Shannon Boren
Students looking to earn college credit without investing several hours in class each week may find Pierce’s Credit-by-Exam option to be their perfect solution.
Through April 21, students can petition to take an examination equivalent to a final and receive course credit for the same $26 per unit as a regular class.
It is an option for those that feel they already have the knowledge required to pass a particular course
It provides “a way to get credit without taking the class,” said Shelly Gerstel, the dean of admissions.
Gerstel estimated that less than one percent of Pierce’s students use the Credit-by-Exam option.
It may be due in part to the relatively small number of eligible courses.
There are approximately 20 disciplines that can be taken this way and most offer several courses.
A list of what is available, including popular classes such as Physical Science 1, English 101 and several computer science courses, can be found in the schedule of classes and the Pierce College catalog.
The numerous eligibility requirements may be another reason for the lack of students taking Credit-by-Exam courses.
To qualify, students must currently be registered in the college with a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.0.
They need to have completed 12 or more units within the Los Angeles Community College District and all prerequisites for that course must be finished.
In addition, students cannot use Credit-by-Exam for courses in which they have already earned a grade or for those that they are currently enrolled in.
There are “limitations in the amount of credit grades you can have in a subject your majoring in,” said Gerstel, so students should be careful in choosing which course to take.
They should also check if the units will be transferable to the college they plan to attend since not all of the courses will transfer.
Once a petition for Credit-by-Exam has been submitted the applicant will receive
notification by mail within 10 days informing them whether they qualify.
Unlike an actual course, the test will not give students a letter grade. Instead they will receive a mark of “credit” on their record if they pass and “no credit” if they don’t.
Credit-by-Exam petitions and information are in the Admissions and Records Office.