Credit for Prior Learning

Advanced Placement Test Policy 2023-2024

Advanced Placement courses are offered in high schools and allow high school students to take a national, standardized test at the end of the course to earn college credit.

If you took an advanced placement course and passed a College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exam with a minimum score of three (3) in a subject matter, you can:

Request your official AP test scores to be sent to your SMCCCD college.

NOTE : If you have submitted your scores to another institution outside our district, you will need to submit your scores again to SMCCCD.

Upon receipt of your official AP scores, we will determine course/unit equivalencies according to the SMCCCD Advanced Placement Credit equivalency guide, and post coursework and units to your SMCCCD transcripts. You should meet with a counselor upon notification to determine if you wish to accept, decline or appeal the Advanced Placement course equivalency.

The following chart outlines the application of credit for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) towards each SMCCCD College’s Coursework, Associate Degree General Education (GE) requirements, California State University General Education (CSU GE) Breadth Certification, and Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) Certification.

If your SMCCCD college does not offer a course similar in content to an AP exam, the college will award credit for the General Education area shown on the SMCCCD AP equivalency guide below. If there is no General Education area that aligns to the AP exam, the College may award elective credit. 

Please note: 

  • Grades and Grade Points will not be assigned to AP credit.
  • The catalog year of the Advanced Placement Test Policy at the time in which the exam was taken, will be applied when determining credit earned. 
  • If you have any questions regarding Math and English placement or Advanced Placement (AP) credit please contact your counselor.
  • If you plan to transfer to another institution, please be aware that every college/university has its own policies regarding Credit for Prior Learning. What was accepted at SMCCCD may not be accepted at another institution. Please consult your intended transfer institution. 

All units listed are semester units.

SMCCCD AP Credit Equivalency Guide

Advanced Placement Test Score of 3, 4, or 5

SMCCCD Course Equivalent

SMCCCD Associate Degree GE Area (3 semester units unless otherwise indicated)

CSU Credit Units (Units not applied at SMCCCD)

CSU GE Breadth Area (3 semester units unless otherwise indicated)

IGETC Area (3 semester units unless otherwise indicated)

UC Credit Units (Units not applied at SMCCCD)

Art History 

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C1 or C2

CSM: E5C

6

C1 or C2

3A or 3B 

5.3 

Biology 

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: B2 and B3 (4 units)

CSM: E5A (4 Units)

6

B2 and B3 (4 units)

5B and 5C (4 units)

5.3 

Calculus AB 

Math 251 (4 or 5) Math 241 (3)

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency (5 Units)

CSM: C1 and EC2 (5 Units)

3 (1)

B4

2

2.6 (2)

Calculus BC 

Math 251 and 252 (4 or 5), see AB subscore for (3)

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency (5 Units)

CSM: C1 and EC2 (5 Units)

6 (1)

B4

2

5.3 (2)

Calculus BC / AB Subscore  (3)

If BC score (1,2, or 3) then use AB subscore same as AB test

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency (5 Units)

CSM: C1 and EC2 (5 Units)

3 (1)

B4

2

2.6 (2)

Chemistry 

CHEM 192 (Score: 3,4)

CHEM 210 (Score: 5)

Skyline & Cañada: B1 and B3 

CSM: E5A 

AA/AS Units:  CHEM 210 (5 Units), CHEM 192 (4 Units)

6

B1 and B3 (4 units)

5A and 5C (4 units)

5.3 

Chinese Language and Culture

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

6

C2

3B and 6A

5.3 

Comparative Government and Politics

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

3

D

4

2.6

Computer Science A 

N/A

N/A

3 (1)

N/A

N/A

5.3 

Computer Science Principles 

N/A

Skyline: A3

Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency

CSM: C1 and E2C

6 (1)

B4

N/A

5.3 

English Language and Composition

ENGL 100

Skyline: A2 Meets the Writing/ Reading Competency

Cañada: A2 Meets the English & Reading Competency

CSM: C2 and E2A

A2

1A

5.3 (4)

English Literature and Composition 

ENGL 110

Skyline: A2 and C2 Meets Writing/Reading Competency (6 units)

Cañada: A2 and C2 Meets the English and Reading Competency (6 Units)

CSM: C2 and E2A and E5C (6 Units)

A2 and C2 (6 units)

