The University of Maryland provides students with several opportunities to receive undergraduate credit for knowledge and achievements gained through prior learning (PLC), which includes: Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Level/Advanced Subsidiary Level (A-Level/AS-Level), College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and Basic Military Training (BMT). PLC awarded by UMD is recorded at the top of the student’s transcript and will be included in the total number of credits earned.
UMD encourages applicants to seek AP credit where relevant. Credit may be awarded for exams offered by the College Board and is based on the year the exam was taken. All departments reserve the right to reevaluate the content of exams and to change the minimum required score, course equivalencies, and assignment of credits.
Students must have their scores sent directly to UMD from the College Board; the institution code for UMD is 5814.
To see how credits are awarded by UMD for AP exams, view the chart below that corresponds with the year the exam was taken:
UMD awards credit to students for a broad array of IB exams. Credit is not awarded for all exams offered by IB and is based on departmental approval. All departments reserve the right to reevaluate the content of exams, and to change the minimum required score, course equivalencies, and the assignment of credit.
Students should have their scores sent directly to UMD from the International Baccalaureate Results Service. UMD’s code is 001417.
To see how credits are awarded by UMD for IB exams, view the chart below that corresponds with the date the exam was taken:
UMD awards credit for A-Level/AS-Level exams taken through Cambridge International Exams (CIE) or other approved boards. Credit is not awarded for all exams offered and is based on departmental approval. All departments reserve the right to reevaluate the content of exams and to change the minimum required score, course equivalencies, and assignment of credit.
Official scores must be sent by CIE or the approved exam board to UMD.
To see how credits are awarded by UMD for A-Level/AS-Level exams, view the chart below that corresponds with the year the exam was taken:
CLEP recognizes college-level competence achieved outside of the college classroom. CLEP exams are administered by the College Board. The type of credit awarded for CLEP General and Subject Examinations is based on departmental approval, certain restrictions may apply. All departments reserve the right to reevaluate the content of exams, and to change the minimum required score, course equivalencies, and assignment of credit.
Students currently enrolled at UMD must complete a Permission to Enroll form prior to signing up to take CLEP exams.
Students who would like to have their CLEP scores reviewed for credit must request their official score reports to be sent to UMD. The Score Recipient Code is 5814.
To see how credits are awarded by UMD for CLEP exams, view the chart below that corresponds with the year the exam was taken:
Students who are currently on active duty or former service members in the United States Armed Forces are eligible to be awarded six credits of lower-level general elective credits. The credits are awarded for the completion of basic physical fitness and basic military science as part of basic military training for the United States Armed Forces.
To qualify, students must have been enrolled as an undergraduate student in the Fall 2013 semester or beyond, along with one of the following:
Students interested in receiving the six credits of lower-level general elective credits for their service to the United States Armed Forces must provide appropriate documentation based on their current status:
In some cases, additional documentation may be requested to verify a student's current status. The student will receive an email if additional information is needed once the documentation you provided has been reviewed. |
Please send the appropriate required documentation to the following:
Records and Registration Services
University of Maryland
7999 Regents Drive
College Park, MD 20742
Credits will be posted to qualified student records as follows:
Title | Grade | Credit | Elective |
---|---|---|---|
Basic Military Science 1 | P | 1 | L1 (Lower-level general elective) |
Basic Military Science 2 | P | 1 | L1 (Lower-level general elective) |
Basic Physical Fitness 1 | P | 2 | L1 (Lower-level general elective) |
Basic Physical Fitness 2 | P | 2 | L1 (Lower-level general elective) |
Please direct any questions you have regarding the Basic Military Training policy or receipt of the credits to registrar-help@umd.edu.
Departmental Proficiency Exams (Credit-by-Exam)Credit-by-Exam at UMD is comparable to a comprehensive final examination in a course. Although the mathematics department receives the most applications for Credit-by-Exam, many departments will provide opportunities for certain courses. Initial inquiry on the availability of an examination for a specific course should be directed to the academic department offering that course.
In order to be considered for Credit-by-Exam, a student must meet the following eligibility criteria:
*Requirements 1 and 2 may be waived for students in their first semester at UMD by the department chairperson and the dean.
Credit-by-Exam may not be taken for courses in which the student has remained registered at UMD, beyond the Schedule Adjustment Period - even with a transcript notation of W.
There are some instances of prior learning/competency-based education for which the University of Maryland generally does not award credit. These include, but are not limited to: American Council on Education (ACE), Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES), Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI), Sophia Learning, StraighterLine, Coursera, Outlier, departmental credit-by-exam from institutions other than Maryland public institutions of higher education, and life experiences.
Students may contact the Office of the University Registrar to appeal the acceptance of prior learning experiences. For prior learning credit to be awarded during an appeal, the student must provide evidence that the prior learning experience falls within the level, scope, content and expected learning outcomes of courses offered at the University of Maryland. The determination of the Office of the University Registrar will be final.
View the University of Maryland
policy III-1.41(A) and the University System of Maryland
Questions regarding PLC should be directed to Transfer Credit Services.