Graduate Sooner Than You May Think

If you've previously attended college, served in the military or have qualifying work experience, you may be able to leverage these experiences to receive credit toward your degree requirements at AIU.

Transfer Credit Guide

Students who have past credits they are looking to receive transfer credit for must submit unofficial transcripts for evaluation prior to beginning the first term of study. Our guide explains in more detail what the general policies are for evaluating and awarding credit.

Transfer of Credit from AIU to Other Colleges and Universities

AIU neither implies, nor guarantees, that credits earned, will be accepted by other institutions. Each campus has policies that govern the acceptance of credit from other institutions. Transfer of credit is a privilege granted by the institution to which a student may seek admission. Students seeking to transfer credits earned at AIU to other postsecondary institutions should contact the college or university to which they seek admission to inquire as to that institution’s policies on credit transfer and acceptance.

Transfer Policy

AIU students must submit official transcripts from previously attended post-secondary institutions. AIU students submitting transcripts from international institutions must have an official evaluation from an AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers), or from a NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centre), NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc.) or AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc.) approved evaluation service on file with the University. The deadline for official transcripts and/or evaluations is prior to the first day of the second quarter/term of study. Students’ initial degree plans or schedules may change upon the receipt of official transcripts and/or international credential evaluation(s). Students may be allowed to apply for transfer credits from external institutions after the first term of study at the discretion of the appropriate academic administrator. Once students are in the last session of their degree program, no PLA credit will be awarded. Students currently enrolled at AIU or reentry students must seek prior approval from the appropriate academic administrator should they enroll in a course with the intention to apply transfer credit.

Following are general policies for the evaluation and award of transfer credit at each AIU campus:

1. Earned degrees from accredited institutions with articulation agreements with AIU can be evaluated for block transfer.
2. All other official college and military transcripts are evaluated on a course-by-course basis in accordance with AIU policies.
3. Only undergraduate courses completed with a “C” (or equivalent) or above will be eligible for transfer credit at the undergraduate level. This assumes at least a 2.0 on a 4.0 grading scale.
4. Only courses representing freshman-level or higher collegiate, degree-applicable course work will be eligible for transfer credit which excludes pre college level or remedial level courses.
5. Comparable course-to-course transfer may be approved from accredited institutions based on demonstrated learning competencies consistent with AIU’s academic policies and standards in lieu of credit requirements.
6. Transfer credit from other institutions may not exceed 12 credits at the graduate level. Only graduate level courses completed with a “B” (or equivalent) or above will be eligible for transfer credit at the graduate level. This assumes at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale. Graduate applicants should contact the Prior Learning Office for institutional processes concerning the transfer of academic credit.
7. Students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs must complete a minimum of 25 percent of their degree program credits in residence in order to qualify for graduation from AIU. Courses that do not apply toward program requirements may not be used in the calculation for residency requirement of 25 percent of the total number of credits for the student’s program of study.
8. Notwithstanding the above policies and procedures, all transferred course credit is subject to review and approval by Academic Affairs.
9. Any degree plans or schedules are tentative pending the receipt of official transcripts.
10. Academic certificate programs have a transfer credit limit of two courses.

Transfer of College Credit and Prior Learning Assessment

Transfer of College Credit

Transfer credit may be awarded at AIU from any United States institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. AIU will review official evaluations of transcripts from international institutions (see International Transcripts policy). Courses under consideration from another university or college other than AIU must be relevant and considered substantially similar to the coursework at AIU before transfer credit will be approved.

Prior Learning Assessment

In addition to college credit earned at accredited postsecondary institutions, the following can also be evaluated for academic credit equivalency at AIU

• Experiential Learning
• Professional Training & Certifications
• Standardized Assessments/Examinations
• College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Examinations
• DANTES Subject Standardized Testing (DSST) Examinations
• Advanced Placement (AP) Examination
• Other recognized examinations may also be evaluated at the discretion of the University

Through AIU’s Prior Learning Assessment program, the University may award proficiency credit for learning that has taken place outside the traditional academic setting. This experience includes: employment, non-collegiate or school-based education, or other appropriate life experiences. It is important for students to understand that life and learning experiences alone are inadequate bases for the award of proficiency credit. To be eligible for proficiency credit, the outcomes of the non-collegiate learning experience must be documented, be applicable to the program of study, and be assessed as being similar to or meeting the requirements of learning gained through college level learning experiences. Students should contact the Prior Learning Assessment Department to request credit evaluations.

