Non-Traditional Credits

Advanced Placement

FDTC may award credit for FDTC courses to students from area high schools for technical coursework completed as part of the high school curriculum through the College’s Career and Technical Advanced Placement program. Advanced Placement Credit serves to provide a seamless transition from secondary to post-secondary education, reduces unnecessary duplication of courses, and enables students who do well in technical high school courses to save time and money while pursuing a college degree, diploma or certificate. Students who have taken Advanced Placement tests through the College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement Program and who score satisfactorily may obtain college credit. The score necessary for credit for a particular course is determined cooperatively by the appropriate department or school and the Registrar. Students must request that their scores be sent to Florence-Darlington Technical College c/o Registrar’s Office.

International Baccalaureate

Florence-Darlington Technical College awards college course credit for satisfactory scores on higher level International Baccalaureate (IB) examination to assist you in reaching your academic goals. Students who have completed courses and the tests in the International Baccalaureate Program must have their scores sent to the Registrar’s Office for evaluation. The College grants no more than one-fourth (1/4) of the total hours required to complete curriculum for (IB) credit.

Proficiency Tests/Credit by Examination

Credit by Examination is offered in certain courses to those students who, because of their demonstrated abilities, are qualified to accelerate their studies. Applications for such examination are made to the Department Chair of Curriculum Office at the time of enrollment. Only those courses listed in the current catalog which are approved for credit by examination may be taken for credit, and only in the amount of credit listed.

To obtain credit by examination, the student must do the following:

1. Register for the course, pay tuition, and take a proficiency examination with the Department Chair of Curriculum.
2. The Department Chair of Curriculum will determine which course offerings may be completed through credit by examination.
3. Students who are planning to take a sequential course should take the exam prior to the beginning of the semester.

High School Articulation

Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC) has Articulation Agreements with various local high schools in South Carolina. FDTC is a participating college. In accordance with this agreement, high school students may receive college credit for coursework completed in the high school toward an Associate in Applied Science in the Technical Education Programs. Academic program managers follow the processes for awarding experiential learning credit by referring to the articulation agreement. For more information go to the College’s website (www.fdtc.edu/admissions/high- school/information).

Students should contact their high school guidance counselor to complete the required paperwork for advanced standing. Credit for articulated courses is accepted for up to one year from the date of high school graduation until the student enrolls at FDTC.

College Level Exam Program (CLEP)

The College awards credit for satisfactory scores on many of the Subject Examinations offered through the CLEP program. Only freshman and sophomore students are eligible to take CLEP exams without prior permission from a department chair or the Registrar. Juniors and students who have attained senior standing may attempt CLEP exams, but first must obtain written permission from the Department Chair of the college discipline in which a particular exam is offered and the Registrar. Please refer to www.collegeboard.org.

Military Service Credit

FDTC awards credit for select formal military coursework and training. Under agreement with Service Members Opportunity Colleges (SOC), the College may grant credit for military education and experience that has been evaluated and recommended as suitable for postsecondary education credit by the American Council on Education. FDTC awards credit only for military education and experience that relate directly to courses taught by the College. Students must request official military transcripts from the appropriate military service. Academic department chairs assist with the review of establishing course credit equivalencies by referring to the ACE Guide. The College awards credit only for coursework in the student’s current or proposed major.

It is the responsibility of the veteran to provide official transcripts from all military and colleges attended. These mandatory official transcripts should be sent to the Registrar’s Office for evaluation as early as possible. An evaluation of all college and military transcripts must be completed by the end of the second semester in a new program of study.

Military Personnel and Their Dependents

Members of the United States Armed Forces (and their dependents) who are stationed in South Carolina on active duty may be considered eligible to pay in-state fees. Armed forces shall mean federal military personnel in the United States Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. When such personnel are ordered away from the state, their dependents may continue to pay in-state fees for additional 12 months. Under the Section 59-112-50, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to military personnel and their dependents are entitled to pay in-state tuition and fees without regard to the length of time they have resided in this state, so as to expand the categories of individuals covered by these provisions to conform with certain changes in federal law. As a result, military personnel and their dependents will be charged in-county and/or out of county fees based on the address provided upon enrolling at the institution.

