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Prior Learning Assessment

Female Student

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

The University of Kentucky recognizes examinations of the College Board Advanced Placement Program offered by high schools throughout the nation.

Currently, UK ranks among the top 100 schools in the U.S. for receipt of AP test score results. A high school senior who wishes to have AP scores evaluated for academic credit or placement should have the results sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admission. UK's code is 1837.

Students who receive Advanced Placement credit for a course may apply this credit the same way credit earned by passing a course is applied. UK does not recognize College Board SAT II Subject Tests for placement or credit purposes.

See UK's Advanced Placement Chart (PDF).

For more information on UK's Advanced Placement policy, contact:

Office of Undergraduate Admission
Room 10 Funkhouser Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0054
Phone: (859) 257-7157
Email: Jacquie Hager

College Board Advanced Placement Program

More information may also be obtained from:

College Board Advanced Placement Program
45 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023-6992
Contact: collegeboard.com/html/communications000.html#AP
Web: collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

UK participates in the national testing program of The College Board. CLEP Examinations cover specific material common to courses at many universities.

Credit for University courses is awarded to students who obtain the listed scores on the appropriate Examinations, as listed in the Policy Guide for CLEP Examinations (PDF).

The Registrar's Office is responsible for all official posting of credit to a student's record. For information regarding the CLEP program and posting of credit, call the Registrar's Office at (859) 257-8729. For information on CLEP exams in general, visit the College Board Web site at www.collegeboard.com/clep/.

International Baccalaureate Program (IB)

The University of Kentucky recognizes course credit earned through the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program offered by high schools throughout the world.

Generally, course credit is awarded for scores of 5, 6, or 7 on either the Standard Level exam or the Higher Level exam. Please refer to the IB Program chart (PDF) for the actual course credit policy in each subject.

Any student desiring credit must request an IB transcript to be sent to the University. Course credit awarded through the IB program will apply toward degree requirements just as if the course had been taken on campus, except that there will not be a specific letter grade associated with the course. Instead, a designation of CR -- credit -- will be awarded and the grade-point average will not be affected.

In some cases, as noted on the IB Program chart (PDF), additional curriculum information must be supplied by the student's high school before credit will be awarded.

For more information, contact:
Will Fuller
12 Funkhouser Building
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40506-0054
Phone: (859) 257-1695

Program on Noncollegiate-Sponsored Instruction (PONSI)

Students, particularly those 25 years of age and older, may be eligible to receive credit for extra-institutional learning.

The American Council on Education through its Program on Noncollegiate-Sponsored Instruction (PONSI) has evaluated over 2,000 courses sponsored by over 140 corporations, organizations, and agencies drawn from business, industry, and government. On the basis of PONSI evaluations, the University has established guidelines for awarding credit for college-level courses. The University recognizes these recommendations as appropriate credit for meeting degree requirements.

The University's colleges and departments determine the amount of credit that will apply to a student's curriculum. Information on PONSI appears in The National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs. For more information, contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission.

Special Departmental Examinations

Almost any course offered at the University is available for credit by special examination, regardless of whether a student has audited the course, is currently enrolled in it, or has studied it independently. Please note, most elementary and intermediate foreign language courses are not available on the basis of a special examination.

Any full-time or part-time student enrolled in the University, and in good academic standing, has the right to request a special examination for credit in many courses offered (check with the offering department), regardless of whether the student has audited the course, is currently enrolled in it, or has studied for it independently. Please note, most elementary and intermediate foreign language courses are not available on the basis of a special examination.

Application for a special examination must be made in writing. (Students should obtain application forms in the Registrar's Office.) Undergraduates should address requests to the chair of the department in which the course is given, or to the office of the educational unit responsible; graduate students, to the director of graduate studies in the department in which the course is given. Approval of requests from undergraduate students rests with the department chairperson; from graduate students, with the Dean of The Graduate School, acting upon recommendation of the director of graduate studies.

The request for special examination may be denied by the department chair or the office of the educational unit responsible, or the Dean of The Graduate School, acting upon recommendation of the director of graduate studies, if it is decided that the student has not furnished evidence that he or she is reasonably prepared to take the examination, or that the course is of such a nature that credit by examination is inappropriate. (The fact that a student has failed the course within the last semester may be regarded as evidence that the student is unprepared to take a special examination.)

