beginning of content:

A clear and consistent AP credit and placement policy can:

  • Ensure that prospective students and families know which institutions recognize AP achievement and award course equivalent college credit and advanced placement based on qualifying scores;
  • Allow for the optimal application of qualifying AP scores for credit toward meeting general education requirements;
  • Improve seamless course articulation and transfer, credit portability, and degree completion rates;
  • Reduce the duplication and accumulation of excess credit hours, minimizing economic burdens for students and families, and improve enrollment efficiency for higher education systems.

AP Policies with Exemplar Language and Implementation

The states below represent a set of best practices for clear, consistent AP credit and placement policies. There are two main types of policies. Legislative policies are created by the state legislature and signed into law by the governor. Administrative policies are set by the head of higher education in the state or by other senior system leaders.

State

Policy

California

Agency: California State University System
Min credit-granting score: 3
Credit application: general education/breadth and transfer to the University of California
CSU policy details (.pdf/87.5KB)

Florida

Agency: Florida Department of Education and Board of Governors
Min credit-granting score: 3
Credit application: Aligned to statewide course equivalents to meet general education and subject-specific requirements
Florida policy details (.pdf/192KB)

Kentucky

Agency: Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education
Min credit-granting score: 3
Credit application: Aligned to campus course equivalents to meet general education and subject-specific requirements
Kentucky policy details (.pdf/100KB)

Louisiana

Agency: Louisiana Board of Regents
Min credit-granting score: 3
Credit application: Aligned to campus course equivalents to meet general education and subject-specific requirements
Louisiana policy details (.pdf/226KB)

Mississippi

Agency: Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
Min credit-granting score: 3
Credit application: General education
Mississippi policy details (.pdf/931 KB)

Ohio

Agency: Ohio Board of Regents
Min credit-granting score: 3
Credit application: General education when possible
Ohio policy details

South Carolina

Agency: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education Policies
Min credit-granting score: 3
Credit application: Aligned with campus course equivalencies to meet general education and subject-specific requirements
South Carolina policy details (.pdf/18.8KB)