WHAT IS A COMPREHENSIVE ARTICULATION AGREEMENT?
This is an agreement between North Carolina community colleges and NC public universities in which students who earned an associate degree at the community college can transfer into a NC public university as a junior thereby waiving the general education requirements. Not only are the credits guaranteed to transfer in this agreement, but a student could possibly get waived out of a required general education course at the receiving school without ever taking it. Check your state for such agreements.
ARE CREDITS BY EXAM ACCEPTED THROUGH THE CAA?
According to a report by the State Board of Community Colleges and the Board of Governors at the University of North Carolina, the Transfer Advisory Committee recommends, “that the same guiding principle prescribed for AP course credit be exercised in the treatment of other NCCCS course credit awarded as part of the AA or AS degree under the CAA through other commonly recognized exams (e.g., IB, CLEP, Dantes, Cambridge).” The report states that AP credits are acceptable for the CAA as long as the student completes the associate degree. According to this statement, it can be inferred that CLEP credits will be given the same regard. Read the actual report: Comprehensive Articulation Agreement.
When reading through this report, I got the impression that schools may have some additional say in the matter, but there is a transfer credit appeal procedure for students who wish to debate a ruling.
As always, assumptions should be turned into fact by researching a target school and asking specific questions about that school’s transfer process. Search the internet for answers or join a social media group for homeschoolers that focus on North Carolina early college credit. Ask the members if they have used the CAA process at your target school.
OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE CAA
For my daughter, a NC state school accepted the 40+ CLEP credits she used to earn an associate’s degree at the community college. She was offered a spot in the Junior class. All the general education requirements were waived. It got her out of a required ethics course. As I understand, the waiver can get students out of certain “required” general education courses like a foreign language, as long as the course is not required for a major. So yes, her CLEP exams were accepted through the CAA waiver at a state school. She, however, chose a private school which accepted only half of her CLEP credits. At this school she had to take an ethics course which ended up being a great course.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ON THE CAA
It’s great knowing about education “loopholes.” But it’s wise to think about the big picture too. Taking actual courses in a major area serves students well. Earning an associate degree might not fit a student’s timetable well either. Finally, use this information to help you find essential facts needed for your situation. Schools may have additional requirements. If you are not homeschooling in NC, you can still investigate if your state has an articulation agreement between the community college system and its public four-year schools.
My experience with CLEPs. I have coached my kids and their friends through 16 different CLEP exams over a period of 9 years. Collectively, they have passed 39 CLEP exams and earned over 159 college credits. I’m still coaching my younger son through his CLEP journey. My high school graduates have received full-ride merit scholarships.