1A or 3B 

5.3 (4)

Environmental Science

ENVS 100 & ENVS 101 (Skyline & CSM Only)

Skyline & Cañada: B1and B3 (4 units)

CSM: E5A (4 Units)

B1 and B3 (4 units)

5A and 5C (3 units only, so additional 4 units is needed)

2.6 

European History 

HIST 101

Skyline & Cañada: C2 or D

CSM: E5B or E5C

C2 or D

3B or 4 

5.3 

French Language and Culture

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

C2

3B and 6A

5.3 

German Language and Culture

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

C2

3B and 6A

5.3 

Human Geography

GEOG 110 

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

D

4

2.6 

Italian Language and Culture

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

C2

3B and 6A

5.3 

Japanese Language and Culture

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

C2

3B and 6A

5.3 

Latin

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

C2

3B and 6A

5.3 

Macroeconomics

ECON 100

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

D

4

2.6 

Microeconomics

ECON 102

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

D

4

2.6 

Physics 1 

PHYS 210

Skyline & Cañada: B1 and B3 (4 units)

CSM: E5A (4 units)

4 (5)

B1 and B3 (4 units)

5A and 5C
(4 units)

5.3 (6)

Physics 2 

PHYS 220

Skyline & Cañada: B1 and B3 (4 units)

CSM: E5A (4 units)

4 (5)

B1 and B3 (4 units)

5A and 5C
(4 units)

5.3 (6)

Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 

PHYS 260

Skyline & Cañada: B1 and B3 (4 units)

CSM: E5A (4 units)

4 (5)

B1 and B3 (4 units)

5A and 5C
(3 units)

2.6 (6)

Physics C: Mechanics 

PHYS 250

Skyline & Cañada: B1 and B3 (4 units)

CSM: E5A (4 units)

4 (5)

B1 and B3 (4 units)

5A and 5C
(3 units)

2.6 (6)

Psychology

PSYC 100

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

D

4

2.6 

Seminar

N/A

0

N/A

N/A

N/A

Spanish Language and Culture

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

C2

3B and 6A

5.3 

Spanish Literature and Culture

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

C2

3B and 6A

5.3 

Statistics

MATH 200

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency (4 Units)

CSM: C1 and E2C (4 Units)

B4

2A

2.6 

Studio Art: 2D Design

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

5.3 (7)

Studio Art: 3D Design

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

5.3 (7)

Studio Art: Drawing

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

5.3 (7)

U.S. Government and Politics

N/A

Skyline: D and US-2 

Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

D and US-2

4

5.3

U.S. History 

HIST 201

Skyline: C2 or D & US-1

Cañada: C2 or D

CSM: E5B or E5C

C2 or D and US-1

3B or 4 

5.3 

World History: Modern

HIST  106

Skyline & Cañada: C2 or D

CSM: E5B or E5C

C2 or D

3B or 4 

5.3 

(1) Maximum Credit: If a student passes more than one AP exam in Calculus or Computer Science, only one examination may be applied to the baccalaureate for CSU.

(2) Maximum Credit: 5.3 semester units for both MATH AB and BC Exams; 2.7 semester units for both AB and the AB Subscore for UC

(3) Students who take the BC exam and earn a subscore of 3 or higher on the AB portion will receive credit for the AB exam, even if they do not receive a score of 3 or higher on the BC exam for UC. 

(4) Maximum Credit: 5.3 semester units for both English Language and Composition and English Literature and Composition exams for UC

(5) Maximum Credit: 4 semester units toward GE and 6 semester units toward transfer for all Physics exams passed for CSU.

(6) Maximum Credit: 5.3 semester units for all Physics exams for UC.

(7) Maximum Credit: 5.3 semester units for all Studio Art exams for UC.


International Baccalaureate (IB) Credit Policy 2023-2024

The International Baccalaureate (IB) exam assesses student work and measures students’ academic, intercultural and basic skills.

Credit may be earned for the International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations with scores of 4 or higher.

A score of 5, 6, or 7 on Higher Level exams is required to grade credit for IGETC certification

If you took an IB exam and received a a minimum score of 4 or higher in a subject matter, you can:

Request your official IB Score Reports to be sent to your SMCCCD college.