Faculty and Administrative Employees and Their Dependent Children and Spouses

Full-time faculty and administrative employees of South Carolina state-supported colleges and universities are eligible to pay in-state fees. Dependents of such persons are also eligible.

Residents with Full-Time Employment and their Dependents

Persons who reside, are domiciled, and are employed full-time in the State and will continue to work full-time until they meet the 12-month requirement are eligible to pay in-state fees, provided that they have taken the steps to establish a permanent home in the state. The dependents of such persons are also eligible.

Retired Persons

Retired persons and their dependents who are receiving a pension or annuity who reside in South Carolina and have been domiciled in South Carolina as prescribed in the Statute for less than a year may be eligible for in-state rates if they maintain residence and domicile in this state.

Persons on terminal leave and their dependents who have established residency in South Carolina may be eligible for in-state rates even if domiciled in the state for less than one year, if they present documentary evidence from their employer showing they are on terminal leave. The evidence should show beginning and ending dates for the terminal leave period and that the person will receive a pension or annuity when he or she retires.

The initial determination of residency status is made at the time of admission. The determination made at that time, and any determination made thereafter, prevails for each subsequent term until the determination is successfully challenged. The burden of proof resides with the student to show evidence as deemed necessary to establish residency status.

Inquiries regarding residency requirements and determinations should be directed to the Director of Enrollment Management. International students are not considered residents of the state until they gain permanent resident status from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Additional information regarding residency may be found on the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education’s website at: https://www.che.sc.gov/Students,FamiliesMilitary/LearningAboutCollege/SCInstitutionsDegreePrograms/Residency.asp

Prior Learning Credit

The College awards Prior Learning Credit as an “Exemption” only for documented learning that demonstrates achievement of all outcomes for specific courses in an approved program in the current catalog. Prior Learning Credit may not be an option in some academic programs due to accreditation and licensing requirements. Experiential credit also may not be available for some courses in which the faculty of the program has deemed that type credit inappropriate. The awarding of credit through experiential learning is contingent upon many factors not limited to but including minimum age, length of time prior to enrolling. FDTC currently awards Prior Learning Credit through (ACE) American Council Education, (CLEP) College Level Examination Program, and Criminal Justice Prior Learning Experience.

South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and College Credit

Purpose: According to South Carolina statutes, law enforcement training is required of all police officers. The training required involves a variety of areas specific to police officers and correctional officers such as patrol procedures, defensive tactics, case law, courtroom procedures, and associated legal principles. Police officers attend the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA) for Basic Law Enforcement, Basic Jail, and a host of other advanced courses throughout their career. The training they receive is specific to the field of criminal justice and due consideration of college credit. Criminal Justice faculty evaluate an officer’s training in order to award college credit as outlined below. Training received by providers other than SCCJA will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. College credit is capped at 15 credit hours. The typical criminal justice course is 3 credit hours.

Training class: The classes below represent the most common study areas completed by full-time police officers and corrections officers at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. The training courses and work experience may be considered for college credit when they align with courses being taught at Florence-Darlington Technical College. Keep in mind that there is some variation in the number of hours from class to class.

In order to be considered for college credit, please complete the following process:

1. Enroll in the College as a Criminal Justice Technology degree  student.
2. Obtain an official SCCJA Transcript (You must contact SCCJA directly.)
3. Provide copies of your training certificates for all courses you wish to have considered for college credit.
4. Obtain official documentation from your Chief, Sheriff, or designee certifying current employment with a South Carolina law enforcement agency, to include dates of employment and job positions held.
5. Prepare a letter identifying your motivation for pursuing a degree, benefits to your current assignment or long-term goals, a brief autobiography, and which classes you are seeking credit.
6. Submit this package to Criminal Justice Department.

NOTE: There will be a $25.00 charge per credit hour for tuition and fees.