Can you transfer AP credits from community college to a university?

I'm taking some AP courses and wondering if I can transfer those AP credits when I move from a community college to a university. How common is it for universities to accept these credits, and is there anything specific I should do?

The transferability of AP credits varies by institution and sometimes even within departments at the same institution. In general, if you've scored a 3 or higher on an AP exam, these scores can potentially earn you college credit or allow you to skip some lower-level courses, easing your course load down the line.

However, the process can be a little more complicated when you're transferring from a community college to a university. Here's why - AP scores become college class credits when they're accepted by a college after you enroll. If you're at a community college, and they accept your AP scores as equivalent to some of their classes, those classes then go on your transcript, and they're treated like any other class: when you try to transfer to a four-year school later, you have to see what they say about accepting those specific classes from your specific community college. They might, or they might not. They also won't "see" that you got those credits because of AP scores; as far as the new college is concerned, they're just credits from your old school.

However, some universities might allow you to submit your AP scores directly for consideration as part of the transfer process, essentially allowing you to gain credit for them twice. That's less common, but it can happen.

In general, if this is something you're interested in, my advice would be to check the AP score policies of both your current school and potential transfer schools. Consider reaching out to admissions representatives for clarification if necessary. Additionally, be sure to keep all your original AP score reports, as some schools may request them as part of your transfer application. The more proactive you can be in the planning process, the better your chances of successfully transferring your credits.