At Oakton College, we know learning happens everywhere—not just in a classroom. The skills and knowledge you’ve gained through work, military service, certifications, or previous coursework matter here.
Through credit for prior learning (also called Prior Learning Assessment or PLA), you may be able to earn college credit for experience you already have. That can mean fewer classes, more momentum, and a faster path toward your certificate or degree.
Once you’re enrolled at Oakton, an advisor will help you review your experience and explain what documentation may be needed.
If credit is awarded, it will appear on your transcript as the equivalent Oakton course, with a note that it was earned through credit for prior learning.
A few important things to know:
Oakton awards college-level credit for students who take standardized tests.
AP exams are completed while still enrolled in high school. Oakton awards credit for Advanced Placement Exams with a score of 3 or higher. Check out the Advanced Placement Equivalencies to understand how Oakton awards credit for Advanced Placement tests and scores.
Each of these courses fulfills Oakton degree requirements as general education coursework or elective credit.
Oakton awards credit for Advanced Placement Exams with a score of 3 or higher.
| Examination | Minimum Score for Awarding Credit | Semester Credit Hours | Oakton Course Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| AP Capstone | |||
| Research | 3 | Social Science Elective | |
| Seminar | 3 | Social Science Elective | |
| Arts | |||
| Art History | 3 | 6 | ART 111, 112 |
| Studio Art: 2D Design | 3 | 3 | ART 105 |
| Studio Art: 3D Design | 3 | 3 | ART 107 |
| Studio Art: Drawing | 3 | 3 | ART 131 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 6 | MUS 121, 122 |
| English | |||
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 3 | EGL 101 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 3 | EGL 129 |
| History and Social Science | |||
| Government and Politics Comparative | 3 | 3 | PSC 201 |
| European History | 3 | 6 | HIS 131, 132 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 | GEG 122 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECO 201 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 | ECO 202 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 | PSY 101 |
| U.S. Government and Politics | 3 | 3 | PSC 101 |
| U.S. History | 3 | 6 | HIS 111, 112 |
| World History | 3 | 3 | Social Science Elective |
| Math and Computer Science | |||
| Calculus AB | 3 | 5 | MAT 250 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 9 | MAT 250, 251 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 3 | CSC 156 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 3 | CIS 101 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 | MAT 131 |
| Sciences | |||
| Biology | 3 4 5 |
4 4 8 |
BIO 121 BIO 121 BIO 121, 122 |
| Chemistry | 3 4–5 |
4 8 |
CHM 121 CHM 121, 122 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 4 | BIO 106 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 4 | Science Elective |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 4 | Science Elective |
| Physics 1 Algebra-Based | 3 | 4 | Science Elective |
| Physics 2: Algebra-Based | 3 | 8 | PHY 131, 132 (Must get 3 or higher on both Physics 1 and Physics 2.) |
| World Languages and Culture | |||
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | CHI 101, 102 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | FRE 101, 102 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | GER 101, 102 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | ITL 101, 102 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | JPN 101, 102 |
| Latin | 3 | 8 | Language Elective |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 8 | SPN 101, 102 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 3 | SPN 210 |
CLEP tests are administered once you are enrolled in college.
Credit for successful performance on the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) general exam are awarded as elective credit in that subject area. Oakton awards credit at the ACE recommended score of 50 or higher. See the CLEP test credit list to understand how Oakton awards CLEP credit. Each course fulfills degree requirements at Oakton in the form of general education coursework or elective credit.
See the Testing Center CLEP instructions for how to take the test at Oakton.
After you pass the test:
Complete the Student Application for Prior Learning Assessment Credit for Standardized Tests.
Have the College Board send your test results to Oakton's Registrar Services Office.
For more information about credit for prior learning experiences, contact Advising Services at 847.635.1700.
IB exams are completed while still enrolled in high school.
Oakton awards credit for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program (DP) for tests that have a score of 4 or higher.
Each of these courses fulfills Oakton degree requirements as general education coursework or elective credit. An official IB transcript is required and may be requested from the International Baccalaureate Organization (Fees apply).
Each of the courses below fulfills degree requirements at Oakton in the form of general education coursework or elective credit.
