Transfer of Credit Policy
Martinsburg College accepts transfer credits for enrollment into our programs. A maximum of three-fourths of the credits required may be awarded for transfer credit or a combination of transfer credit or equivalent credit (including challenge/test-out credits). As per accrediting agency requirements, the maximum amount of credit awarded for equivalent learning (including challenge/test out credits) may not exceed one-fourth of the credits required for a degree.
Martinsburg College provides a comprehensive review to evaluate and award credit for learning acquired through specialized military and civilian training and occupational experiences when applicable to a student’s program of study. We make every effort to provide our students with the maximum amount of credit for their previous education and training while adhering to the standards of good practice set forth by our accrediting agency. Military students may submit Joint Services Transcripts, Coast Guard College, and/or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcripts for evaluation. Martinsburg College recognizes and awards credit recommended for military experiences in the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services as applicable for the service member’s program. In addition to an institutional setting and courses/training offered by the military, other such programs recognized by the American Council on Education’s Center for Adult Learning and Education Credentials program will be considered for transfer credit. Credits may also be earned through examinations including the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Subject Standardized Testing (DSST), the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS), and Excelsior College Exams. In addition, Martinsburg College awards credit for widely accepted industry certifications that relate to a student’s program of study.
A maximum of three-fourths of the credits required may be awarded for transfer credit or a combination of transfer credit or equivalent credit (including challenge/test-out credits) into an associate’s degree program. As per accrediting agency requirements, the maximum amount of credit awarded for equivalent learning (including challenge/test out credits) may not exceed one-fourth of the credits required for a degree.
Martinsburg College provides a no-fee credit evaluation review prior to enrollment. Students may submit unofficial transcripts for the review but actual credit can only be awarded upon receipt of official transcripts. Tuition fees will be adjusted based on the amount of credits transferred into the program.
For more information for transfer of credit for military students, please contact Martinsburg College’s admissions department.
For credits earned at an institution, students must have earned a minimum of a passing grade for any course to be evaluated for transfer credit. The course must have been taken at a postsecondary institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or an accepted foreign equivalent that is listed in the International Handbook of Universities. The courses taken must meet the requirements of the specific program. Students may transfer credit earned at prior institutions in the areas of English, human communications (including, but not limited to foreign languages and speech), the arts and humanities, science or technology, mathematics, and social sciences to meet the General Education requirement. In the case of clock-hour programs, the transfer evaluation is based on the degree to which the coursework taken aligns to the course content in the course to which the transfer credit is being awarded. In addition to an institutional setting, courses offered by the military and other such programs recognized by the American Council on Education’s Center for Adult Learning and Education Credentials program will be considered for transfer credit. Credits may also be earned through examinations such as the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) Subject Standardized Testing (DSST), and widely accepted industry certifications. If a student wishes to have prior coursework evaluated, s/he must submit transcripts to the registrar/student services department at Martinsburg College. Transcripts from non-U.S. institutions must be evaluated by an appropriate third party and translated into English. The student will be notified within 10 days of the determination of the amount of credits that can be transferred. Students may appeal transfer of credit determinations by submitting a formal request to the Registrar’s office. Appeals will be responded to within 2 weeks of receipt of the appeal. There is currently no fee for the evaluation of transfer credit. After a determination has been made regarding the amount of transfer credit awarded, if the student wishes to enroll in the program, the courses required will be adjusted to reflect the number of credits awarded. Tuition will be reduced based on the number of credits awarded.
Martinsburg College does not currently charge any fees to students for the evaluation of transcripts for transfer of credit. Tuition fees will be adjusted based on the amount of credits transferred into the program.
If an applicant feels that s/he has not received the appropriate transfer credit, s/he may appeal the decision by submitting a written appeal, with supporting documentation, to the Registrar/Director of Student Services within ten business days of the decision. The Registrar will review the appeal and make a final decision within ten business days.
Any graduate student of Martinsburg College may request guidance from the student services department regarding transferring credits earned at Martinsburg College to another institution. The college provides official transcripts at no charge and will provide course descriptions/syllabi to students, if required, to assist in the transfer of credit. It should be noted that the acceptance of credits/coursework earned at Martinsburg College is determined by the receiving institution.