Credit by Documentation

Credit by Documentation

Credit by documentation is used when Fort Hays State University faculty have determined a specific experience provides the student with the knowledge that would be gained from a FHSU course and all that is needed is proof the student has successfully completed the experience. Students will typically pay the Advanced Standing Credit Examination fee, currently $25 per credit hour requested, all CPL policies apply.

Partnerships

Fort Hays State University has agreements in place with schools, training programs, and other organizations.  If you have been told that you can receive credit for what you are doing with another organization it is likely that it is a partnership agreement.  CPL credit awarded is determined by the agreement and open only to students covered by the agreement.  For more information contact the organization you took the original work with, or if you contact us be sure to let us know what organization told you they had an agreement  with us (they may have phrased it as FHSU will give you credit for…), what you took with that organization, and when you took it. 

StraighterLine

Fort Hays State University does grant credit based on some courses taken from StraighterLine.  For more information on current acceptance or the FHSU Academy visit our StraighterLine page.

Certificates, Certifications, & Credentials

Fort Hays State University accepts some certifications, certificates of completion or similar proof of learning.  To qualify for CPL, this type of documentation must show all the following: 1) Evidence the learner achieved a specified standard for obtaining the credential, 2) the credential must be based on specific content (can be knowledge or skill as appropriate) that is available for FHSU faculty to assess, 3) in the judgement of the FHSU faculty the content must cover content of an FHSU course (students will have to take a course if to obtain the missing piece even if the credential covers almost all of a course), 4) the FHSU faculty must determine that obtaining the credential certifies the learner has demonstrated knowledge at a level comparable to passing the FHSU course.  5) Awarding credit will advance you toward your degree.  All CPL must advance a student towards a degree, thus even if you hold a credential that would be accepted the CPL is not awarded unless you can use that credit towards your degree.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

FHSU grants credit for the successful completion of some International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme courses.  Required scores follow the statewide minimum, with most courses requiring a 4, or above, for credit. A chart of course equivalencies for International Baccalaureate along with the specific score requirements may be viewed. Students who have completed IB Diploma Programme courses and tests should have International Baccalaureate forward an official transcript to the Office of the Registrar at Fort Hays State University.

Seal of Biliteracy 

Students who received the Seal of Biliteracy may receive credit for the first two courses (10 credit hours) in the non-English language(s) in the seal.  In order to receive the credit the state awarding the seal must adhere to the recommendation that students demonstrate an ACTFL “Intermediate Mid” level of proficiency on a validated test of proficiency.  Students interested in pursuing a major or minor in the department might be eligible to receive additional credits based upon individual evaluation/placement examinations.

We recommend students who passed AP, IB, or CLEP exams to request a score report for the exam be sent to FHSU.  Credit by exams costs the student less, and some exam articulations are more than 10 hours.

Students unable to submit results from an above named exam should contact the Modern Languages Programs or CPL office to initiate the Credit by Documentation process.  This process currently carries a fee of $25 per credit hour. 

Students from the following states will receive credit upon verification of the Seal: Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, & Oklahoma. Students from these states are encouraged to contact the CPL office – if the seal and language are noted on the HS records, we have the documentation needed.

Students from the following states must provide official evidence of a validated external exam in addition to the seal. The exam must include the student's name, and result, and the language tested must be identified from the exam or Seal to be considered for credit: California, Nebraska, & Texas.

If you hold the Seal from a state not listed: Contact the department or CPL office.  FHSU will look at the requirements to determine if it meets the validated external test requirement. 

National Council Licensure Exam for RN

The Nursing Department at Fort Hays State University may grant Advanced Standing Credit to students in the RN to BSN program who have passed the NCLEX-RN Exam. For information on this program students should see the RN to BSN page, or contact the Department of Nursing.