Northeast Alabama Community College recognizes that individuals can develop mastery of course competencies through different methods. The College awards non-traditional credit by the following methods: College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), Military Service Credit, Articulated High School Technical Coursework and Prior Learning. Academic credit may be granted for other officially documented learning experience according to American Council on Education recommendations.
Credit for academic transfer courses awarded through non-traditional means may only be awarded by examination or nationally recognized guidelines. Course credit earned through non-traditional means will be noted as such on the student’s transcript. Credit awarded through non-traditional means does not count toward the minimum of 25% of semester credit hours that must be completed at Northeast Alabama Community College. Credit may not be received twice for the same learning.
Credit awarded will be recorded on the student's transcript without grades or quality points and will not be included in the calculation of the student's grade point average.
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) credit may be awarded by Northeast to students who have obtained satisfactory scores on the CollegeBoard AP exam.
The official AP score report must be sent directly from CollegeBoard, either electronically or by mail, to the Admissions Office in order to be evaluated for course credit. Course credit awarded for AP by Northeast, however, does not indicate that four-year or transfer institutions will award credit. It is the student's responsibility to verify credit with the transfer institution.
AP credit at NACC is offered in the subjects listed in the chart below. Other AP courses must be evaluated by the appropriate division director for evaluation.
| Subject | Min. Score | NACC Equivalent | Sem. Hrs. Credit |
| AP Pre Cal | 3 | MTH 112 | 3 |
| AP Pre Cal | 4 or 5 | MTH 112, MTH 113 | 6 |
| Biology | 3 | BIO103 | 4 |
| Biology | 4 or 5 | BIO103 and BIO104 | 8 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | MTH 113 and MTH 125 | 7 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | MTH 113, MTH 125, and MTH 126 | 11 |
| Calculus BC – AB subscore | 3 | MTH 125 | 4 |
| Chemistry | 3 | CHM111 or CHM104 | 4 |
| Chemistry | 4 or 5 | (CHM111 and CHM 112) or CHM104 | 8 or 4 |
| English Language/ Composition | 3 | ENG101 | 3 |
| English Language/ Composition | 5 | ENG101 and ENG102 | 6 |
| English Literature/ Composition | 3 | ENG101 | 3 |
| English Literature/ Composition | 5 | ENG101 and ENG102 | 6 |
| Government & Politics: US | 3 | POL 211 | 3 |
| Physics B | 3 | PHY 201 and PHY 202 | 8 |
| Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism | 3 | PHY 214 | 4 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | PHY 213 | 4 |
| Physics I | 3 | PHY 201 | 4 |
| Physics II | 3 | PHY 202 | 4 |
| Psychology | 3 | PSY 200 | 3 |
| Spanish Literature/ Culture | 3 | SPA 101 & SPA 102 | 8 |
| Statistics | 3 | MTH 265 or BUS 271 | 3 |
| US History | 3 | HIS 201 and 202 | 6 |
Articulated High School Technical Coursework
Northeast awards credit to students who have completed high school courses listed on the approved Statewide Career and Technical Education Articulation Agreement and/or locally established articulation programs with area secondary technical schools. To ensure that coursework and learning outcomes are at the collegiate level and comparable to NACC degree programs, Northeast faculty must be involved in the process to determine which secondary technical course may be accepted for articulation. Students must request credit for articulated credit within 20 months of high school graduation.
College Level Examination Program - CLEP
Northeast awards credit earned through CLEP examinations provided minimum scores are achieved. Credit is granted in the course for which credit is to be earned or for credit already earned in the subject examination's course equivalent.
Official score reports must be sent electronically or mailed to the Admissions Office directly from the College Board. Credit awarded for CLEP by Northeast does not indicate that four-year or transfer institutions will award credit. It is the student’s responsibility to verify credit with the transfer institution.
CLEP credit at NACC is offered in the subjects listed in the chart below. Other CLEP courses must be evaluated by the appropriate division director for evaluation.
| Subject | Min. Score | NACC Equivalent | Sem. Hrs. Credit |
| American Government | 50 | POL 211 | 3 |
| American Literature | 50 | ENG 251 | 3 |
| Anatomy & Physiology I | 50 | BIO201 | 4 |
| Biology | 50 | BIO 103,104 | 8 |
| Calculus | 50 | MTH125 | 4 |
| Chemistry | 50 | CHM111, 112 | 8 |
| College Algebra | 50 | MTH100 | 3 |
| College Mathematics | 50 | MTH110 | 3 |
| Composition (College) | 50 | ENG 101 | 3 |
| English Literature | 50 | ENG 261 | 3 |
| History of the US I | 50 | HIS 201 | 3 |
| History of the US II | 50 | HIS 202 | 3 |
| Human Growth And Development | 50 | PSY 210 | 3 |
| Pre-Calculus | 50 | MTH112 | 3 |
| Psychology (Intro) | 50 | PSY 200 | 3 |
| Spanish Language, Level 1 | 50 | SPA 101, 102 | 8 |
Military Service Credit
Students who desire to receive college credit for their military training should request a Joint Services Transcript (JST). All enlisted, officers and warrant officers, both active and veterans from all Army components, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy are eligible to receive free official transcripts from JST. Individuals interested in a free official JST should request a transcript at https://jst.doded.mil. Air Force personnel should contact Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) at www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/CCAF/Display/Article/803247/community-college-of-the-air-force-transcripts/ to obtain official transcripts. Students requesting transcripts should ask that the transcript be sent electronically or mailed directly to the Admissions Office.
Students who have had active military service may receive credit in physical education (less any completed prior to military service) as follows: from three to six months, three semester hours; for more than six months, four semester hours.
Prior Learning Credit
Prior learning credit allows students to receive credit for life experiences which may include employment, training, professional certifications, noncredit courses, and other experiences. Students must document that they have obtained a mastery of skills equivalent to the course objectives. Prior learning does not apply to secondary/post-secondary articulation agreements or dual enrollment. Students seeking credit through prior learning must pay a $25.00 fee for each course.
Prior learning credit is awarded through industry certification or portfolio review. Both methods must be reviewed and approved by the program instructor, Dean of Workforce Development and Skills Training and Dean of Student Services. The awarding of credit may be dependent upon the student passing an examination and/or verification of the industry certification. The student requesting prior learning credit through portfolio review must also obtain a copy of the course syllabus/ plan of instructor from the instructor in charge of the program and provide documentation indicating that the student has met all learning objectives for the course.