1. What is an ACE Learning Evaluations credit recommendation?
An ACE credit recommendation represents college-level equivalencies based on a review of workforce training, military training or occupations, and other sources of learning outside the college classroom, such as national exams and certifications. The ACE Review is carried out by a team of subject matter experts who currently serve as faculty at universities and community colleges. Together, they decide if the learning experience has similar outcomes to a college course. The recommendation identifies and describes the course subject, the level of learning, and the number of credit hours recommended based on the review.
2. How can I find training programs with ACE recommendations?
ACE has reviewed and provided academic credit recommendations for more than 35,000 courses, examinations, and certifications offered by more than 600 organizations.
Learning Evaluations recommendations for courses, examinations, and certifications are listed in the ACE National Guide under organizations that provided the training. Recommendations for military training and occupations are found in the Military Guide.
When you access the link you will see each organization that is on file with ACE. Search for an organization and click on the orange tile displayed to find an overview of the organization as well as a listing of courses or examinations with ACE credit recommendations. You can also click on each course tile to see a description and the ACE Learning Evaluations credit recommendation.
3. How long do ACE recommendations last?
ACE Learning Evaluations for the Military recommendations are valid for 10 years, unless the course is changed and the service submits it again for a re-review. ACE Learning Evaluations recommendations for workplace and alternative educational experiences are valid for 3 years before courses must be submitted for re-review.
4. What are competencies?
Courses and exams reviewed by ACE may also include workplace competencies—statements describing the skills and abilities mastered by students during the course or demonstrated through an exam. You can use these to document learning for employers, to qualify for a promotion or new opportunity, or to help you describe your own abilities.
5. How do I apply my ACE recommendations to a degree program at a college or university?
If you have already earned a certification or taken a course or examination, you should contact the admissions office at the college you plan to attend to find out if credit is available.
6. How do I find out which colleges accept ACE recommendations?
The ACE Credit for Prior Learning Network is a group of institutions that have agreed to consider ACE credit recommendations. Each institution reviews the recommendations and determines if and how specific recommendations may meet requirements for the degree programs in which you are enrolled.
However, they are not required to award credit. Some schools may choose to waive a particular course based on the recommendations instead of granting credit hours for your prior learning. Each institution, and, in many cases, each academic unit and department within each institution, sets its own policies for granting credit.
To find an institution in the Network, please visit the
ACE Credit for Prior Learning Network.
7. How do colleges make decisions about the transfer of ACE Learning Evaluations recommendations?
Academic deans, department chairs, and provosts make decisions about their institution’s transfer policies. They consider the ways in which the training compares to their course offerings and the fit to the student’s degree program. A college may also determine transfer policies based on standards of regional or professional accrediting bodies. For additional information, review our
student guide to credit for prior learning.
If you have already completed one of the courses or examinations, or plan to take one, you should contact the admissions office at the college you plan to attend to determine the acceptability of the course for academic credit.
8. Why did I not receive credit for my vocational credit recommendations?
Some higher education institutions do not accept vocational credit as a matter of policy. Others may not accept this credit if they do not have equivalent courses at the vocational level.
9. Why don’t I get the same credit for Version 2 as recommended for Version 1?
Each version of a credit recommendation is based on a separate evaluation. If the learning outcomes or curriculum have changed, it is likely that the ACE credit recommendations have changed as well. Let’s say you take a course for 18 weeks in 2017 and the same course offered in 2020 has been reduced to only 12 weeks. The shortened course will probably have a change in learning outcomes and curriculum covered, which will change the ACE credit recommendations.
10. What is the difference between CLEP/DSST examinations and military ACE credit recommendations?
CLEP/DSST exams are college-level equivalency exams. These exams are formal assessments that help college-bound students document and demonstrate their knowledge in specific subject areas. Military ACE credit recommendations are the result of an evaluation process that validates formal military training and occupation experiences.
11. Who decides which military courses and occupations should be evaluated?
Each service is represented by a main point of contact (POC), who is designated by the Chief for Voluntary Education to work with ACE Military Programs. This POC is required to submit a proposed schedule of installations/schoolhouses to visit, as well as a list of occupations to review each year. It is the joint decision of the POC and the schoolhouse representative to determine what will be submitted for review by ACE Military Programs. Individual service members cannot submit a course to ACE or request that an individual course or occupation be evaluated. This request must come from the designated POC or schoolhouse representative.
12. What should I do if the college does not accept my ACE recommendations?
If a college has denied your request to transfer your ACE recommendations, you could try to appeal the decision. Every college has an appeal process, which is often described in the college catalog. Find out what documentation you will need to provide and to whom you should direct your appeal. The college may request that you provide additional information about your training, such as a syllabus.
If the college is not familiar with ACE recommendations and transcripts, ACE's
Student Resource Center can provide additional information. For further assistance, call the Resource Center's toll-free number at 866-205-6267.