Credit by Exam

West Chester University is offering students the opportunity to earn WCU credits in teacher preparation programs.
Students can earn up to six (6) WCU college credits by successfully completing a WCU-issued exam for the following courses:

Eligibility

  • Matriculating WCU Student currently enrolled in a teacher preparation program
  • High School PRIZE Student (current PRIZE partner)
A student wearing glasses and a red sweatshirt is working on her laptop

Matriculating WCU Student

  • You will register for either SED 100-22 or EDA 103-22 in RamPortal during your registration period. (Section 22 is the designation for credit by exam)
  • You should review the course competencies listed at the top of this page and in the FAQ's at the bottom of this page - no review materials will be provided
  • You must pay $92 at the time of registration
  • The exam will be proctored by the course instructor or the WCU Professional Testing Center; it cannot be taken at home
  • The grade you receive on the exam is the grade you receive in the course
A student wearing a yellow WCU sweatshirt is working on her laptop

High school PRIZE student

  • Your school district must be a PRIZE partner (If your school district is not a PRIZE partner, you can take credit by exams once you are a matriculating WCU student)
  • You should review the course competencies listed at the top of this page and in the FAQ's at the bottom of this page - no review materials will be provided
  • You will work with the PRIZE director and follow the PRIZE registration process
  • The exam must be taken before you graduate from high school
  • The exam will be proctored by high school personnel, with approval from your counselor; it may not be taken at home
  • The grade you receive on the exam is the grade you receive in the course
Important! Credit by exams may only be taken once. If you do not pass, you will need to take the corresponding WCU course.

 

EDA 103 Counts Towards the Following Majors SED 100 Counts Towards the Following Majors
Early Grades Education Early Grades Education – Elective
Middle Grades Education Secondary Education
Special Education  
Secondary Education  

Registration Timeline

Completes High School Education Courses Register for Exams * Take Exam
In December WCU Fall semester add/drop deadline (early September) During WCU Fall semester finals week (Dec)
In May/June WCU Spring semester add/drop deadline (early February)
WCU Summer I add/drop deadline (late May)		 During WCU Spring semester finals week (May)
End of WCU Summer I Session (June)

* Registration and completion of the exam must be with the specified WCU term. The academic calendar should be reviewed to confirm the specific dates for each term.

  • Exams are developed and graded by WCU faculty members. 
  • Once registered, monitor your WCU email for an exam date.

Grading and Transcriptions

  • Exams will be graded within two weeks of administration.
  • The grade received on the exam will be the grade recorded for the course based on the WCU grading system

Credit by Exam FAQ

How do I know if I am ready to take the exam? 

If you have thorough and complete knowledge of the competencies for the course: EDA 103 Competencies , SED 100 Competencies , and you are currently enrolled in a teacher preparation elective at your high school.

When must I register for the test?

You must register for the test by the last day of add/drop of the semester in which you plan to take it. You can find this information in the Academic Calendar.

How do I request an official transcript showing the grade I earned for the course?

You must wait until the course grade is posted in RamPortal before requesting an official transcript through the WCU Registrar's Office. When you order a transcript, you must enter your email address as the recipient in Parchment (via RamPortal).

Please note that if you become a Special Education major at WCU, you must earn a C or better on your EDA 103 credit by exam.

How does credit by exam for these two courses interface with the NOCTI and the task grid for the CTE General Education Pathway (13.0101)? 

Currently, passing the NOCTI and task grid for CTE Pathway 13.0101 does not satisfy the requirements to earn credit. However, students can apply those credits to a two-year institution and then have them transferred to WCU by working with the WCU Transfer Credit Center. We are working to better align with NOCTI and the tasks grid.

What is the format of the test?

The test will be proctored and taken online. Brightspace by D2L is the Learning Management System used by WCU (commonly referred to as "D2L"). The test will be administered via D2L during the course's final exam week. You can find information regarding the final exam schedule on the WCU Academic Calendar. No one is permitted to take the test at home.

How do I register for the correct course?

First, you will need to apply to WCU as a non-degree student. Each exam costs $92. Be prepared to pay in full when registering. The WCU Registrar's Office will enroll applicants in the correct course. The credit by exam course section will be listed in the schedule with a section number shown as 22 for the seven-week course. For example, SED 100-22 or ED 103-22. Questions about registration can be directed to UGRADNONDEGREE@wcupa.edu.

Where will I take the test?

High school students will take the exam at your school, with school personnel present.
WCU students will take the exam with their instructor or at the Professional Testing Center, as determined by the instructor. No one is permitted to take the test at home.