Let me allow you in on a little secret. Education is fun, and it is super rewarding, both for personal growth and for improving your qualifications and thus your reputation.
Ok, so it’s not really a secret, it’s more of an absolute truth.
Another truth is that studying can be challenging. If it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be worth it. Anything worth having involves some sort of difficulty and growth, and education is the same. If you stick it out you will get your educational dreams and hopes fulfilled. That’s for sure.
But what about those who were not able to complete their studies? Are they destined to re-start the study process from scratch when they do decide to come back to studying? Yes and no, depending on where they study. And this is where study credit transfers are useful at NAU Canada Online.
What is a Credit Transfer?
First, let’s look at what credit is. Each module you do is worth a specific amount of credits. Think of credits as the educational equivalent of arcade game tokens.
The game is your degree and the tokens are the credits you get for completing the modules. Once you’ve put in enough tokens/credits you can get your degree.
Now a credit transfer means that you take your credits from one place and use them somewhere else.
This might be because you want to change degrees or institutions. In both cases, you have to take credits earned from one module or school and transfer them to another school or degree. Redoing the same modules all over again can be costly both financially and timewise.
The same applies if you have been in the field for years. Doing a module on basic management principles will not be as useful to someone who has 15 years’ experience in starting and managing a business. So, the question is must they do the modules?
Reasons to Transfer Credits
Studying, whether traditional or online, is subject to life’s whims. When life decides to throw a curve ball, it is comforting to know that you can transfer your credits.
It may be that you are unable to continue studying for the year, you may have to move from where you live or may have developed a dislike for your subject choice, in which case you’d want to change to something more in line with your interests. Whatever the reason, credit transfers come in really handy.
The process of credit transfers is great for most but there are a few things to be aware of.
The Process of a Credit Transfer
- School Policies
Before you consider changing to an institution you should first make sure the school’s policy allows for credit transfers. You need to look through the school’s policy to see which institutions they allow credit transfers from. - Course Evaluation and Equivalence
One of the biggest issues and concerns around study credit transfers is the issue of equivalence between two different modules. A module has curricula, and coursework, but these might differ from module to module. This makes it difficult to say whether a module is equal to another.
In the case where the student transfers from a different institution and attempts to get credits transferred, the issue is compounded because the comparison must now be between the institutions’ credentials and their practices. - Acceptance Criteria
Each school tends to have defined criteria for accepting credits. The general rule is that you should submit your academic transcripts to the new school. Some schools already have a rubric that includes some sort of rating for modules from different schools or work experiences. - Education Vs Experience Credits
Regarding credits to people with life experience, a different facet of the problem is shown. How do you equate a lifetime of job experience to a specific set of modules or course? How can the institution evaluate the value of your work experience in comparison to their coursework? - Benefits of Credit Transfers
A big benefit to transferring your credits from one school or course to another is the fact that it will help to fast track your studies. You will not have to repeat studying material and information that may have been covered in another module. You will also be able to take your work and life experience and use it to your advantage. - Credit for Life Experience
The experience, expertise and wisdom garnered from life experiences should not be overlooked. While studying may give you the theory behind the process, very few things teach as well as actually going through the process. If you have gained valuable life experience, you should be credited for it.At NAU Canada Online you will be able to use the experience you have acquired in life to give you an added advantage.
Transfer Credit Policy
So how would an institution of higher education actually go about doing credit transfers. Let’s look at how NAU Canada Online would help you get your credits transferred. Our policy considers credit from previous experience and from work and life experience as well. It is important though to note that some credits may be subject to time limits.
- Get Credit for Previous Education
NAU Canada Online has options for you if you’re looking to get credit from post-secondary education. We allow for block transfers, as well as look at post-diplomas and second degrees. We will assess individual courses, to fairly determine the value of each. You will have to submit your official transcripts in order to get the process going. - Get Credit for Work & Life Experience
NAU Canada Online values your previous work and life experience. All relevant experience can be used to count towards your credits. To take advantage of this, you will have to submit a portfolio to showcase any training and industry-recognized certifications you have gained over your working life.This method is based on your portfolio and assesses your experience and non-formal learning history. Your portfolio will serve as evidence to show how your experiences relate to the credentials you’d like credit for. NAU Canada Online’s credit transfer policy states that the position you hold is not credited as well as the number of years you worked in that position.
Credit transfers can be very useful. They can help you bypass modules and courses you don’t need or for which your experiential learning has already equipped you with. But you must realize that this is not a one size fits all solution. You must adhere to the standards and policies of the new school in order to get credits for your past work and experiences.
Interested in transferring credit to NAU Canada Online?
You can learn more about how to transfer your credits to NAU Canada Online on our website. There are also lots more articles and information on our blog.