Has anyone received college credit for military experience? If so, how did that process work for you?

2018-08-08T09:21:30-04:00

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 9:25 AM

2018-08-08T09:25:41-04:00

The process is quite simple sir, if you search for your joint service transcript and send a official copy to the school you are registered with they will take your ACE evaluated credits and translate them to whatever they have that is similar. If they do not have that specific class they often do elective credits. The real question I have regarding this is what classes can I find in the military that would be the equivalent to graduate level credits. I know that ACE has them just finding the military courses seems to be the real question.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 9:27 AM

2018-08-08T09:27:18-04:00

Sir,

I haven't done this personally yet, however I know a good bit of guys that have. Most of them have just enrolled into a college in the education center, take one or two classes and then have their JST's sent to that college. The college evaluates them and then gives them credit, I believe its generally in the electives portion but I'm not 100% sure on that. Majority of the colleges that you find in the education center should be very familiar with the process though.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Aug 8 at 2018 9:42 AM

2018-08-08T09:42:48-04:00

Yes. I used them when I first started college to earn an AA degree. It's been 20 years (so not sure of new info), but I provided my SMART transcript to the college. Their counselors reviewed my ACE approved credits and determined which ones would apply toward courses mandatory for my degree. (most were undergrad level) It saved me a lot of time. Good luck.

Response by Maj Marty Hogan made Aug 8 at 2018 9:49 AM

2018-08-08T09:49:53-04:00

I have my degree- saved me a lot of money as it covered many electives, lower level management, and a few classes within my field of study. I went with a General Studies degree- with a concentration in business. Has helped me tremendously in my career.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 9:50 AM

2018-08-08T09:50:41-04:00

Submit VMET Transcript to the school registrar but it is up to the individual school on which credits to honor.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Aug 8 at 2018 10:04 AM

2018-08-08T10:04:05-04:00

You need to get a copy of your ATRRS transcript to the school. Each school has their own SOP on how much work must be done through the school for them to finish evaluating and applying the ATRRS to your college transcript. Some do it immediately and some make you take at least a semester or so before they apply it.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Aug 8 at 2018 10:49 AM

2018-08-08T10:49:19-04:00

Capt Brandon Charters I submitted my SMART transcript and my JST to the MBA Program director at the university. I got a whooping 6 undergraduate credits for my advanced course (Logistics Management) and nothing else.

The school has all the leverage. They decided what is accepted and what isn't. The ugly side, universities and colleges have minimum contacts hour requirements, maximum transfer credit policies, and they make their money by you taking their classes. There are exceptions where schools make their money by accepting your credits and hammering them into a degree.

The ACE evaluation is a guide. There are a few on RP that are academics that are part of the ACE evaluation process. Hope they chime in.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Aug 8 at 2018 10:51 AM

2018-08-08T10:51:46-04:00

I got about 15 credit hours covered for my Master's Degree from my MICCC course.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 11:17 AM

2018-08-08T11:17:56-04:00

At the college I went to the VA rep helped me with my military experience documents. Got my Associates in half. The time it normally takes.

Response by SGT David T. made Aug 8 at 2018 11:40 AM

2018-08-08T11:40:09-04:00

I did for my undergrad. It was a simple process as part of the application. I gave them all the paperwork and they gave me 13 credits. Not a lot, but it saved a few dollars on gym class and electives.

Response by SFC Andrew Miller made Aug 8 at 2018 12:32 PM

2018-08-08T12:32:42-04:00

The Air Force is a little different than the other branches. I used several credits for both my A.S. and my first B.S. degree from my military training.

All of the branches except for the Air Force use the Joint Service Transcript (JST), https://jst.doded.mil/, but the different higher level in-service schools (ILE, Command and General Staff, etc.) each have transcripts of their own as well.

The Air Force you have to obtain transcripts from either the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), The Air University, or The Air Force Institute of Technology.
https://www.airuniversity.af.mil/Barnes/CCAF/Display/Article/803247/community-college-of-the-air-force-transcripts/
https://www.airuniversity.af.mil/Academic-Affairs/Registrar/
https://www.afit.edu/ALUMNI/

As SSgt Private RallyPoint Member stated, the VMET (Verification of Military Experience and Training), is a useful tool, but is not an official transcript. I recommend using it in preparation for either a portfolio review or assessment of credit for lifetime learning/experiential learning. It may sound like something a diploma mill would use, but nearly all regionally accredited universities have some form of credit for prior learning review.
https://www.dodtap.mil/login.html

All civilian schools, at least reputable ones, will require an official transcript submitted directly to the school registrar, unless doing some form of the above listed review.

