Non-Traditional Credit

Non-Traditional Credit

Local Credit By Examination

Accepted, degree- or certificate-seeking students may be awarded credit through locally developed comprehensive examinations on specific subjects. However, credit by examination is not available for all courses. Applications for and information on specific courses available through local credit by examination may be obtained from the departments or the local UAA Advising & Counseling Center. There is a fee for local credit by exam.

General criteria for local credit by examination include:

  • Courses with numbers below 100 may not be taken through credit by exam.
  • Only regular catalog courses may be challenged. Special topics courses, trial courses, independent study courses, and practicum courses may not be take through credit by exam.
  • When an appropriate exam exists, CLEP, DANTES, ACT-PEP, or other national examinations may be administered instead of a local examination (see National Examinations for details).
  • Determination of which courses may be taken through local credit by exam and construction of the examination is at the discretion of the appropriate department.
  • Local credit by exam is not awarded for a course that duplicates one for which credit has already been granted.
  • Students are awarded credit and a grade of P (Pass) if they successfully pass the local exam. If the exam is not passed, the courses is not recorded on the student's transcript. Grades for courses taken through local credit by examination do not carry grade points used in calculating student GPAs.
  • Credit awarded through local credit by examination is considered non-resident credit.
  • There is not a limit to the number of credits which may be acquired through the local credit by examination process.
  • Students have one (1) year from the date of application to take the local examination.
  • Students may not request local credit by exam for an audited course until the following academic year.
Language Credit by Placement

An accepted, degree-seeking UAA student who has completed in residence a Department of Languages UAA catalog course (A102-A302) with a grade of B or better is eligible to receive credit for the two immediately preceding courses, if any, up to a total of 8 credits. This policy does not apply to credits earned through the College Board Advanced Placement Examination Program, for Special Topics (_93), Independent Study (_97), Language Self Study (LANG prefix), or Department of Languages literature or culture courses. In order to receive credit, the student must complete the appropriate form from Enrollment Management and pay an administrative fee.

Certified Experience Credit

This program allows crediting of certified, by not accredited, institution-sponsored learning. With documentation, the University may award elective credit or specific course credit.

National/State/Local Certificates: Persons who have met certain standards and/or passed certain tests may be awarded academic credit. Credit agreements are currently in effect for the following:

  • Alaska Emergency Medical Services
  • Alaska State Trooper Academy
  • Anchorage Police Academy
  • Apprenticeships Technologies
  • Certified Professional Legal Secretary (CPLS) Examination
  • Certified Professional Secretary (CPS) Examination
  • Child Development Certificate
  • Federal Aviation Administration
  • Federal Wildland Fire Management Training Program
  • National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX)
  • National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Examination
  • U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training
  • U.S. Paramedic Licensure