Alternative Academic Credit Options

CLEP (College Level Examination Program) offers 33 exams that allow you to accelerate your academic career by earning college credit through testing for a subject in which you may have gained knowledge as a result of experience. Study Guides are available at: www.collegeboard.org/clep

CLEP (College Level Examination Program) Registration Procedure
Set up an appointment at least two days in advance:

• Create an account and pay the $93 CLEP test fee online at www.collegeboard.org/clep
• Email a copy of the CLEP Exam Registration Ticket to tcenter@raritanval.edu
• Contact the Testing Center for available test dates and times at 908-526-1200 x8401 or tcenter@raritanval.edu

On the day of the appointment:

• Bring one form of government issued ID: a current Driver's License, passport, state or Province ID, National ID, Tribal ID, naturalization card or certificate of citizenship, a Permanent Resident card or Military ID. All ID's must be current and contain name, photograph, and signature.
• Pay $45 proctor fee by cash or check

1. Limited to a maximum of 6 cr. of previous course work in the discipline.
2. For non-science/math majors only.
3. Limited to a maximum of 9 cr. of previous course work in the Social Sciences and/or History disciplines.
4. Departmental essay is required and will determine the number of credits awarded.
5. Must demonstrate knowledge of JAVA programming by Computer Science Dept. after minimum cut score is met.

A Departmental Exam is an option if you want to earn credit by assessment in a subject that is not available through CLEP or DSST/DANTES.  You should speak with an academic advisor to discuss options. You will be asked to complete the Departmental Exam Request Form that is available in Office of Advising & Counseling. After you request has been approved by Advising and Counseling, the form will be sent to the academic department for assignment to a faculty member. You will be contacted by the faculty member administering the test in order to schedule a mutually convenient time. At the time of testing, you are required to bring a photo ID and payment at the rate of $40 per credit attempted.

The NYU Foreign Language Exam is available in over 50 languages, for both native and non-native speakers. You may contact Melanye Nunez at 908-526-1200 x8397 or via email at melayne.nunez@raritanval.edu to see which languages are available and to arrange a testing date. RVCC will award 6 credits for Intermediate I and II of foreign language upon confirmation that the student has scored an 11or 12 on the exam. Exam fees are $300 for a 12-point exam and $400 for a 16-point exam. Postage & handling is $20. Payment requires two separate money orders. RVCC charges a $45 proctoring fee payable on the day of testing.

• The College awards credit on the basis of a student having achieved a specified minimum score on certain nationally recognized standard examinations, or on examinations created by the College.
• Specific examinations, the credit awarded, and the minimum scores required for the awarding of credit are determined by the faculty in the academic department responsible for the academic discipline or special program in which credit is to be awarded.
• A student who has previously earned credit in a course may not receive credit by examination in a lower-level course in the same academic discipline.
• Because a student may not attempt credit by examination in any course already part of the student's permanent academic record, a student who has registered for a course will not be eligible to earn credit by exam for that course unless officially withdrawn before the published last day to withdraw without course on record.
• Credit by examination is not awarded until the student has been admitted into a specific degree or certificate program.
• The College does not guarantee that alternative academic credits awarded by RVCC will be honored by another college or university to which an individual student might transfer.
• Alternative Academic Credit is evaluated and awarded for individual students and for individual degree and certificate programs offered by RVCC.
• The College accepts up to 45 semester credit hours in Alternative Academic Credit toward an Associate's degree (so a student must complete at least 15 credits through course work at RVCC) or 75 percent of the semester credit hours required for the completion of a Certificate program.
• Alternative Academic Credit does not count as enrollment credit in any academic term for establishing full-time or part-time status.
• Grades are not assigned for Alternative Academic Credit.
• Alternative Academic Credit is not used in computing a student's grade point average.
• If a student attempts credit by exam covering two semesters of course work, and the student has already completed the first semester of such course work, only half of the credit awarded by exam will be granted.
• Students will receive notification of an award of credit from the Enrollment Services

If you took Advanced Placement courses in high school you may be eligible to receive RVCC credits depending on your score.

In order to get the RVCC equivelant course please submit you official AP Score Report.  The following AP exams are accepted by RVCC:

Automotive Technology

Students who have one or more of the industry certifications listed below, as well as three or more years of experience working as an automotive technician in an automotive repair facility, are eligible to earn credit for the corresponding RVCC course(s).  In each case, the industry credential must be current, and for some courses, multiple industry certifications are required.  Contact Professor Sara Heller (sara.heller@raritanval.edu) for more information.

EMT Certification

Students who have received certification for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) can receive credit for FITN 129 First Aid & CPR. The student must show proof of their certification in order to be awarded credit. The original certificate must be presented to the office of Enrollment Services.

Computer Networking & Cybersecurity

Students who have one or more of the industry certifications listed below can attempt to earn credit for the corresponding RVCC course(s) by taking a hands-on skills-based assessment.  In each case, the industry credential must be current.  For the Cisco CCNA certificate, four separate skills-based assessments will be offered sequentially, giving the opportunity to earn credit for up to four courses.

Contact Professor Mutasem Awwad (mutasem.awwad@raritanval.edu) for more information or to schedule an assessment.

Medical Assistant

Students who have a current American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT) certification are eligible to earn credit for the Phlebotomy Theory and Lab (MATC 116) course that is required in RVCC’s Medical Assistant Certificate program.  You will be required to demonstrate core skills before earning credit.  Contact Professor Janette Rodriguez (Janette.rodriguez@raritanval.edu) for more information or to schedule an assessment.

Mechanical Engineering Technology

Students who have completed some or all of RVCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Program and earned the corresponding National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) certificates are eligible to receive credit for the corresponding RVCC course(s).  Conventional Machining Operations II (EMET 152) and CNC Lathe (EMET 254) can be applied to RVCC’s Mechanical Engineering Technology AS degree program in place of Manufacturing Processes I (EMET 107) and Manufacturing Processes II (EMET 109).  Students will be given credit for the appropriate class(es) upon submission of their NIMS certificates to the RVCC Enrollment Services office.