Academic Alliances

For more information on our alliances please visit www.aiuniv.edu/educational-alliances/academic.

Proficiency Credit Awards for Prior Learning

A proficiency (PR) grade is awarded for proficiency credit through prior learning assessment. The University neither implies, nor guarantees, that PR credits will be accepted by other institutions. Instead, PR credit demonstrates that students are proficient in the specific course requirement for the respective degree program of study.

Law Enforcement Advanced Standing Program

The Law Enforcement Advanced Standing Program (LEASP) allows law enforcement personnel who have successfully completed a state approved law enforcement academy or related training program the eligibility to receive up to 36 credits towards a criminal justice degree at AIU. All students entering through LEASP must provide the appropriate documentation and comply with all other guidelines and policies for enrollment. Appropriate documentation may include an official transcript, certificate, or an unofficial document that is verifiable with the issuing agency.

Military Transcripts and Credit

AIU may accept military credit for comparable courses or electives, including:

• Military Occupational Specialty (MOS)
• AU – ABC
• Military Training Course
• Service Colleges

AIU’s MOS Pledge program can help you receive maximum credit for your previous military training, which can save you time and money toward your degree¹. Students may automatically receive a certain number of credits based on their MOS level, plus any additional credits based on other qualifying experience.

AIU has partnered with the Community College of the Air Force to automatically accept credits from all CCAF graduates.

AIU uses the ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services as the basis for evaluating military training and experience. AIU may award credit for comparable courses or electives in a student’s degree program upon evaluation of an official military transcript.

Official military transcripts are the only acceptable documentation for Military training, MOS, MOS level, and Service School credit. A DD-214 is considered acceptable documentation for those who are retired from the military or whose service predates the military transcript systems. For a list of other acceptable military documents that can be evaluated for military students whose service predates the military transcript system go to: www.acenet.edu.

AIU will request the student’s official military transcript(s) at the time of acceptance. At the time of enrollment, students are asked to complete a Military Transcript Request Form to aid in the retrieval of outstanding transcripts without student involvement. Occasionally, additional assistance on the student’s behalf is essential to retrieve transcripts when the efforts of the University are not successful in the retrieval process. Official transcripts are required to be on file prior to the first day of the second quarter/term of study.

For additional assistance regarding your military transcript, please contact the following:

Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard

• Joint Services Transcript
• Visit the following website for information on how to request an official transcript: https://jst.doded.mil/smart/welcome.do*

Air Force

• Community College of the Air Force
• Visit the following website for information on how to request an official transcript: http://www.au.af.mil/au/ccaf/transcripts.asp

*You may need to create an exception for this website in your browser. To do so, follow the steps below based on the internet browser you are using:
Google Chrome: Click on “advanced” when the “Your connection is not private” message appears. Click on “proceed to xxx (unsafe)”
Firefox browser: On the warning page, click “Advanced”. Click “Add Exception”. When the Add Security Exception dialog appears, click “View”. The Certificate Dialog will appear.
Internet Explorer: When you see the “There is a problem with this website’s security certificate” page, click on “Continue to this website (not recommended)”

AIU is not responsible for the security of the JST website.

Experiential Learning Credit

AIU may award undergraduate course credits for experiential learning that has been acquired through employment, non-collegiate, school-based education, or other appropriate learning experiences in keeping with recommendations from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). Life and learning experiences alone, however, are inadequate bases for the award of experiential credit. In order for such learning to be considered for this credit award, it must:

• Relate specifically to undergraduate coursework required for the student’s enrolled program of study or appropriate elective areas
• Result in experientially attained and mastered competencies that are appropriately documented and substantially similar to the course outcomes that would be acquired in the comparable undergraduate AIU course
• Up to 22.5 credits in the overall degree program can be based on Experiential Learning.

Students who are interested in pursuing experiential learning options should first contact their advisor to determine eligibility. Once eligibility is determined, the advisor will work with the student to explain what the portfolio entails, discuss the potential credit award range, and provide resources and basic steps to get the student started and on how to submit the portfolio for assessment.

