prince George’s Community College, and transfer to four-year colleges and universities.
Students who have completed an approved Career and Technical Education program in high school may be eligible for credit at the College, provided they enroll within two years of graduation and enter a program directly related to the high school program.
Contact Information
Office of Records and Registration
301 Largo Rd.
Largo, MD 20774
Email: transfercredit@pgcc.edu
Start here if you have reviewed your application options and you're ready to apply.
Guidelines and protocols
have been updated for
the fall 2022 semester.