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• 301.846.2400 11
2020 - 2021 FCC Academic Catalog
To be considered for advanced
standing, a student must:
1. Complete the College admissions
procedures.
2. Arrange for the previous institution(s)
attended to send an official transcript or
provide an official copy in an unopened,
sealed envelope (see .
edu/credit-admissions/incoming-transfer-
students.aspx).
3. Arrange an appointment with a College
academic advisor to plan his/her program
of study.
4. Complete at least 25% of degree,
certificate, or letter of recognition credits
at FCC.
All transcripts received are the property of
the College and cannot be released to the
student. Transcripts will not be duplicated,
returned to the applicant, or forwarded to
any other college, university, individual,
or agency. A student who experiences
extreme hardship in obtaining official
copies of his/her transcripts may petition
the College Registrar for assistance by
completing a third-party release form. These
documents will be available only to an
individual involved in the admissions and/or
advising process. Transfer students with no
placement test scores or official transcripts
will take the standard entry assessments.
International students considering transfer
must follow the procedures for Non-
immigrant (F-1) Students and Students
with Other Visas, in addition to the
requirements set forth in this section.
B. Students Seeking Credit for Prior Learning
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is an
evaluation of experience-based learning
achieved outside of traditional classroom
environment that can be used to demonstrate
college-level learning for academic
credit awards to include (not limited to)
work experience, workplace training,
professional licensure and certifications,
military training and service, volunteer
activities, life experiences, credits earned
by standardized testing, and volunteering
and community service activities.
Students who participate in the Prior
Leaning Assessment program save time
and money and avoid having to complete
courses already mastered, completing
their education goals at a higher rate.
Credit for Prior Learning is not awarded for
experience alone, but for a combination
of experience and college-level learning.
PLA consists of several pathways designed
to allow students to have their college
level learning completely assessed. FCC
offers seven (7) paths for students to earn
prior learning credit, including portfolio
assessment, institutional departmental
exams, certificate and licensure evaluation,
credit by examination and college level
examination program (CLEP)/DSST
(formerly DANTES Subject Standardized
Tests)/international baccalaureate (IB)/
advanced placement (AP), American
Council on Education (ACE), national
college credit recommendation service
(NCCRS), and military training and service.
For students to be eligible to earn prior
learning credit, the student must be
an FCC student and declare a major
in a degree or certificate program.
PLA Guidelines:
1. Students may earn up to 75% required for a
program of study through all Prior Learning
Assessments pathways.
2. Students must earn at least 25% of the
credits required for a program at FCC.
3. A maximum of 15 credits can be earned
through ‘Portfolio Assessment’ and
‘Institutional Department Exams.’
C. Non-immigrant (F-1) Students
The College is authorized under federal law
to consider applications for enrollment of
non-immigrant alien students in the F-1
visa status. A prospective student must
meet academic and College admission
requirements, and the requirements for
the certificate of eligibility (I-20 Form)
prior to applying for the F-1 Student Visa.
International students studying at FCC must
pursue a full course of study of 12 credits per
fall and spring semester toward an associate
degree. F-1 visa students are not allowed to
enroll in Pre-Health Programs, Bioprocessing
Technology, Emergency Management, or
English as a Second Language. An F-1 visa
student must:
1. Submit a completed application for
admission to FCC with a local (Maryland)
sponsor’s address and student’s address
from their home country.
2. Submit an official high school (secondary
school) transcript evaluation in English.
The accepted evaluator is World Education
Services ) or any member of
the National Collegiate Evaluation Services
(NACES).
3. Submit I-134 Affidavit of Support - a
statement of financial resources including
the amount and source of support for the
prospective student. The College will not
provide Foundation scholarship assistance
to F-1 visa students. The estimated
minimum cost of tuition, fees, books,
health, and living expenses per year is
$23,000. Students attending the College on
the F-1 Visa will be classified as out-of-state
residents for tuition purposes while at FCC.
4. Submit the Test of English as a Foreign
Language (TOEFL) scores directly to the
Admissions Office. Minimum acceptable
score is 500 on the paper-based test, 173
on the computer-based test or 61 on the
Internet-based test (IBT).
5. Submit a copy of current passport.
6. Submit all application materials and
required documents by June 1 for the
subsequent fall semester and October 15
for the subsequent spring semester.
Once the student has been approved for the
F-1 Visa, and after they have met with the
College Designated School Official (DSO) to
report F-1 Visa approval, they must complete
the College placement tests as appropriate.
D. Students with Other Visas
International students with other types
of visas may also be eligible to attend the
College. The student must present proof of
immigration status and type and meet other
requirements (see the College Residency
Policy and Procedures).
E. English as a Second Language
(ESL) Students
An ESL student must:
1. Complete and submit an application for
admission.
2. Take the Level of English Proficiency (LOEP)
placement test in the Testing Center (allow
three hours for testing) and obtain a copy
of the LOEP exam results.
3. Obtain minimum placement scores on
the LOEP placement test to enroll in
Academic ESL courses. Students whose
scores fall below the established minimum
will be limited to enrollment in Basic
or Targeted Continuing Education ESL
courses until such time that they are able
to demonstrate proficiency required for
enrollment in Academic ESL courses.