Advanced Placement Test Policy (AP)
The California Community College System, the California State University (CSU) System, and the University of California (UC) System all award credit for AP Exams. The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) grants credit toward its local associate degrees and CSU General Education (GE) and Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) certification patterns to students who attain scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Exams of the College Board.
Advanced Placement courses are offered in high schools and allow high school students to take a national, standardized test at the end of the course to earn college credit. If you passed a College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exam with a minimum score of three (3) in a subject matter, you can request your official AP test scores to be sent to your SMCCCD college.
Students can earn a minimum of 3-semester units of credit for each AP exam satisfactorily passed. The Advanced Placement Equivalency Guide identifies how AP exam credit can be applied. Students should meet with a counselor for specific information regarding AP exam placement and credits awarded. Students intending to transfer to a four-year institution should consult a counselor or the individual university regarding its AP credit policy.
If you took an AP exam and received a minimum score of 3 or higher in a subject, you can:
- Request your official AP scores be sent to your SMCCCD College. For information about obtaining your AP scores, contact the College Board. NOTE: If you have submitted your scores to another institution outside our district, you will need to submit your scores again to SMCCCD.
- Upon receipt of your official AP scores, course/unit equivalencies will be determined according to the SMCCCD AP Credit Equivalency Guide; coursework and units will be posted on your SMCCCD transcripts. Upon notification, meet with a counselor to determine if you wish to accept, decline, or appeal the application of the IB credit to your transcript.
The following chart outlines the application of credit for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) toward each SMCCCD college’s coursework, associate degree general education requirements, California State University General Education-Breadth (CSU GE) Certification, and Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) certification.
If your SMCCCD college does not offer a course similar in content to an AP exam, the college will award credit for the General Education area shown in the SMCCCD AP Equivalency Guide below. If an AP exam does not align with a general education area, the College may award elective credit.
Please note:
- Grades and Grade Points will not be assigned to AP credit.
- The catalog year of the Advanced Placement Test Policy when the exam was taken will be applied when determining credit earned.
- If you have any questions regarding Math and English placement or Advanced Placement (AP) credit, please contact your counselor.
If you plan to transfer to another institution, please be aware that every college/university has its own policies about Credit for Prior Learning. What was accepted at SMCCCD may not be accepted at another institution. Please consult your intended transfer institution(s).
All units listed are semester units.
SMCCCD AP Credit Equivalency Guide
|
Advanced Placement Test Score of 3, 4, or 5 |
SMCCCD Course Equivalent |
SMCCCD Associate Degree GE Area (3-semester units unless otherwise indicated) |
CSU Credit Units (Units not applied at SMCCCD) |
CSU GE Breadth Area (3-semester units unless otherwise indicated) |
IGETC Area (3-semester units unless otherwise indicated) |
UC Credit Units (Units not applied at SMCCCD) |
|
Art History |
N/A |
Skyline & Cañada: C1 or C2 CSM: E5C |
6 |
C1 or C2 |
3A or 3B |
5.3 |
|
Biology |
N/A |
Skyline & Cañada: B2 and B3 (4 units) CSM: E5A (4 Units) |
6 |
B2 and B3 (4 units) |
5B and 5C (4 units) |
5.3 |
|
Calculus AB |
Math 251 (4 or 5) Math 241 (3) |
Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency (5 Units) CSM: C1 and EC2 (5 Units) |
