FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
?
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
John L. Winn
Commissioner of Education
F. PHILIP HANDY,
Chairman
T. WILLARD FAIR,
Vice Chairman
Members
DONNA G. CALLAWAY
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
PHOEBE RAULERSON
KATHLEEN SHANAHAN
LINDA K. TAYLOR
August 21, 2006
M E M O R A N D U M
TO:
State University Admission Directors and Academic Advisors
Community College Admission Directors and Academic Advisors
District Superintendents and Guidance Supervisors
FROM:
Heather Sherry
SUBJECT:
Updated 2006 Credit-by-Exam Guidelines
rtment of Education to establish minimum scores as
well as course and credit equivalencies for Advanced Placement (AP), Advanced International Certificate
of Education (AICE), International Baccalaureate (IB), and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
exams. The DANTES/DSST and Excelsior College exam equivalents are not part of that requirement,
but are authorized by State Board of Education Rule/Board of Governors Regulation 6A-10.024. The
Commissioner of Education has assigned this responsibility to the Articulation Coordinating Committee
(ACC), with the State Board of Education and the Board of Governors providing final approval. The
ACC annually updates the Credit-by Exam Equivalency List and Guidelines.
In response to the frequent addition and updating of exams by publishers, the ACC conducted a more
extensive review in 2006. One-hundred eighty seven exams were reviewed by 106 Statewide Course
Numbering System (SCNS) faculty discipline committee members. Based on a careful review of exam
content, the committees recommended the minimum credit that institutions must award for passing scaled
Public community colleges and universities in Florida are required to award the minimum recommended
credit for AP, AICE, IB and CLEP exams as designated. Credit for the course number(s) listed must be
awarded unless it would be advantageous to the student to award a different specific course number with
equal credit that satisfies program prerequisites or other requirements.
HEATHER R. SHERRY, PH.D.
Director
Office of Articulation
325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 1401 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0427 • www.fldoe.org
State University Admission Directors and Academic Advisors
Community College Admission Directors and Academic Advisors
District Superintendents and Guidance Supervisors
Page Two
August 21, 2006
Transfer of credit for passing exam scores is guaranteed as long as the initial award of credit was made in
accordance with ACC guidelines (6A-10.024(7), FAC). Up to 45 total credit-by-exam credits may be
awarded.
The 2006 Credit-by-Exam Equivalencies were approved by the Board of Governors on August 10, 2006,
and the State Board of Education on August 15, 2006, and are effective immediately. The revised ACC
Credit-by-Exam Equivalency chart will be posted on FACTS.org, under Advising Manuals at this link,
http://www.facts.org. The following describes some of the 2006 changes and suggests some key advising
points.
Important Changes to the
2006 Credit-by-Exam Equivalents
Key Advising Points
1
. Institutions must use the course number
•
If no minimum credit is recommended for a
recommended, unless it is advantageous for the
student to be awarded an institution-specific
course number with equal credit that satisfies
program prerequisites or other requirements.
particular exam, award of credit is at the discretion
of the institution.
•
If no specific course number is listed, but a number
of credits are recommended, institutions must award
the recommended minimum number of credits and
apply an appropriate course number or no number.
•
Institutions may award more credit than the
minimum listed, but may not use additional course
numbers that will automatically transfer.
Institutions should carefully consider what is
required for students’ degree plans before awarding
additional credit.
•
For purposes of completing the requirements for
general education, Gordon Rule, or major
prerequisites, credit for specific course numbers
awarded by exam should be treated no differently
from credit earned from enrollment in the same
courses at the receiving institution.
•
Institutions may not award credit for scores below
those listed. More information about how passing
scaled scores are determined is provided by each
exam publisher at the web addresses provided in the
chart.
2
. The effective date for the award of credit
will apply to the date when scores are
•
If students have old scores, institutions may either
use the new minimum scores and course
submitted, rather than when exams were taken.
equivalents, or the institution’s policy in effect on
the date the exam was taken.
State University Admission Directors and Academic Advisors
Community College Admission Directors and Academic Advisors
District Superintendents and Guidance Supervisors
Page Three
August 21, 2006
Important Changes to the
Key Advising Points
2006 Credit-by-Exam Equivalents
3
. Credit awarded by exam may not duplicate
other credit.
•
A key advising point is to look carefully at the
equivalencies recommended for a passing score of 3
on the AP exams for English Language and
Composition and English Literature and
Composition. Students enrolled in both courses and
taking both exams should be clearly advised of the
risk of duplicating credit. Institutions are
encouraged to pay attention to the comments section
in the Guidelines, noting recommendations for
optional course numbers to avoid duplication.
4
. Foreign Language exams have been
integrated into the list of exams, rather than
listed at the end of the chart.
5.
New Advanced Placement exams include
•
Institutions are advised to consult the ACC
additional foreign languages.
Equivalency list on FACTS.org regularly as exam
publishers frequently add or delete examinations.
The equivalency list is revised annually, but updates
regarding new exams will be posted periodically if
needed.
6.
Cambridge AICE includes four new exams.
•
The passing scores have been collapsed to A-E.
•
AS level exams require students to complete one
year of high school study and A level exams require
two years of advanced extended study.
7.
CLEP includes the new Precalculus exam.
•
The passing scaled score for CLEP exams is 50.
This score does not apply to CLEP foreign language
exams.
8
. International Baccalaureate added four new
exams and the passing scores are represented by
scores of 4 and 5-7.
•
Pursuant to SBE Rule/BOG Regulation 6A-10.024,
credit for passing IB exams shall be equally
awarded to diploma and non-diploma holders.
9
. DANTES/DSST exams include 21 new
•
The passing scaled scores are noted in the chart.
exams.
10
. Excelsior exam credit is now awarded for
passing scaled scores rather than a letter grade.
If you have any questions regarding the updates to the 2006 ACC Credit-by-Exam Equivalency List,
please contact Dr. Pamela Kerouac in the Office of Articulation at Pamela.Kerouac@fldoe.org or at (850)
245-0427.
Best of luck as you begin another successful academic year!
HRS/pka