The examiner designated by the educational unit may schedule the examination at his or her convenience, but must offer it within a reasonable time after the student has submitted his or her request.

The examiner shall inform the Registrar of the student's grade in the course. A student currently enrolled in the class who successfully completes a special examination will be formally removed from the official roll by the Registrar, unless the student is dissatisfied with the results, in which case he or she may continue in the course and be graded in the usual manner. The examiner then may or may not include the results of the special examination in computing the final grade.

Credit earned by special examination may be counted as residence credit by the dean of the student's college. The limits on maximum loads are waived in cases where the excess is due to special examination credits.

The student, with the educational administrator's consent, may take the special examination on a Pass/Fail basis, including any course not otherwise available under the Pass/Fail option. Credit derived in this manner does not reduce the number of courses permitted under the Pass/Fail rules.

English Examination: Students who have a standard score of 32 or above on the English section of the ACT Assessment or 700 or above on the SAT I Verbal score will receive exemption from ENG 104; students who have a standard score of 4-5 on the AP English Language exam will receive credit (grade of CR) for ENG 104. Students who earn a 3 on the AP English Language exam will earn credit for ENG 101 and may choose to take either ENG 102 or ENG 104 (recommended). There is no exemption by CLEP. Scores of 3-5 on the AP English Literature exam or the equivalent on the IB exam will continue to receive 3 units of credit for ENG 161, which does not satisfy either condition of the University Writing Requirement.

Evaluation of Military Credit

The University of Kentucky does not automatically award military credit to students at the onset of enrollment. However, after a degree-seeking student has been enrolled at UK and earned 12 hours, he or she may request that the military record be sent to the Office of Admission for evaluation. Military Credit is awarded following the procedures below:

I. Procedures

  1. The student must submit a letter requesting evaluation, along with the necessary supportive documentation, to the Office of Admission.
  2. The letter should specify the types of educational experiences the student wishes to have evaluated.
    1. Military Schools should be listed by:
      • Name of school
      • Location
      • Name of course
      • Length of course in weeks
      • Date course began
      • Date course completed
      • Final mark and/or standing in class
    2. Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) should be listed by:
      • Complete MOS designation
      • MOS Title
      • Period of time MOS was held as a primary duty assignment
      • How MOS was awarded (School Attendance, OJT, etc.)
      • MOS evaluation score and date of evaluation

II. Documentation

  1. Official documentation is necessary to support the awarding of any credit based on military service. The supportive documentation required is as follows:
    1. Computerized transcript from the Army/American Council on Education Registry (request forms are available in the Office of Admission)
    2. Copies of Course Completion Certificates
    3. Enlisted Evaluation Data Report reflecting competency in any MOS submitted for evaluation
    4. DD Form 214 (Report of Transfer or Discharge) if no longer on Active Duty
  2. Required documentation may be obtained as follows:
    1. Active Duty Personnel: Custodian of individual's personnel records, Military installation to which assigned
    2. Retired Army Personnel or Reserve Personnel:
      • US Army Reserve Component and Administration Center (TAGO)
        9700 Page Boulevard
        St. Louis, Missouri 63132
    3. Discharged Personnel (Veterans):
      • General Services Administration
        National Personnel Records Center (Military Personnel Records)
        9700 Page Boulevard
        St. Louis, Missouri 63132
    4. Discharged Personnel Now Members of Army National Guard:
      • National Guard unit to which assigned

III. Awarding of Credit

Credit is evaluated using the ACE Guide for evaluation of military credit (Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard). ACE guide recommends hours to be awarded based on the length and content of each course. Evaluations are typed on appropriate form.

  1. A degree-seeking student must enroll and earn a minimum of 12 semester hours prior to any credit being awarded based on military service.
  2. Credit will be awarded on the student’s official academic transcript.
  3. No credit will be awarded based on a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) which has not been held as a primary duty assignment for a minimum duration of one (1) year or more.
  4. Copies of the Evaluation are forwarded to the college dean’s office and to Student Records Office.
  5. One copy of the evaluation is maintained in the Office of Admission “Military Credit Evaluation” file.
  6. Each college determines how awarded hours may be used in the degree program.