Prior Learning Assessment

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Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Do you have documentable knowledge through work or training experiences?  Did you take college courses from a trade school, career college or has your college closed?

If you answered yes to either of the above questions, you may be able to earn credits through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).  PLA is documented learning gained outside the college classroom according to the American Council on Education (ACE).

Students can benefit from PLA by:

• Saving time to degree completion; and
• Saving money.  Courses obtained through prior learning assessment will reduce the total number of required courses needed for degree completion, which in turn, saves money.

Below are the types of Prior Learning Credit Horry-Georgetown Technical College awards to students who meet the qualifications:

Exemption Credit

• Credit obtained based on courses approved through an articulation agreement where the courses are not taught at HGTC, but the credit earned is approved through non regional accreditation.
• To obtain exemption credit, please see the Department Chair which oversees your major.  Your advisor can direct you to the correct Department Chair.
• Policy 8.5.3

Experiential Credit

• Credit obtained based on documentation verifying professional licensure, certification and/or experience which equates to an HGTC course.
• To obtain exemption credit, please see the Department Chair which oversees your major.  Your advisor can direct you to the correct Department Chair.
• Policy 8.5.3

HGTC Credit By Proficiency

• Credit obtained by earning a passing score after taking an HGTC exam.
• To obtain Credit by Proficiency, please contact the instructor listed on the Credit by Proficiency Exam Form to schedule your exam.
• Credit by Proficiency Exam Form
• Policy 8.5.4

External Credit By Proficiency

• Advanced Placement (AP) Credit are credits earned while achieving a high enough score on the AP exam in high school. To obtain AP credit, you must request your transcripts to be sent from the CollegeBoard.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit are credits earned while achieving a high enough score on the IB exam in high school. To obtain IB credit, you must request your transcripts from www.ibo.org.
• CLEP Exam Credit is credit earned by taking an exam sponsored by the CollegeBoard. The score on the exam must meet the standards set by the college in order for credit to be earned. To obtain CLEP credit, you must have your transcripts sent from the CollegeBoard.
• Technical Advanced Placement (TAP) Credit is credit earned for specific high school courses through an articulation agreement. To earn TAP credit, you must submit the completed TAP form signed by your high school to the Registrar’s Office on the Conway Campus.
• ACT WorkKeys are credits earned through the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate. Students who earn a Silver (“4”) on the Applied Math will earn credit for MAT 155. Students who earn a Silver (“4”) on the Workplace Documents will earn credit for MAT 155. To obtain credit, you must request the National Career Readiness Certificate to be sent.

For questions concerning Prior Learning Assessment, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@hgtc.edu or 843-349-5196.