Broward College values the college-level knowledge and skills students acquire outside a college classroom. Credit for Prior Learning options afford students the opportunity to accelerate the time it takes to complete a degree.

Students interested in these options must first apply to BC and pay the non-refundable application fee.

Advanced Placement

Advanced placement exams are taken after students complete the corresponding Advanced Placement courses, which are available to juniors and seniors in most Broward County high schools. To qualify for college credit, students must earn an appropriate passing score on the nationally administered exam. Credits will not be awarded for examinations that duplicate course work or other exam credits previously posted to a student’s academic record. In order to award credit, Broward College requires an official grade report, sent directly to the college from College Board, not a student copy. More information about Advanced Placement, including descriptions of courses and sample examination questions, is available online at https://www.collegeboard.com/ap.

Armed Services Educational Credits

Broward College evaluates educational experiences in the Armed Forces and awards postsecondary level credits at the freshman and/or sophomore levels when appropriate. The Registrar’s Office processes petitions for military courses in the same manner as other incoming transfer credits, including a review of military courses listed in the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Forces, American Council on Education, presented on a Joint Service Transcript. Other military training and experiences are reviewed to award credit for prior learning, a process that incurs Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) fees.

Students interested in this option should see an Academic Advisor to complete the “Request for Evaluation of Military Courses” form.

Cambridge AICE (British AS-Level and A-Level)

The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program is an international, advanced secondary curriculum and assessment program equivalent to the British system AS-Level and “A-Level.” Students who wish to receive AICE credits should submit an official AICE Grade transcript to the College Registrar’s Office. Information about the program, including course syllabi, can be found online at www.cie.org.uk/countries/usa.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

International Baccalaureate (IB) exams are taken after students complete the corresponding International Baccalaureate course in high school. To qualify for college credit, students must earn an appropriate passing score on the nationally administered exam. More information about the IB program is available at www.ibo.org/.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) provides an opportunity for BC students to earn college credit for prior knowledge in certain subject exams administered by The College Board. To qualify for college credit, students must earn an appropriate passing score on the nationally administered exam.  CLEP credit cannot duplicate regular college course credit already earned, Dual Enrollment credit, or other credits earned through examination. Courses for which credit is awarded is not included in the college's enrolled credit hours and are not eligible to satisfy in-residence requirements for graduation. For more information about CLEP and testing opportunities visit the college's Testing Center webpage. 

DSST Examination Program

The Dantes Subject Standardized Test (DSST) provides an opportunity for BC students to earn college credit for prior knowledge in certain subject exams available by DSST. To qualify for college credit, students must earn an appropriate passing score on the nationally administered exam. 

Excelsior College Examinations

UExcel Examinations and Excelsior College Examinations (formerly known as Regents College Exams or the Proficiency Examination Program), are developed by Excelsior College with national accreditation approvals. To qualify for college credit, students must have earned an appropriate passing score in subject exams prior to August 2022. For more information visit the Testing Center webpage.

Dual Enrollment

The Dual Enrollment Program is an accelerated program that allows eligible secondary students to take postsecondary coursework and simultaneously earn both high school and college credits. Early Admission, a form of dual enrollment, allows eligible high school seniors to enroll full-time with a minimum of 12 credits in each major term. Dual Enrollment students are exempt from the payment of application, tuition, and laboratory fees.

Eligibility Requirements

• Be enrolled as a student in a Florida public or nonpublic secondary school or home education program in Broward County
• Minimum 3.0 unweighted high school grade point average (GPA)
• Place college level on a common placement test (ACCUPLACER NEXT GEN, PERT, ACT, or SAT) in all areas – English, Reading and Math
• Earn a grade of “C” or higher in each college-level course. 

Students should contact their school counselor to complete the dual enrollment admissions and course selection process. Additional program expectations, dual enrollment guidelines, and information for school counselors, students, and parents can be found at www.broward.edu/dual.

College Academy @ BC

The College Academy is a joint venture between the School Board of Broward County and Broward College. It is an accelerated college program that provides students an opportunity to receive a high school diploma and an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree concurrently. For specific program information and admissions requirements, please contact The College Academy @ BC at https://www.browardschools.com/collegeacademy or 754-321-6900.

Foreign Language Exams

Broward College accepts language exams taken through the Brigham Young University’s Foreign Language Achievement Tests Services (BYU FLATS). This service allows speakers of other languages to fulfill the foreign language competency requirement by passing a computerized foreign language exam. Exams are offered in over 50 languages: Dutch, Japanese, Portuguese-Brazilian, Haitian-Creole, and more. Course credits are not awarded. The foreign language requirement will be fulfilled on the student's degree audit. For more information visit www.broward.edu/testing.

High School and Technical College Career Programs

Broward College has specific agreements with Broward County Public Schools that link secondary and postsecondary technical education programs of study. High school or Technical College (Atlantic, Sheridan, or McFatter) students may be eligible to receive college credit for their coursework. High School students must complete a Career and Technical program or Technical College students complete a Career Certificate and meet the articulation agreement requirements. The number of credits that will be awarded and the type of assessment used are outlined in the articulation agreements established between Broward College and Broward County Public Schools. Credit will be awarded once the student has been accepted to Broward College, enrolled in an eligible program of study, and completed all required assessments. Students are eligible to receive credits within two years of high school/technical college graduation.

Industry Certifications

The State Board of Education has approved a set of statewide Career and Technical Education (CTE) Articulation Agreements, allowing students to earn college credit based on industry certification. Broward College further enhances these opportunities through local Intra-Institutional Agreements, enabling students who obtain an industry certification to accelerate their education by receiving college credits. Details on the number of credits awarded can be found at www.broward.edu/cpl. Credits will be granted once the student is accepted to Broward College and enrolled in a program of study. Students are eligible to receive these credits within three years of earning their industry certification.

Prior Learning Assessment Program

The Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program, primarily designed for working adults, acknowledges the academic value of knowledge gained through experiences outside the traditional college classroom. Students may earn credit for prior learning from work experience, employment-related training, seminars, volunteer work, travel, military service, or self-directed study. If students have acquired Broward College course-equivalent knowledge, skills, and competencies through these experiences, they may be eligible for academic credit through the PLA program. This accelerated option is not available during the summer term.

To participate, students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program and complete the Prior Learning Assessment form. Only specific courses are eligible for this option. While there is no cap on the number of credits students can earn through Prior Learning, 25% of the degree requirements must be completed at Broward College to meet in-residence graduation requirements. Letter grades are not awarded; transcripts record credits as “CR." These credits count toward graduation requirements at Broward College; however, "CR" credit may not transfer to other institutions. Students intending to transfer should contact their prospective college or university to verify whether Prior Learning credits will be accepted.

For more information on Credit for Prior Learning, visit www.broward.edu/cpl.