Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Community Colleges Generally Are Consistent in Awarding College Credit for Certificate Programs

Report 07-23, April 2007

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Report Summary

  • In recent years, Florida community colleges have partnered with school district technical centers to develop agreements allowing students with postsecondary adult vocational certificates to receive credit towards associate in science (AS) or associate in applied science (AAS) degrees. There are now more than 400 of these agreements across Florida. While community colleges vary on how many college credits they award under these agreements, this variation can largely be attributed to differences in the types of college degrees the certificate programs articulate into.
  • In 2006, the Department of Education worked with community colleges and technical centers to develop 47 statewide certificate to AS or AAS articulation agreements. Under these agreements, community colleges must accept a minimum amount of credit for the certificates, regardless of the technical center granting them. The credit hours awarded by the original statewide agreements generally fall into the range of credit hours awarded by the existing local agreements. Community colleges awarding fewer credit hours than the state guidelines plan to increase these credits to the state minimum, while those colleges awarding more credit hours than the statewide agreements do not plan to reduce the amount of credit they currently award.

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
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