Good luck in your endeavors, Capt Brandon Charters .

Welcome to SMART

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Aug 8 at 2018 12:33 PM

2018-08-08T12:33:34-04:00

They took my training to count for PE credits, so at least I didn't need to waste money on that.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 12:36 PM

2018-08-08T12:36:12-04:00

Bootcamp credits, training credits, experience credits, they can save you money, time and boring classes!

Response by Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. made Aug 8 at 2018 2:55 PM

2018-08-08T14:55:28-04:00

OU gave me PE credit and credit for Tech School courses which aided in clearing of their General Study requirements. They also allowed active duty military on scholarships from USAF to challenge any course we beleived we could pass. Cleared all the GE items.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2018 6:27 PM

2018-08-08T18:27:09-04:00

Yes, I received several credits, though I'm not sure how much time/money it really saved me. You have to request an official copy of your JST transcript be sent to your school. The school will evaluate it and award credit based on their guidelines and the recommendations on the transcript.

https://www.goarmyed.com/public/public_programs_services-aarts_transcripts.aspx

GoArmyEd: JST Transcripts

YOU ARE ACCESSING A U.S. GOVERNMENT (USG) INFORMATION SYSTEM (IS) THAT IS PROVIDED FOR USG-AUTHORIZED USE ONLY.

Response by TSgt David Desmarais made Aug 9 at 2018 2:37 PM

2018-08-09T14:37:06-04:00

Much of my initial training (BMT, Tech school ) was accredited. Later when I went for my Aircraft Maintenance Technology and Human Resources degrees some of my on the job experience was accredited. It all seemed pretty simple. I showed my formal training record to the school and they evaluated it. I think today with many schools having a veterans services rep, it may be even more simple. I'm sure some schools and programs are harder than others.

Response by GySgt Jerome Mason made Aug 13 at 2018 4:13 PM

2018-08-13T16:13:36-04:00

I worked with my Military/Veteran Advisor on campus and she got me the correct documentation to forward to my service group....in about one month or two month you should get the information back and the school should be able to schedule classes for you base on these results.

Response by PO3 John Fahrer made Jan 20 at 2020 4:13 PM

2020-01-20T16:13:12-05:00

My college gave me the credits and it was very easy.

Response by Sgt Ned Pakosz made Feb 26 at 2020 7:42 PM

2020-02-26T19:42:00-05:00

I am a Vietnam combat vet. My mos was 2841 ground radio repair. When I transferred from community college, after one year, to Bowling Green State University I was awarded a minor in physics for my military schools and experience. I went on to earn a doctorate from Set on Hall University with VA Benefits lasting half way through grad school. You can't beat the benefits,but you have to want it.

Response by June Mohr made Feb 27 at 2020 9:07 AM

2020-02-27T09:07:35-05:00

https://military.park.edu/confirm-your-credits/ Park University offers credit for your military experience. You can us the quick app to find out how much military credit you can get by using it. I have found it gives you an estimate and usually you get more once it is evaluated through the University.

Confirm Your Credits - Park University Military

Response by 1SG Ernest Stull made May 3 at 2020 7:30 PM

2020-05-03T19:30:03-04:00

Upon retiring from the army I enrolled at troy state university in Alabama. I received 32 credit hours from tsu. They were added to the back of my bachelor degree. So I graduated with a bachelor of science degree in law enforcement
I had a total of 180 degree credit hours. My recommendation for anyone wanting to pursue a degree that would be a rewarding career outside the military is to consider what you want to do and then find out what degree would be compatible to that field. However with changing technology and requirements don't get your degree to soon or it will be outdated by the time you retire. Another point is check out the university or school you want to attend and read it's accreditation. Google it and find out the alumni are saying about the school.

Response by PFC Kimberly Staiti made Feb 12 at 2021 6:43 PM

2021-02-12T18:43:38-05:00

I reviewed the requirements of my major and the classes I took in the Army with my advisor. I received credit for one gym class, one math class, and a year of Spanish. Back in the Dark Ages we didn't have a particular method of transferring military training and experience with college courses.

Best wishes for a better answer