Transfer of Credits
Prior Education & Training
Baton Rouge College shall accept credit for prior education and training. Upon careful evaluation of prior education and training from any institution, students will be granted credit, and the time for training will be shortened proportionately to the amount of credit granted. Credit must be earned from an accredited post-secondary institution. The courses for which the student is receiving credit must be substantially the same as the equivalent offered by Baton Rouge College. Transferred credits are not considered in calculation of the student GRA at BRC.
Transfer of Credits Policy
BRC actively greets applicants for admission who have completed a measure of their education at other institutions. The applicants must have transcripts of courses completed at other institutions that show a passing grade (D or above) for the course(s) the student wishes to transfer. All documents received by BRC in association with such applications for admission become the property of BRC and will not be returned to the student. BRC strives to help applicants obtain their credentials as quickly as possible and will always give full consideration to credits received from other schools. However, a Request Form for Transfer of Previously Earned Credits must be completed and the $20 Degree Audit Fee paid, before credits from other schools will be considered. In addition, the students must also attach a copy of the course descriptions from the Catalog of the institution they attended from the year they began. For example, if a student began an institution in 1987, then BRC would require the course descriptions from the 1987 Catalog. Although credits may be approved, credits will not actually be granted and documented on the student’s transcript until the student has taken at least 12 semester credit hours at BRC and paid the required fees. At least 50% of credits earned in any program that BRC offers, must have been earned through course work completed at BRC.
Acceptance of credits from another institution is at the sole discretion of the president of the College. BRC does not infer, promise or guarantee transferability of credits earned at any other institution. Students shall not consider the credit earned in BRC’s programs transferable to any other college, university or school. The decision to accept credit for any other college is at the sole discretion of the school to which that student might want to transfer.
All college-level courses completed at regionally and nationally accredited institutions and accredited post-secondary vocational schools are considered for transfer. BRC does not accept credit from correspondence schools. Credits earned as quarter or trimester credit hours are converted to semester credit hours based on lecture, lab and intern hour conversions. Any student whose schedule was based on trimester or quarter credit hours should talk to the BRC staff about converting those hours to semester credit hours.
Semester credit hours are determined in the following manner: 15 lecture hours = 1 SCH, 45 Internship hours = 1 SCH, and 30 Laboratory hours = 1 SCH. Semester credit hours are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The student will be responsible for providing official institutional documentation concerning credit hours. Credit hours in doubt will not be added prior to such documentation having been received and reviewed by BRC’s staff.
Students completing a paralegal program at BRC and planning to enroll in another accredited College to gain general education credits should complete a Request Form for the Pre-Approval of Credits Transfer before enrolling in the college from which the credit transfer is planned. Credits must be completed within one year of the last day of attendance at BRC. Students failing to follow this procedure may be required to enroll and complete three semester credit hours at BRC before credits can be transferred. Credit transferred will not be considered in calculation of satisfactory progress.
Repetition of work for which credit has already been granted will not be permitted. The national or regional accrediting organization must be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). Final approval of transfer credit will be determined by the president of the College upon receipt of an official transcript.
Pre-Approval for Transfer of Credits
BRC allows students to pre-approve a transfer of credits. Students should complete the Request Form for Pre-Approved Transfer of Credits before taking any course(s) at another institution in order to be certain the courses are transferable. This gives students the opportunity to gain knowledge at other institutions while attending BRC. The process informs students as to whether or not the credits will be accepted before paying and/or taking classes that may not count towards a transfer of credits. Final approval of the transfer of credits will be pending until the College receives the student’s transcript with the students final grade(s) received in the course(s). Although credits may be approved, credits will not actually be granted and documented on the student’s transcript until the student has taken at least 12 semester credit hours at BRC and paid all required fees.
The following methods may be used to transfer credits toward the diploma and degree programs at BRC:
Credit by Assessment (Life Experiences)
Credit by Evaluation (ACE or PONSI)
Credit by Examination (CLEP)
Credit from Louisiana Schools
Credit from Interactive Online Courses
Credit by Assessment (Life Experiences)
BRC acknowledges learning accomplished not only through a conventional classroom, but through work experience, civic involvement, and personal study. What is learned is more important than where or how, so BRC offers the possibility of granting academic credit toward the Paralegal AAS Degree, Diploma and Certificate programs for previous learning from adult life and work experience.
BRC will consider academic and vocational credit for learning that meet one of the following measures:
- Theoretical understanding and practical application of said subject.
- Ability to deliberate and to employ the knowledge and skills learned in an unconventional manner in other settings.
- Training related to paralegal education documented in some objective way through written statements/test results.
- Demonstrations presented to a panel of BRC staff evaluators, etc.
Two or more members of BRC’s staff will read and/or evaluate your learning experiences, and sign an approval form for credit to be awarded through this process. If approved, a “P” (Pass) grade will be given and will not be calculated in the student’s BRC grade point average. Credit hours will be placed on the student’s BRC transcript after 12 Semester Credit Hours of course work have been completed at BRC and required fees have been paid.
Credit by Evaluation (ACE or PONSI)
The National Guide to Educational Credit for Training Programs provides listings of training programs which have been evaluated and approved for College level credit by the American Council on Education (ACE). The Directory of the National Program on Non-Collegiate Sponsored Instruction (PONSI) provides listings of training programs which have been evaluated by the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York, the most comprehensive educational organization in the nation. Students completing training programs from institutions listed in these guides must have official documentation sent to BRC for a transfer of credits to be earned through the evaluation method. ACE and PONSI credits will be identified and documented as “ACE” or “PONSI” on the student’s BRC transcript with a grade of “Pass”.
