Prior Learning Assessment Fees
Maricopa Community Colleges do not charge any fees for the following PLA types:
- Transfer credit from nationally recognized institutions
- International coursework that has been officially evaluated by a foreign evaluator service (e.g., Educational Credential Evaluators)
- Standardized college-level exams (e.g., CLEP, AP, IB, DSST, CIE)
- GED exams
- Industry/corporate training
- Industry-recognized credentials
- Military transcripts
- ACE (American Council On Education) transcripts
- Credit received through organizations and companies that offer nationally recognized credit evaluated by ACE, NCCRS, etc. (e.g., STRAIGHTERLINE, NOCTI, STUDY.COM, etc.)
- Skill Center and clock hour transcripts
There is a $40 administration fee if transfer credit is awarded upon taking Departmental Challenge exams.
Institution Transfer Credit
Students who have attended other post-secondary institutions can have coursework evaluated for transfer credit. Coursework needs to have been completed at an institution that is accredited by a recognized accreditor at the time the coursework was completed. “Recognized” means that the accreditors have been reviewed by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), or both and meet the quality of standards of the respective organizations.
Equivalencies from several institutions are utilized by all of our campuses and can be viewed in the Transfer Evaluation System (TES). Although new equivalencies are added every day, you may not be able to locate all the courses you have completed. If you are unable to locate a specific equivalency or have questions about applicability, please consult with an Academic Advisor at your campus.
Processes for Evaluating Institution Transfer Credit
Maricopa Community Colleges have two different processes for evaluating transfer credit, based on the type of accreditation your institution had at the time you completed the coursework.
When you're ready to begin the process of having your transfer credit evaluated, follow the steps for your former institution below.
Regional Accrediting Organization
If your institution was accredited by a Regional Accrediting Organization, the evaluation will be coordinated by the evaluator on your campus once an official transcript has been received. You will receive an email when the official transcript has been received, and when your evaluation has been completed.
The turnaround time for these evaluations is typically six weeks from the time an evaluation is requested.
National Career Related, National Faith Related, Programmatic, or Institutional Accrediting Organization
If your institution was accredited by a National Career Related, National Faith Related, Programmatic, or Institutional Accrediting Organization, the evaluation will be coordinated by the evaluator on your campus and the Transfer Credit and Articulation Services Department at the Maricopa Community Colleges District Office. These evaluations are performed by Instructional Councils.
The turnaround time for these evaluations is typically six weeks from the time an evaluation is requested.
Evaluation Requirements
In order to perform an evaluation, you must first complete the evaluation request form for the college you wish to attend (listed below) and be able to provide official transcripts for prior coursework.
Coursework must appear on an official transcript from the source institutions and sent directly from that source institution to the Admissions and Records/Enrollment Services Department at the receiving institution. Please refer to our Transfer Credit Policy for additional information and conditions of transfer credit.
Note: Please meet with an Academic Advisor after your evaluation has been completed to discuss the applicability of your transfer credit.
Evaluation Process and Request Forms by College
Types of Prior Learning
Post Secondary coursework completed outside of the United States can be evaluated for possible transfer credit if the institution was accredited by the Ministry of Education in that country, and a course by course evaluation has been performed by a foreign evaluator service company.
In order to be considered for transfer credit, an official transcript of the evaluation performed must be sent directly from the foreign evaluator service company to your campus' Admissions and Records Department. Please contact your campus' Admissions and Records Department to obtain additional information.
Maricopa Community Colleges offers seven exam placement options to help you determine the right courses for you. Select an exam placement option in the table below to view the equivalency requirements.
Note: Before credit is awarded, scores must be sent directly to your campus' Admissions and Records Department from the corresponding exam placement testing company below.
- ACT Proficiency Examination Program
- Advanced Placement Credit
- Cambridge International Examinations, A and AS
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- DANTES or DSST (Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support Subject Standardized Test)
- GED Exams
- International Baccalaureate Diploma/Certificate
A limited number of our campuses offer one or more of the exams on-site. Please contact them directly for further information.
An Industry Recognized Credential can be defined as a certificate or license that documents an individual's qualifications or competence within an industry. These credentials are typically accepted by employers within the respective industry and support an individual’s ability to obtain employment in that industry.
The credit awarded is based on competencies demonstrated through the successful attainment of the credential, and the credential must be verifiable through a third party that has the authority to issue that credential. Please note that possible time constraints, your chosen program of study, and your current enrollment status may affect the evaluation.
Evaluation Process
A variety of professional certifications and industry credentials can be evaluated for college credit through our Credit by Evaluation process. The Credit by Evaluation Process utilizes a specific form that can be obtained from your campus' Admissions and Records Department. This form may need to be signed by faculty and administrators after verification of the credential is performed and other factors have been determined to be met that allow the credit to be awarded. The completed form will then be submitted to the Admissions and Records Department for processing.
Standard decisions have been made regarding specific industry credentials and do not need additional faculty or administrator approval in order to award credit. However, verification of the credential will still need to be performed by the Admissions and Records Department before processing.
Standard decisions are recorded in our Transfer Evaluation System (TES) under “Industry Recognized Credential.”
Educational experiences listed on a Joint Service Transcript can be evaluated for possible credit. We award credit based on ACE recommendations, which are posted on the ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services.
Please note that the number of credits recommended by ACE are recommendations only. A college is not required to grant a specific amount of credit. Also note that training must parallel a discipline area offered through our colleges and the credit must meet a program requirement or have the ability to be used as elective credit. Refer to our Transfer Credit Policy to view additional information and the conditions of transfer credit.
Standard decisions are recorded in our Transfer Evaluation System (TES) under “American Council on Education”. View our current equivalencies on the TES Public View.
Note: Coursework from the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) is listed in TES under “Community College of the Air Force.”
Students may apply for Departmental Credit by Examination in certain courses. Students must obtain the appropriate form from their campus' Admissions and Records Department, pay the required fee, and complete the examination and other requirements of the college.
Students may not:
- request to challenge a course a second time
- challenge a course while currently enrolled in the course
- establish credit in a previously completed course
- establish credit for a lower level of a course in which credit has been received
Refer to our Transfer Credit Policy for additional information (A.R. 2.2.4).
ACE evaluates training programs offered by businesses, industry, and government, and publishes its credit recommendations in The National Guide. If a student received training and/or completed coursework and exams that appear in this guide with credit recommendations, he or she can request an evaluation for possible college credit.
Maricopa Community Colleges Skill Centers
Gateway Community College offers clock hour career and technical training through our Skill Centers, located at their Central City, Deer Valley, Southwest Skill Center, and 18th Street campuses. These training programs are designed to offer students the skills necessary to quickly enter the workforce.
You may be able to apply the courses you successfully complete at the Skill Centers to an Associate Degree at one of the Maricopa Community Colleges. Information regarding our standard equivalencies for this coursework can be accessed in our Transfer Evaluation System, under “Gateway Community College” (Phoenix location). Please contact an advisor on your campus to discuss the applicability of this coursework.
Programs Outside Maricopa Community Colleges
Clock hour programs completed outside of the Maricopa Community Colleges may also be evaluated for credit on a case-by-case basis. Evaluations are typically approved by faculty or the program directors associated with the degree or program you would like to apply the coursework to.
Contact your campus' Admissions and Records Department for additional information about the process.