Hey fellow students, anyone has a clue about the way college credits are counted for military experience? Are there criterias or standards on how these are evaluated? Would really appreciate any insight on this. Thanks!
Hello! Yes, many colleges and universities do indeed award college credit for military training and experience. However, the amount and type of credit you can receive vary greatly from one school to another.
Most institutions base their evaluation of military training on the recommendations of the American Council on Education (ACE). ACE works with the Department of Defense (DoD) to review military training and experiences and recommend equivalent college credits for those. These recommendations are published in the ACE's Military Guide.
Once you've selected a school, you typically need to submit your Joint Services Transcript (JST), if you're an Army, Marine Corps, Navy, or Coast Guard veteran, or your Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript, if you were in the Air Force. These transcripts provide a description of your military schooling and work history, recommended college credit by ACE, as well as other potentially valuable data like your rank and occupational specialty codes.
Once the school receives this data, it's usually evaluated by a specialist in the registrar's or admissions office to determine how it maps to the school's course offerings. Some schools may award elective credit for military training, while others may have the ability to award credit towards specific classes or degree requirements. It all really depends on the school's policies and how closely your military training aligns with the school's coursework.
Keep in mind that, while many institutions are quite generous in the credit they grant, some may limit the total number of credits you can earn for prior learning, and others may not consider military training at all. It's always a good idea to reach out to your target schools and ask about their policies.
Lastly, it's worth noting that earning college credit for military experience isn't limited to traditional universities. Trade and technical schools, community colleges, and online colleges and universities often also grant credit for military training.
Hope this gives you an idea of how the process works!
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