The following guidelines apply: A maximum of 12 prior learning credits may be earned as a result of professional training (i.e. workshops, seminars, licenses, business and professional courses, and other institutionally-sponsored course work). No more than 25% of credits earned in either program that BRC offers (Paralegal diploma or the AAS Degree program) may be earned through the evaluation method. Whereas credit earned through the evaluation method on the AAS degree level transfer directly, credits designated vocational by ACE transfer only after completion of 12 Semester Credit Hours of BRC course work. Credit earned through the evaluation method is not given for credits that have already been earned at BRC.
Credit by Examination (CLEP)
Course credit may be earned through examinations offered by the CLEP, or College Level Examination Program. For more information about these exams, please visit their website at www.collegeboard.com/clep. Testing centers are available in the following locations:
- Southern University
- Southeastern University
- Delgado Community College
- University of New Orleans
Please visit the website on how to sign up for exams. The table below shows the examinations that are transferrable for BRC credit and the scores required for transfer.
| Course Name (BRC equivalent) | Minimum Score | Semester Credit Hours |
| Freshman College Composition (C101) | 50 | 3 |
| English Composition with or without Essay (C102) | 50 | 3 |
| American Government (H105) | 50 | 3 |
| History of the United States I: Early Colonizations to 1877 (H103) | 50 | 3 |
| History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present (H104) | 50 | 3 |
| Introductory Psychology (B203) | 50 | 3 |
| Introductory Sociology (B202) | 50 | 3 |
| College Algebra (N102) | 45 | 3 |
| College Mathematics (N101) | 45 | 3 |
| Principles of Accounting (N201) | 45 | 3 |
| Introductory Business Law (GBL-201) | 50 | 3 |
The testing service transcripts must be provided to the college.
Credits received from CLEP that are applied to the student’s BRC transcript are documented as “CLEP CREDIT”. Credit will be documented under the year/term in which the student earned the credits and with a grade of “Pass” that is not calculated in the student’s BRC grade point average. No more than a total of 30 Semester Credit Hours may be earned by examinations and can equal no more than 25% of course work of the program for which the student is enrolled. If possible, students who complete examinations should request that score reports be sent directly to BRC. A Degree Audit Request form must be completed, accompanied by the testing service transcripts, and signed by the student.
Credit from Interactive Online Courses
BRC accepts credits earned through on-line programs accredited by The Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), a non-profit educational association located in Washington, D.C. BRC also accepts credits earned through online courses taken through a nationally or regionally accredited organization recognized by the USDE. Other online courses will be reviewed and considered.
Degree Audit Letter
The auditing staff member will review a request for a transfer of previously earned credits. Before these credits will be transferred to any program at BRC, the student must first be accepted by the Admissions Committee. After the auditing staff member at BRC reads and/or evaluates the student’s previous learning experiences and signs an approval form for credit to be awarded, the student will receive notification of approved credits for transfer in the form of a Degree Audit Letter. This letter itemizes each course for which the student will receive credit and the number of semester credit hours the student will receive for each course approved for transfer. The Degree Audit Letter will also inform the student of how many semester credit hours he/she lacks to complete the program for which he/she is enrolled. Students wishing to transfer to another school may receive a transcript for a fee of $10.*See transcript policy.
Appeal Process for Transfer of Credits
A Student who believes that credits from other institutions were not fairly credited towards completion of the program in which he or she is enrolled at BRC may appeal the decision by sending a Letter of Appeal to the President of the College. The Letter of Appeal should state the reasons he or she believes credits should have been accepted by BRC. Supporting documentation, including transcripts, should also be provided as part of the Appeal.
A written response will be sent to the student within two weeks of receipt of the Letter of Appeal from the student. This decision is final. No further appeals will be accepted at the College. If the student thinks he or she is being treated unfairly or differently than others students, he or she should then follow the complaint procedure in the College Catalog.
Effects on Financial Aid
Transfer credits have no effect on Financial Aid. Financial Aid is paid based upon the status of the student each semester (full-time, three-quarter time, and half-time). Transfer credits are NOT counted as part of the enrollment status and are NOT used for Satisfactory Academic Progress calculations (grade point average, time frame or completion rate).
Credit Transfer Fees & tuition
Tuition is NOT charged for transfer credits. Tuition is charged each semester for credits taken at Baton Rouge College. The College will charge the following fees for transfer credits. These fees must be paid by cash, check or money order and must be paid accordingly. The fees are non-refundable.
- •Transfer Credit Review Fee: $20 (Must be paid before the review)
- •Credit Transfer Fee: $10 per semester credit hour transferred to BRC (Must be paid after receipt of the Degree Audit Letter)
Credit from Louisiana Schools
BRC has evaluated specific Louisiana training programs for College level credit. Acceptance of these credits is dependent upon the student’s successful completion of 12 Semester Credit Hours of course work at BRC. Please see the list of “Transferrable Courses” for some of the courses that have been evaluated from a few of Louisiana’s colleges and universities. This list is not inclusive, it’s a representative sample of courses that have been approved for transfer of credits. A Request Form for Transfer of Credits must be completed. Students earning credits from any other Louisiana schools should request an evaluation of credits by BRC.
Note: Several of the schools listed have branch campuses. These campuses are also recognized by BRC.