Transferring Credits to and from Online Schools

Published on Wednesday 9th 2006f August, 2006

There are many requirements that may need to be met when transferring credits. Some colleges have one set of rules, while another college may have different rules. Here are some common guidelines to follow when transferring credits.

Only credits from an accredited college will be accepted. This is especially true if you are transferring credits from an online college to a traditional college. Where the online college is accredited is another issue. Make sure the online program you are enrolling in is accredited. When transferring, contact the school you want to transfer credits to and ask if they will transfer. If not, you will have to take those classes over again or find an institution that will accept them.

If you are taking classes that have three credit hours, then you can only transfer them to colleges that have the same credit hours for each class. Some colleges offer classes with four credit hours. While not common, it can still happen. They will not accept three credit hour classes.

Most online schools will accept credit from traditional colleges, but the opposite is not always true. Make sure credits will be transferable to colleges in your area before enrolling in an online program or before taking summer classes. Many students will take summer classes online in an effort to graduate earlier only to find out that their college will not accept them.

Credits earned from classes that are not offered or will not be part of your new degree program may not be counted.

Life experience credits earned at some online programs are almost always not transferable to other college programs.

Even though you cannot predict the future, is it important to make sure that the online program you attend is accredited by the National Education Association. This is one of the only agencies that most schools will accept. If you have received a certificate and wish to further your career, you may have to retakes some classes. This can cost more money and time in the long run. If you are happy with an online program, it is best to finish it or take traditional classroom classes through one of their locations. Your credits will be safe and you will not have to retake classes or add classes to your degree program. One of the biggest problems when switching classes that you will encounter is whether your credits will transfer to your new college or not.

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