NOTE: If you have submitted your scores to another institution outside our district, you will need to submit your scores again to SMCCCD

Upon receipt of your official IB scores, course/unit equivalencies will be determined according to the SMCCCD IB Credit equivalency guide, and post coursework and units to your SMCCCD transcripts. You should meet with a counselor upon notification to determine if you wish to accept, decline or appeal the IB course equivalency.

The following chart outlines the application of credit for International Baccalaureate (IB) towards each SMCCCD College’s Coursework, Associate Degree General Education (GE) requirements, California State University General Education (CSU GE) Breadth Certification, and Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) Certification.

If your SMCCCD college does not offer a course similar in content to an IB exam, the college will award credit in the General Education area shown on the California Community College General Education IB List. If there is no General Education area that aligns to the IB exam, the College may award elective credit.

Please note: 

  • Grades and Grade Points will not be assigned to IB Credit.
  • The catalog year of the International Baccalaureate Credit Policy at the time in which the exam was taken, will be applied when determining credit earned.
  • An acceptable IB scores for IGETC equates to either 3 semester or 4 quarter units for certification purposes.
  • Students who have earned credit from an IB exam should not take a comparable college course because transfer credit will not be granted for both.
  • If you have any questions regarding Math and English placement or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit please contact your counselor.
  • If you plan to transfer to another institution, please be aware that every college/university has their own policies about Credit for Prior Learning. What was accepted at SMCCCD may not be accepted at another institution. Please consult your intended transfer institution.

All units listed are semester units.


SMCCCD IB Credit Equivalency Guide

IB Examination HL

SMCCCD Course Equivalent 

SMCCCD Associate Degree GE Area (3 semester units with a minimum score of 5, unless otherwise indicated)

CSU Credit Units (A minimum score of 5, unless otherwise indicated) (Units not applied at SMCCCD)

CSU GE Breadth Area (3 semester units with a minimum score of 5, unless otherwise indicated)

IGETC Area (3 semester units with a minimum score of 5)

UC Credit Units (Units not applied at SMCCCD)

Biology 

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: B2 and B3 (4 units)

CSM: E5A (4 units)

6

B2

5B 

5.3

Chemistry 

CHEM 192 (score: 5,6) CHEM 210 (score: 7)

Skyline & Cañada: B1 and B3

CSM: E5A


AA/AS Units: CHEM 210 (5 units), CHEM 192 (4 units)

6

B1

5A

5.3

Economics

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

6

D

4

5.3

Geography 

GEOG 100

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

6

D

4

5.3

History (any Region) 

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C2 or D

CSM: E5B or E5C

6

C2 or D

3B or 4 

5.3

Language A Literature (Any Language)

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C2 (Minimum Score of 4)

CSM: E5C (Minimum Score of 4)

6 (Minimum Score of 4)

C2 (Minimum Score of 4)

3B (1)

5.3

Language A Language and Literature (Any Language)

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C2 (Minimum Score of 4)

CSM: E5C (Minimum Score of 4)

6 (Minimum Score of 4) 

C2 (Minimum Score of 4)

N/A

5.3

Language B (any language)  

N/A

N/A

6 (Minimum Score 4)

N/A

6A

5.3

Mathematics

MATH 251

Skyline & Cañada: A3 (Minimum Score of 4) Meets Math Competency Requirement (5 units)

CSM: C1 and E2C (Minimum Score of 4) (5 units)

6

B4 (Minimum Score of 4)

2

5.3

Physics

PHYS 210, PHYS 220

Skyline & Cañada: B1 (4 units)

CSM: E5A (4 units)

6

B1

5A

5.3

Psychology 

PSYC 100

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5C

3

D

4

5.3

Theatre

N/A

Skyline & Cañada: C1 (Minimum Score of 4)

CSM: E5C (Minimum Score of 4)

6

C1 (Minimum Score of 4)

3A

5.3

(1) Students earn IGETC area 3B and 6A if they pass IB Language A Literature or Language A Language and Literature with any language except English.


College Level Examination Program (CLEP) 2023-2024

CLEP Exams are offered by the College Board to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in academic subjects through a national, standardized exam.

If you received a score of at least 50 on a CLEP exam, you can:

Request your official CLEP scores to be sent from “My CLEP Account” on the College Board website to your SMCCCD college.

