Transfer Credit & Prior Learning

If you’ve earned college credits from another school, you’ll need to request an official transcript from each college or university where you took classes — even if those credits were already transferred somewhere else.

Contact the college or university where you earned the credits to request a transcript.

• BBCC accepts electronic transcripts sent directly from the college or university through secure systems such as Parchment or Clearinghouse.
• Electronic transcripts sent to you and then forwarded to BBCC cannot be accepted as official.
• Paper transcripts are also accepted if they are in their original sealed envelope from the college or university.

When you take part in a dual credit program, you may earn both high school and college credit for the same college-level class.

Both your high school and the college or university will keep official records of the credits you earn through their institution.

BBCC cannot transfer credits that are listed only on your high school transcript, so here’s how to get those credits transferred to your BBCC record.

• Request an official transcript from each college or university where you earned the credits.
• Have the transcript sent directly to BBCC (electronic transcripts sent to you and then forwarded to BBCC cannot be accepted as official).
• For details about which high school classes connect to which college or university, check with your high school counselor—they’ll have that information.

With CTE (Career and Technical Education) classes, students can simultaneously earn college credits and high school credits while working towards a technical degree or certificate.

BBCC cannot transfer credits that are listed only on your high school transcript, so here’s how to get those credits transferred to your BBCC record.

• Complete the CTE Request Form  for information on reviewing your earned credits and to request having your CTE credits posted to your BBCC transcript.

If you braved the CLEP or AP test, certain scores may qualify for college credit.

See how your scores qualify for credit:

• Link to CLEP table
• Link to AP table

How do I get these credits?

• Contact the College Board and order an official copy of your CLEP or AP score report sent directly to BBCC.

Students who achieve certain scores for their IB classes may qualify for college credit.

See how your scores qualify for credit:

• Link to IB table

How do I get these credits?

Contact International Baccalaureate and order an official transcript sent directly to BBCC.

Veterans may receive prior learning credit for their military training and experience

• Link to Military Service Credits policy

To request an evaluation of your military record, please order one of the following official transcripts or reports sent directly to BBCC

• Joint Services Transcript 
• Community College of the Air Force 

Veterans using their Veterans Education benefits must submit all prior learning documentation (transfer credit, JST, etc.) within the first quarter of attendance at BBCC

For more information about using your Veteran’s Education benefits, contact Veronica Pruneda, Veteran’s Benefits Coordinator at veronap@bigbend.edu

Connect with your advisor if you have professional training or certificates related to your area of study. Examples include MOS Certificate, First Aid/CPR card, Child Development Associate, or Basic Law Enforcement Academy.

Official transcripts may be electronic or paper copies. To be considered official, electronic copies must be delivered directly from the college or university through an encrypted system. Paper copies must be received in the original sealed envelope. Emailed or otherwise unofficial copies of transcripts will not be accepted for transfer credit.

The following is a list of those organizations that grant regional accreditation in the United States:

• Middle States Association of Colleges & Schools Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools & Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
• New England Association of Schools & Colleges Commission on Technical & Career Institutions
• North Central Association of Colleges & Schools The Higher Learning Commission
• Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges
• Western Association of Schools & Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community Colleges
• Western Association of Schools & Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Universities

Most colleges and universities have tracking available so you can confirm when they sent your transcript and when it was received by BBCC. Check your email for information from the college/university or the transcript sending company.

For new students, your transfer and prior learning credits should be processed prior to your New Student Enrollment session if they are submitted at least 1 week prior. Otherwise, processing generally takes 1 to 3 weeks and sometimes longer during high-volume periods.

At BBCC we do not limit the number of transfer credits a student can receive. Some of the reasons your credits may not transfer are:

• Transferring institution is not regionally accredited
• Transcript is not official 
• Low grades
  • BBCC will only transfer in grades of 1.0 or higher for individual classes
  • The cumulative GPA of all transfer credits must be 2.0 – this means some classes with grades below 2.0 may not be transferred in so that the 2.0 GPA is maintained
• Upper division classes
  • Classes considered upper division (generally taken by college juniors and seniors) typically do not have an equivalent for associate-level classes at a community college
  • Exceptions will be made on a case-by-base basis – for example, a nursing student may transfer in an upper division nutrition class to satisfy the NUTR& 101 requirement
  • Upper division courses will be evaluated for BAS degree-seeking students and accepted for transfer if they apply to their BAS degree. 

Transfer credits questions? Contact Kerri Furman, Credentials Evaluator

It is perfectly appropriate—and, in fact, your right—to ask questions or seek a reevaluation. You should feel comfortable reaching out to the transfer credit evaluator without hesitation. At BBCC we are dedicated to ensuring a fair assessment and are ready to assist you through the process and clarify any concerns you may have. 

Transfer credits questions? Contact Kerri Furman, Credentials Evaluator 

Common Course Numbering is a state-wide project among the community and technical colleges to share identical Course ID’s (disciplines and numbers) and titles for selected courses. You can recognize these courses by the ampersand symbol & used after the subject area, for example BIOL& or HIST&.

Courses evaluated by BBCC may or may not be considered common at other institutions; therefore, if you plan to transfer from BBCC to other institutions, check with their advising centers as to how your prior institution(s) and BBCC courses will be accepted.

Even when two colleges or universities offer degrees with the same or similar names, each institution sets its own rules and course requirements for that program. Because of these differences, transfer credits that satisfy a requirement at one school may not automatically meet the same requirement at another.

Reciprocity Agreement for Transferring Credits

• If you fulfilled a specific course requirement or entire area of a degree requirement at another Washington State Community or Technical College, then you may meet those same degree requirements at BBCC.
• If, after your transfer credits are evaluated, you think you have courses that qualify, ask your advisor to assist you with this process. The course review is subject to BBCC’s catalog agreement and you must complete the minimum number of credits required to earn a BBCC degree.

Transfer credits questions? Contact Kerri Furman, Credentials Evaluator

Semester credits are multiplied by 1.5 to convert to quarter credits. If this credit conversion creates a ½ credit shortage in an Arts & Science distribution area, credits may be used from the Additional Breadth category to complete the required 50 credits of Breadth (Social Science, Humanities, and Math/Science). Your advisor can work with you to ensure you are meeting graduation requirements. 

Transfer credits questions? Contact Kerri Furman, Credentials Evaluator 

• Students have the right to clear, accurate, and current information about their transfer admission requirements, transfer admission deadlines, degree requirements, and transfer policies that include course equivalencies.
  Transfer and freshman-entry students have the right to expect comparable standards for regular admission to programs and comparable program requirements.
• Students have the right to seek clarification regarding their transfer evaluation and may request the reconsideration of any aspect of that evaluation. In response, the college will follow established practices and processes for reviewing its transfer credit decisions.
• Students who encounter other transfer difficulties have the right to seek resolution. Each institution will have a defined process for resolution that is published and readily available to students.
• Students have the responsibility to complete all materials required for admission and to submit the application on or before the published deadlines.
• Students have the responsibility to plan their courses of study by referring to the specific published degree requirements of the college or academic program in which they intend to earn a bachelor’s degree.
• When a student changes a major or degree program, the student assumes full responsibility for meeting the new requirements.
• Students who complete the general education requirements at any public four-year institution of higher education in Washington, when admitted to another public four-year institution, will have met the lower division general education requirements of the institution to which they transfer.