Professional Training/Certification Credit

Many adult learners have acquired formal training outside of credit-granting institutions, such as military training or company training with officially documented clock hours/continuing education units (CEUs). Many of these programs carry American Council on Education (ACE) recognition and credit recommendations and will be accepted according to AIU academic credit equivalency requirements. Other documented training measured in clock hours, CEUs, or other units may be evaluated for prior learning assessment credit awards based on appropriate credit conversions.

Students that have acquired formal training outside of the sponsorship of traditional credit granting institutions (including certificate training with officially documented clock hours or CEUs, or other company training) may be eligible for proficiency credit awards. If the training in question is documented, verifiable, and meets specified AIU course objectives, it may meet the requirements for an award of proficiency credit (designated by a grade of “PR”). Other clock hour or CEU programs and courses listed on an official institutional transcript may have a credit award based on appropriate credit conversions through the same internal review process.

If a student has already completed professional training/certification, they should submit documentation to the Registrar’s Office.

Standardized Assessments/Examinations

CLEP Examination

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a national program of credit by examination to obtain recognition of college-level achievement. AIU is a registered CLEP credit-granting institution. AIU awards proficiency credit for comparable coursework based on CLEP examination scores as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) for the respective course requirements. Students must submit an official CLEP score report or have one mailed to the University Registrar Department to be evaluated for this proficiency credit award.

See the AIU Student Handbook for more information on submission requirements for CLEP Examinations.

DSST Examination

DANTES Subject Standardized Testing (DSST) examinations provide another option for students to demonstrate competencies for learning in nontraditional ways. Originally designed for military servicemembers, DSST examinations are now available to both military and civilian learners. More information on study guides and examination options is available at getcollegecredit.

Proficiency credit is awarded for passing scores according to American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations for the respective course requirements. Students must submit a copy of an official DSST score report or have one mailed to the University Registrar Department to be evaluated for potential proficiency credit award. Students interested in pursuing DSST exams should work with their Advisor to determine which exam(s) would be in their best interest to pursue.

Advanced Placement Examination

Advanced Placement (AP) Examination provides students with the opportunity to complete college-level coursework while in high school and to learn valuable skills and study habits for college. If a student achieves a qualifying score of a 3 or higher on the respective AP Examination, proficiency credit may be awarded according to the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations for the respective course requirements. Students must submit a copy of an official AP score report or have one mailed to the University Registrar Department to be evaluated for this potential proficiency credit award.

International

International institutions must be licensed or officially recognized by the Education Department or Ministry of the country where the institution is in operation to be eligible for transfer of credit or degree status. AIU follows strict policies concerning academic integrity. Students with educational international credentials must submit authentic international academic documents from all upper-secondary and post-secondary educational institutions to AIU or an approved credential evaluation service

Evidence of valid international educational credentials can be from a University approved international credential evaluation agency. Additionally, credentials may be accepted in pre-approved circumstances with a written evaluation from a properly trained credential evaluator employed by the University. This is required for all transcripts, including transcripts from international secondary schools if provided and/or institutions of higher education, which may require a credential evaluation. The University Registrar Department will ultimately verify and/or certify the institution’s eligibility for transfer credit or degree equivalency. Several credential evaluation services are available to students. Acceptable evaluations may only come from evaluation services that are a member of NACES (National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc.), or AICE (Association of International Credential Evaluation Services, Inc.) or NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centre). AIU will consider evaluations and/or recommendations directly from AACRAO (American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers). AIU recommends the service of Educational Perspectives; however, the service remains the student’s choice. Students are responsible for all applicable fees.

AIU neither implies, nor guarantees, that credits earned will be accepted by other institutions. Transferability of credits is at the sole discretion of the receiving institution. Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the University catalog regarding AIU’s transfer credit policies. Students seeking to transfer credits earned at AIU to other postsecondary institutions should contact the college or university to which they seek admission to inquire as to that institution’s policies on credit transfer and acceptance.

¹Transfer credit is evaluated on an individual basis. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. Not all credits are eligible to transfer. See the University Catalog for transfer credit policies.
²AIU’s bachelor’s degree programs are designed as 48 month programs; however; many factors will impact your time to completion, including course loads, proficiency and/or transfer credits and breaks.