NOTE: If you have submitted your scores to another institution outside our district, you will need to submit your scores again to SMCCCD.

Upon receipt of your official CLEP scores, we will determine course/unit equivalencies according to the SMCCCD CLEP Credit equivalency guide, and post coursework and units to your SMCCCD transcripts. You should meet with a counselor upon notification to determine if you wish to accept, decline or appeal the CLEP course equivalency.

The following chart outlines the application of credit for College Level Examination Program (CLEP) towards each SMCCCD College’s Coursework, Associate Degree General Education (GE) requirements, California State University General Education (GE) Breadth Certification.

If your SMCCCD college does not offer a course similar in content to an CLEP exam, the college will award credit in the General Education area shown on the California Community College General Education CLEP List. If there is no General Education area that aligns the CLEP exam, the College may award elective credit. 

Please note: 

  • Grades and Grade Points will not be assigned to CLEP Credit.
  • The catalog year of the College Level Examination Program Policy at the time in which the exam was taken, will be applied when determining credit earned.
  • If a student passes more than one CLEP test in the same language other than English, then only one examination may be applied for credit.. For each test in a language other than English, a passing score of 0 is considered "Level I" and earns six units of baccalaureate credit; the higher score listed for each test is considered "Level II" and earns additional units of credit and placement in Area C2 of GE Breadth, as noted.
  • If you have any questions regarding Math and English placement or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit please contact your counselor.
  • If you plan to transfer to another institution, please be aware that every college/university has their own policies about Credit for Prior Learning. What was accepted at SMCCCD may not be accepted at another institution. Please consult your intended transfer institution.

All units listed are semester units.

SMCCCD CLEP Credit Equivalency Guide

Subject Exam

SMCCCD Course Equivalent

Passing Score 

SMCCCD Associate Degree GE Area (3 Semester Units)

CSU Credit Units (Units not applied at SMCCCD)

CSU GE Breadth Area

CSU GE Breadth Units

American Government

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

3

D

3

American Literature

LIT 202

50

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E2C or E5C

3

C2

3

Analyzing and Interpreting Literature

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E2C or E5C

3

C2

3

Biology

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: B2

CSM: E5A

3

B2

3

Calculus

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency

CSM: C1 and E2C

3

B4

3

Chemistry

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: B1

CSM: E5A

3

B1

3

College Algebra

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency

CSM: C1 and E2C

3

B4

3

College Algebra – Trigonometry

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency

CSM: C1 and E2C

3

B4

3

College Composition

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

College Composition-Modular

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

College Mathematics

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

English Composition (no essay)

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

English Composition (with essay)

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

Financial Accounting

N/A

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

French Level I 

N/A

50

N/A

6

N/A

0

French Level II 

N/A

59

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

9

C2

3

Freshman College Composition

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

German Level I 

N/A

50

N/A

6

N/A

0

German Level II

N/A

60

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

9

C2

3

History, United States I

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: D Meets US History Specific Area

CSM: E5B

3

D and US 1

3

History, United States II

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: D Meets US History Specific Area

CSM: E5B

3

D and US 1

3

Human Growth and Development

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: E

CSM: E5B

3

E

3

Humanities

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: C2

CSM: E5C

3

C2

3

Information System and Computer Applications

N/A

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Introduction to Educational Psychology

N/A

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Introductory Business Law

BUS 201

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Introductory Psychology

PSYC 100

50

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

3

D

3

Introductory Sociology

SOCI 100

50

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

3

D

3

Natural Sciences

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: B1 or B2

CSM: E5A

3

B1 or B2

3

Pre-Calculus

N/A

50

Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency

CSM: C1 and E2C

3

B4

3

Principles of Accounting

N/A

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Principles of Management

N/A

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Principles of Marketing

BUS 180

50

N/A

3

N/A

0

Principles of Macroeconomics

ECON 100

50

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

3

D

3

Principles of Microeconomics

ECON 102

50

Skyline & Cañada: D

CSM: E5B

3

D

3

Social Sciences and History

N/A

50

N/A

0

N/A

0

Spanish Level I 

N/A

50

N/A

6

N/A

0

Spanish Level II 

N/A

63

N/A

9

C2 

3

Western Civilization I

N/A

50

N/A

3

C2 or D

3

Western Civilization II

N/A

50

N/A

3

D

3