Employer's Guide to CREDIT: Frequently Asked Questions

​​What is a CREDIT review?

The American Council on Education’s College Credit Recommendation Service (CREDIT®) review is a thorough process during which a team of faculty evaluators from relevant academic disciplines review courses or exams, and if appropriate, make college credit recommendations that may be eligible for transfer into degree programs. Actual credit awarded is solely at the discretion of the college or university.

What are the benefits of a CREDIT review?

CREDIT reviews bridge the gap between extra-institutional learning and college degree programs. Adult learners may be able to align their learning from professional education and training to college credit, which facilitates access to degree programs. Organizations and employers increase levels of employee satisfaction, retention, and education.

Through the ACE Registry and Transcript Services, adult learners who have successfully completed courses or exams with valid CREDIT recommendations can request official transcripts.​

Why should our organization seek CREDIT recommendations?

The CREDIT recommendation gives your training recognition and distinction. CREDIT-recommended courses have endured a rigorous, judicious and reliable third-party evaluation process. Every aspect of a CREDIT-recommended course, from the facilities to the teaching staff has been reviewed, analyzed and evaluated by qualified, objective post-secondary faculty and subject matter experts.  

Hundreds of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, professional and volunteer associations, schools, training suppliers, labor unions, and government agencies have relied on ACE's trusted evaluations to help improve the skill and education level of their employees and members. CREDIT helps your organization increase your training return on investment.

What is the American Council on Education's College Credit Recommendation Service?

The American Council on Education (ACE) established CREDIT in 1974 to connect workplace learning with colleges and universities by helping adults gain access to academic credit for formal courses and examinations taken outside of traditional degree programs.  

For decades, colleges and universities have trusted ACE to provide reliable course equivalency information to facilitate credit award decisions. Participating organizations include corporations, professional and volunteer associations, schools, training suppliers, labor unions, and government agencies. Decades of experience give CREDIT faculty evaluators the ability to assess an organization's high-quality training programs and determine if they may successfully transfer to college credit.

Can my organization receive retroactive credit? 

Retroactive credit may be granted to organizations on a case-by-case basis up to six months in arrears. It is the responsibility of the organization to alert CREDIT staff that retroactive credit is desired. In addition, organizations must provide supporting documents to justify the retroactive credit. These documents include, but are not limited to, samples of graded student assessments, syllabi, and lessons.

Who from my organization should be present at the review?

Depending on your organization's structure, the review lead should meet representatives responsible for:

  • Student records, registration, and enrollment
  • Instruction design or curriculum development
  • Training, delivery, and assessment management

When will my constituents be able to receive CREDIT recommendations?

Upon approval by CREDIT, individuals become eligible to enroll in the ACE Transcript Service.

What is a technical review?

Organizations with courses or examinations that hold credit recommendations must report any changes made to the courses or examinations within 30 days. If significant changes are reported, the course or examination will need to undergo a technical review. The technical review is designed to determine if the credit recommendation on the altered course or examination is still valid and may result in a new credit recommendation. It is recommended that organizations request a technical review any time significant changes are made to their credit-recommended cours­es or examinations. CREDIT may also audit organizations to determine changes to its administration or to its courses or examinations. The audit may result in a technical review.

What is a conditional review?

During the review, the evaluation team may determine that a course or examination very closely aligns to a postsecondary-level program of study, but requires some adjustments in order for a credit recommendation to be made. In that case, the team may offer a conditional recommendation with very specific, measurable expectations. The organization must make the changes and resubmit the course or examination for reevaluation in order for the course to be recommended for credit. If the conditions are not met, the course or examination will not have a credit recommendation. The effective date for conditional reviews is the first date of the month when the conditional is lifted.