| IB Area | Minimum Score for Awarding Credit | Level | Oakton Course Equivalent | Credits Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Biology |
4-7 |
SL |
BIO 101 |
4 |
|
Biology |
4-5 |
HL |
BIO 101 |
4 |
|
Biology |
6-7 |
HL |
BIO 121 and 122 |
8 |
|
Chemistry |
4-5 |
SL |
CHM 101 or 105 |
4 |
|
Chemistry |
6 |
|
CHM 121 |
4 |
|
Chemistry |
7 |
|
CHM 121 and 122 |
8 |
|
Chemistry |
4 |
HL |
CHM 101 or 105 |
4 |
|
Chemistry |
6 |
|
CHM 121 |
4 |
|
Chemistry |
7 |
|
CHM 121 and 122 |
8 |
|
Computer Science |
4-5 |
SL |
Computer Information Systems elective credit |
3 |
|
Computer Science |
6-7 |
|
CIS 101 |
3 |
|
Computer Science |
4-5 |
HL |
Computer Information Systems elective credit |
3 |
|
Computer Science |
6-7 |
|
CIS 101 |
3 |
|
Economics |
4 |
|
ECO 110 |
3 |
|
Environmental Systems and Societies |
4 or higher |
SL |
BIO 103 |
3 |
|
Environmental Systems and Societies |
|
HL |
BIO 103 |
3 |
|
Geography |
4 |
SL |
GEG 120 |
4 |
|
Geography |
|
HL |
GEG 120 |
4 |
|
History |
4 |
SL |
HIS 140 |
3 |
|
Language A: Language and Literature |
||||
|
English |
4 |
SL |
EGL 101 |
3 |
|
English |
|
HL |
|
|
|
German |
4 |
SL |
GER 210 |
3 |
|
German |
|
HL |
|
|
|
Spanish |
4 |
SL |
SPN 210 |
3 |
|
Spanish |
|
HL |
|
|
|
Language A: Literature |
4 |
SL |
EGL 129 |
3 |
|
Language A: Literature |
|
HL |
|
|
|
Language (Beginning): Acquisition (Foreign Language for Beginners) |
||||
|
Arabic |
4 |
SL |
ARB 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
English |
4 |
SL |
English elective |
3 |
|
French |
4 |
SL |
FRE 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
German |
4 |
SL |
GER 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Italian |
4 |
SL |
ITL 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Japanese |
4 |
SL |
JPN 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Mandarin |
4 |
SL |
CHI 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Russian |
4 |
SL |
RUS 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Spanish |
4 |
SL |
SPN 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Language B: Acquisition (Foreign Language for Experienced Students) |
||||
|
Arabic |
4 |
SL |
ARB 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Arabic |
|
HL |
ARB 201 & 202 |
8 |
|
Chinese |
4 |
SL |
CHI 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Chinese |
|
HL |
CHI 201 & 202 |
8 |
|
English |
4 |
SL |
English elective credit |
3 |
|
English |
|
HL |
English elective credit |
3 |
|
French |
4 |
SL |
FRE 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
German |
4 |
SL |
GER 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
German |
|
HL |
GER 201 & 202 |
8 |
|
Italian |
4 |
SL |
ITL 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Italian |
|
HL |
ITL 201 & 202 |
8 |
|
Japanese |
4 |
SL |
JPN 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Japanese |
|
HL |
JPN 201 & 202 |
8 |
|
Korean |
4 |
SL |
KOR 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Korean |
|
HL |
KOR 201 & 202 |
8 |
|
Russian |
4 |
SL |
RUS 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Russian |
|
HL |
RUS 201 & 202 |
8 |
|
Spanish |
4 |
SL |
SPN 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Spanish |
|
HL |
SPN 101 & 102 |
8 |
|
Literature and Performance |
4 |
SL |
English or Theater elective |
|
|
Further Mathematics |
4 |
HL |
MAT 149 |
5 |
|
Mathematics |
4 |
SL |
MAT 149 |
5 |
|
Mathematics |
4 |
HL |
MAT 149 |
5 |
|
Mathematical Studies |
4 |
SL |
MAT 140 |
4 |
|
Philosophy |
4-7 |
SL |
HUM 127 |
3 |
|
Philosophy |
|
HL |
HUM 127 |
3 |
|
Physics |
4-7 |
SL |
PHY 101 |
4 |
|
Physics |
|
HL |
PHY 101 |
4 |
|
Psychology |
4 |
SL |
PSY 101 |
3 |
|
Psychology |
|
HL |
PSY 101 |
3 |
|
Social and Cultural Anthropology |
4 |
SL |
ANT 102 |
3 |
|
Social and Cultural Anthropology |
|
HL |
ANT 102 |
3 |
|
World Religions |
|
SL |
PHL 205 |
3 |
|
Business Management |
|
SL |
BUS 101 |
3 |
|
Business Management |
|
HL |
BUS 101 |
3 |
|
Global Politics |
|
SL |
PSC 103 |
3 |
|
Film |
|
SL |
HUM 160 |
3 |
|
Film |
|
HL |
HUM 160 |
3 |
|
Music |
|
SL |
MUS 104 |
3 |
|
Music |
|
HL |
MUS 104 |
3 |
|
Theater |
|
HL |
THE 103 THE 202 |
6 |
|
Visual Arts |
|
SL |
ART elective |
3 |
|
Visual Arts |
|
HL |
ART elective |
3 |
|
Any additional exams not specified above |
|
SL HL |
Elective credit within the respective area |
|
In addition to standardized testing options, you can earn credit with:
You’ve built valuable knowledge and skills long before applying to college. Let’s make sure they count—we’re here to help.
Explore your options for earning college credit and move forward with confidence at Oakton.