Prior Learning and Experience

There are many different ways in which students may be awarded credits based on previous education, knowledge, and experience.

Transfer Credits

Great Basin College will accept credits taken at another regionally accredited college or university. The student will first need to apply to GBC, declare a major, and have an official transcript sent from the original institution to GBC’s Admissions & Records Office. Details regarding transfer credits can be found on the Transferring to GBC page.

College Credit by Examination

There are exams that can be used to award a maximum of 30 credits. These exams include standardized national exams such as College-Level Examination Program (CLEP, Advanced Placement, etc.) and Challenge Exams which may be given by some academic departments at GBC. Refer to the College Credit by Examination page.

Non-traditional Credit

Many adult students with a rich experience of work and training may not be aware that they may obtain college credit for knowledge they have gained over the years. Students may receive up to 15 credit hours for non-traditional education from any combination of the following sources: military training, American Council on Education (ACE) transcripts, post-secondary proprietary/non-regionally accredited institutions, P.O.S.T. (Peace Officers Standard Training) certificate training, and other recognized sources.

Students must themselves take the initiative of compiling documents to be used in petitioning for credit. Such documents may include training, certificates, certificates of completion, licenses, resumes, job descriptions, work evaluations, length and content of training, and letters of verification from employers.

A GBC faculty member in the appropriate discipline and, in most cases, the Academic Standards Committee of Faculty Senate, will assess prior learning. Non-traditional forms of learning must be shown to be worthy of college credit. Learning which is certified by GBC for credit must be equivalent to the content of the specific college course.

Judgments used by the faculty committee on non-traditional learning will vary greatly from discipline to discipline. Certain common denominators, however, will guide the assessment: the quality, the authenticity, the appropriateness, and the breadth of learning.

Non-traditional education credit can only be applied toward an Associate of Applied Science, an Associate of General Studies, or a Certificate of Achievement. Students must have completed or be enrolled in 12 credits at GBC before applying for non-traditional credit.

The Petition for Obtaining Non-traditional Credit form provides additional information regarding the process and policy for prior learning credit.

Military Training

Veteran students and students who are active military and declared as degree-seeking are encouraged to submit a copy of their military transcripts, their DD 214, and official records of approved examinations to determine if credit may be awarded for military service and/or training. The Admissions and Records Office will automatically review these submissions as long as the student has applied to Great Basin College and declared a major. Credit will only be awarded for courses that are applicable to the declared major.

• Up to four elective units in physical education are granted if the applicant has completed more than one year of active duty and was honorably discharged. This credit is applicable toward all associate degrees.
• The Community College of the Air Force is a regionally accredited college; credits from this college are granted with no special process required.
• Dantes Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) will be granted as indicated on the DSST Chart. For courses not on the chart, American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations will be considered.
• Experience gained from military schools and other forms of military training will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, using ACE and Joint Services Transcript (JST) recommendations in conjunction with other criteria required by non-traditional policies. For example, these credits are only applicable to Certificates of Achievement, the Associate of Applied Science, and the Associate of General Studies, and will only be articulated if they are approved by the relevant department and determined to be applicable to the desired degree.

Veterans and active duty military seeking additional information on prior learning credits and on Nevada Residency criteria can contact the Admissions and Records Office at 775-753-2102 or admissions@gbcnv.edu. For additional general information: the Veterans Resource Center, 775-753-2310. For assistance with Financial Aid and VA Education Benefits: Student Financial Services: 775-753-2399, financial-aid@gbcnv.edu.

Placement Testing

It is important to take the necessary English and Math courses in your first semesters at GBC. If you have not taken English and Math at another college, we will help you determine where to start. Please review the Placement Testing Page.

For More Information Contact

Admissions and Records Office
Great Basin College
1500 College Parkway
Elko, Nevada (USA) 89801
Phone: 775-753-2102
admissions@gbcnv.edu 

Why Great Basin College

Great Basin College wants to be your choice for higher education. GBC offers associate and baccalaureate level instruction in career and technical education and academic areas. About 3,800 students are enrolled online from across the country and on campuses and centers across 86,500 square miles, two time zones, and ten of Nevada’s largest counties. We border Arizona, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and California. We are GBC!