Medical Career Programs College Credit Recommendations
Simi Institute’s Medical Career Programs now have National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) Credit Recommendations associated with them. NCCRS is a program of the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York. Since 1973, NCCRS has been evaluating training and education programs offered outside of the traditional college classroom setting and translating them into college credit equivalencies. More than 1,500 cooperating colleges and universities (including most California Community Colleges and Cal State Universities) will consider granting actual college credit based on NCCRS credit recommendations. Additional colleges may also award college units for SICE Medical Career Courses.
view college credit recommendations by course
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Simi Institute for Careers and Education receive college credit recommendations from NCCRS for its Medical Careers Courses?
NCCRS staff planned an academic evaluation with SICE and assembled a team of evaluators for each program (three college faculty who teach similar courses). During the review, the evaluation team, supervised by an NCCRS staff member, reviewed text books, syllabi, graded exams, homework assignments, grade rosters, student evaluation forms, and other appropriate instructional/programmatic materials that illuminated the scope of the learning experiences. The evaluation team determined if the learning experiences are comparable to similar college level courses and, if so, they made recommendations about the amount of credit that would be appropriate for a college to award as transfer credit.
How can the credit recommendations be used?
The most common use of the credit recommendations is to obtain college credit, either by a college actually awarding credit or waiving a required or prerequisite course. Individuals have also used the credit recommendations to qualify for job advancement, obtain salary increases, meet educational requirements for professional licensure or certification, or obtain entry into new areas of employment.
Is college credit automatically earned at the successful completion of a learning experience evaluated by NCCRS?
No. NCCRS credit recommendations are recommended credits and only result in actual college credit when a college or university awards credit toward a degree program and posts the credit on a student's record.
Does my SICE graduation year affect if I can transfer credits to a college?
The dates that SICE courses received their NCCRS credit recommendations reflect the date that SICE went through the rigorous NCCRS credit recommendation process.
All SICE Respiratory Therapy courses were given NCCRS recommendations 4/2017. Note: SICE's RT courses were granted credit recommendations from 1/1993-9/2015 by the American Council on Education (ACE).
Other SICE medical classes were granted NCCRS credit recommendations 4/2022.
If a student took a SICE medical careers course before the NCCRS recommendation date listed, that doesn't necessarily mean that a college wouldn't recognize that SICE course for credit. The student wishing to transfer credits could explain to their college that although the NCCRS credit recommendations for a specific course do not cover that time period, the fact that NCCRS eventually extended credit recommendations should serve as proof that a course then and now is at the college level.
How do I find out which colleges are willing to consider awarding college credit for successful completion of learning experiences evaluated by NCCRS?
View a list of the names of cooperating colleges and universities in the link below. Inclusion on this list of cooperating colleges means that an institution has indicated a willingness to consider acceptance of transfer requests and may award the recommended credit. Requests for credit are typically evaluated on a case-by-case basis. As part of the decision-making process, college officials consider how the noncollegiate learning experiences might fit into individual students' degree programs. In some cases, transfer credit requests are accepted as electives.
view cooperatiing colleges and universities
What if the college or university that I want to attend is not listed on the NCCRS list above?
In addition to the colleges and universities on the list of cooperating colleges, there are many others that may consider awarding credit through an individualized portfolio assessment of prior learning. NCCRS credit recommendations may become part of such portfolios. If a college is not listed, you should contact the Registrar, the Admissions Office, or the chairperson of the degree program you wish to enroll in for specific information on their transfer policies.
Contact the transfer office at the college or university that you wish to attend and ask them to review Simi Institute’s credit recommendations on the NCCRS website.
What if a college isn't familiar with NCCRS?
A college often asks for more information when they are not familiar with NCCRS or the college credit recommendation service. If questions arise, you should contact NCCRS and they will contact the college to explain the college credit recommendation procedures. You may also suggest that the college official visit the NCCRS website. Click on the link below to complete the form to request NCCRS assistance:
Are policies for granting credit the same at all colleges?
No. Academic institutions set their own policies regarding whether to award credit for learning experiences completed at other colleges and universities (or noncollegiate organizations). These policies vary among institutions. Some colleges may grant credit for successful completion of courses or programs sponsored by noncollegiate organizations; other colleges may not. Other colleges may not grant credit but may, instead, waive a prerequisite or a required course. Some policies are institution-wide; others are set by each academic unit or department. Students should check with the college they are interested in attending to determine its policies.
Is there a limit to the amount of credit that colleges award for noncollegiate learning experiences?
Some colleges and universities don't have official policies limiting the number of credits which can be earned through transfer from other academic institutions or from noncollegiate organizations. Many other colleges report a maximum amount, usually 15 to 30 credits for a four-year degree program. Institutions may also limit the amount of credit granted toward any given subject area. Furthermore, institutions that do not have degree programs that complement the noncollegiate learning experiences may modify the amount of credit awarded or may even decline to award credit for the courses completed by students. Two-year colleges, while generally very willing to consider awarding credit for NCCRS evaluated learning experiences, usually have limited flexibility in awarding a large amount of transfer credit because many of their associate degree programs are very structured. When individuals seek credit for a large number of NCCRS evaluated learning experiences (or a large amount of credit), it is more likely that a four-year institution or a nontraditional college whose mission is to offer adult oriented, distance learning, or nonresidential degrees would have more latitude within their degree programs to award credit.
What are the steps to obtain transfer credit?
- Request an official transcript from Simi Institute to the college or university of your choice. Note: many schools require that the transcript be mailed directly to them.
- Meet with an academic advisor and review your transcript. Ask about their PLA (prior learning assessment) process or policies. Tell them about the CCRS Online directory should they need detailed information about the course and credit recommendation. http://www.
nationalccrs.org/course- credit-directory - If you encounter problems with your transfer credit request, please submit a Request for Assistance Form so NCCRS can advocate on your behalf. http://www.
nationalccrs.org/content/ request-assistance-obtaining
How do colleges decide to grant transfer credit?
- Residency Requirements: Most colleges require students to complete a specific number of credits from their institution in order to be granted a degree there. Many four-year colleges require students to take up to 60 credits at their college toward a 120 credit baccalaureate degree, so they will not grant more than 60 transfer credits.
- Course or Program of Study: The courses students are seeking transfer credit for should align with those offered at the college in keeping with the requirements of the program or major the student is pursuing. For example, if a student wants to enroll in a dentistry program, chances are that specialty courses in dramatic arts or fire science may not be granted transfer credit because they don't fit the program of study.
- Grades and Course Level: Generally, students must earn at least a C (70%) or above to receive transfer credit for any given course, although some colleges may require a B or higher. Likewise, a lower level English course will not fulfill the requirement of an upper level English course. Remedial courses generally do not warrant any transfer credit.
- Accreditation: Colleges and Universities may decide to accept only those credits earned at a regionally accredited institution, although the US Department of Education recognizes national accrediting agencies as well.
You may file an appeal at the college if you are denied credit. Be sure to ask your advisor or department chairperson for a copy of the appeal process. If you need assistance with transfer credit for your NCCRS evaluated courses, fill out a Request for Assistance: