Advanced Standing credit means that a student receives credit for completing a Cincinnati State course or cooperative education requirement by using one of the methods listed below to demonstrate successful completion of appropriate prior academic and/or work experience.  Advanced Standing credit is available only to students who have been accepted into a degree or certificate program. 

Advanced Standing is different from Transfer Credit.  Transfer Credit is awarded when a student has successfully completed coursework at another regionally accredited institution of higher education.  This coursework may be transferred to Cincinnati State by requesting a transcript from the former institution be sent directly to the Office of Admission at Cincinnati State.  Once a student is admitted to a degree program, the transcript is forwarded to the Office of the Registrar for evaluation according to the transfer policy described in the college catalog.   Transfer Credit is available only to students who have been accepted into a degree or certificate program.

Advanced Standing, on the other hand, is awarded to the student upon demonstration of acquired knowledge of a course’s content but not in the classroom setting of an accredited educational institution.  The documentation of the acquired knowledge is typically in the form of test scores achieved or other documents which demonstrate proficiency equivalent to the credit sought.  The additional documents and/or testing that may be necessary for this process will be determined by the Academic Division evaluating the documents and awarding the credit.  

The types of Advanced Standing credit are: 

AC	Credit awarded for successful scores in the Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations of the College Entrance Examination Board
CL	Credit awarded for successful scores in the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Examinations of the College Entrance Examination Board
EC	Credit awarded by ‘test out’ via Cincinnati State’s Internal Proficiency Exam
EL	Credit awarded for an External Certificate/Licensing Exam
ET	Credit awarded for an External Formal Training Program
EX	Credit awarded for Applicable Work Experience
IB	Credit awarded for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Examinations
TP	Credit awarded through the local Tech Prep Agreements
VO	Credit awarded through Senior Vocational Teacher Referral

Students who believe they are eligible for Advanced Standing credit should begin the process as soon as they are admitted to a Cincinnati State degree or certificate program. Some types of Advanced Standing credit are not available in certain degree or certificate programs.   The time it takes to complete the Advanced Standing process varies based upon the type of credit sought and the Division approving it.

Once Advanced Standing credit of any type is awarded, it will appear on your Cincinnati State transcript along with your other courses completed, and you will be notified by mail of your award.  Although Advanced Standing can apply toward your degree or certificate requirements at Cincinnati State, the courses do not reflect grades or quality points and they do not compute in your cumulative grade point average.  Advanced Standing credit, like Transfer Credit, does not apply toward the graduation residency requirement as described in the college catalog.  

Any test scores, exams or other documentation supporting the award of Advanced Standing credit must remain on file at the College.  However, you can make arrangements to have any original documents, such as diplomas or professional licenses, returned to you by contacting the Division to which you submitted the document(s).

Students should be aware that Advanced Standing credit awarded by Cincinnati State may not be applicable to degrees at other colleges or universities.  A student who intends to transfer to another college or university should consult with a transfer advisor at that institution concerning the transferability of Cincinnati State advanced standing credit.

If your Petition for Advanced Standing Credit is not approved, and you do not receive college credit, any fees paid will not be refunded.  Questions regarding the award of Advanced Standing Credit should be directed to your Program Chair, Academic Advisor or Cooperative Education Coordinator.