3 (1) |
B4 |
2 |
2.6 (2) |
|
Calculus BC |
Math 251 and 252 (4 or 5), see AB subscore for (3) |
Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency (5 Units) CSM: C1 and EC2 (5 Units) |
6 (1) |
B4 |
2 |
5.3 (2) |
|
Calculus BC / AB Subscore (3) |
If BC score (1,2, or 3) then use AB subscore same as AB test |
Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency (5 Units) CSM: C1 and EC2 (5 Units) |
3 (1) |
B4 |
2 |
2.6 (2) |
|
Chemistry |
CHEM 192 (Score: 3,4) CHEM 210 (Score: 5) |
Skyline & Cañada: B1 and B3 CSM: E5A AA/AS Units: CHEM 210 (5 Units), CHEM 192 (4 Units) |
6 |
B1 and B3 (4 units) |
5A and 5C (4 units) |
5.3 |
|
Chinese Language and Culture |
N/A |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E5C |
6 |
C2 |
3B and 6A |
5.3 |
|
Comparative Government and Politics |
N/A |
Skyline & Cañada: D CSM: E5B |
3 |
D |
4 |
2.6 |
|
Computer Science A |
N/A |
N/A |
3 (1) |
N/A |
N/A |
5.3 |
|
Computer Science Principles |
N/A |
Skyline: A3 Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency CSM: C1 and E2C |
6 (1) |
B4 |
N/A |
5.3 |
|
English Language and Composition |
ENGL 100 |
Skyline: A2 Meets the Writing/ Reading Competency Cañada: A2 Meets the English & Reading Competency CSM: C2 and E2A |
6 |
A2 |
1A |
5.3 (4) |
|
English Literature and Composition |
ENGL 110 |
Skyline: A2 and C2 Meets Writing/Reading Competency (6 units) Cañada: A2 and C2 Meets the English and Reading Competency (6 Units) CSM: C2 and E2A and E5C (6 Units) |
6 |
A2 and C2 (6 units) |
1A or 3B |
5.3 (4) |
|
Environmental Science |
ENVS 100 & ENVS 101 (Skyline & CSM Only) |
Skyline & Cañada: B1and B3 (4 units) CSM: E5A (4 Units) |
4 |
B1 and B3 (4 units) |
5A and 5C (3 units only, so additional 4 units is needed) |
2.6 |
|
European History |
HIST 101 |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 or D CSM: E5B or E5C |
6 |
C2 or D |
3B or 4 |
5.3 |
|
French Language and Culture |
N/A |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E5C |
6 |
C2 |
3B and 6A |
5.3 |
|
German Language and Culture |
N/A |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E5C |
6 |
C2 |
3B and 6A |
5.3 |
|
Human Geography |
GEOG 110 |
Skyline & Cañada: D CSM: E5B |
3 |
D |
4 |
2.6 |
|
Italian Language and Culture |
N/A |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E5C |
6 |
C2 |
3B and 6A |
5.3 |
|
Japanese Language and Culture |
N/A |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E5C |
6 |
C2 |
3B and 6A |
5.3 |
|
Latin |
N/A |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E5C |
6 |
C2 |
3B and 6A |
5.3 |
|
Macroeconomics |
ECON 100 |
Skyline & Cañada: D CSM: E5B |
3 |
D |
4 |
2.6 |
|
Microeconomics |
ECON 102 |
Skyline & Cañada: D CSM: E5B |
3 |
D |
4 |
2.6 |
|
Physics 1 |
PHYS 210 |
Skyline & Cañada: B1 and B3 (4 units) CSM: E5A (4 units) |
4 (5) |
B1 and B3 (4 units) |
5A and 5C |
5.3 (6) |
|
Physics 2 |
PHYS 220 |
Skyline & Cañada: B1 and B3 (4 units) CSM: E5A (4 units) |
4 (5) |
B1 and B3 (4 units) |
5A and 5C |
5.3 (6) |
|
Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism |
PHYS 260 |
Skyline & Cañada: B1 and B3 (4 units) CSM: E5A (4 units) |
4 (5) |
B1 and B3 (4 units) |
5A and 5C |
2.6 (6) |
|
Physics C: Mechanics |
PHYS 250 |
Skyline & Cañada: B1 and B3 (4 units) CSM: E5A (4 units) |
4 (5) |
B1 and B3 (4 units) |
5A and 5C |
2.6 (6) |
|
Psychology |
PSYC 100 |
Skyline & Cañada: D CSM: E5B |
3 |
D |
4 |
2.6 |
|
Seminar |
N/A |
0 |
3 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Spanish Language and Culture |
N/A |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E5C |
6 |
C2 |
3B and 6A |
5.3 |
|
Spanish Literature and Culture |
N/A |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 CSM: E5C |
6 |
C2 |
3B and 6A |
5.3 |
|
Statistics |
MATH 200 |
Skyline & Cañada: A3 Meets Math Competency (4 Units) CSM: C1 and E2C (4 Units) |
3 |
B4 |
2A |
2.6 |
|
Studio Art: 2D Design |
N/A |
N/A |
3 |
N/A |
N/A |
5.3 (7) |
|
Studio Art: 3D Design |
N/A |
N/A |
3 |
N/A |
N/A |
5.3 (7) |
|
Studio Art: Drawing |
N/A |
N/A |
3 |
N/A |
N/A |
5.3 (7) |
|
U.S. Government and Politics |
N/A |
Skyline: D and US-2 Cañada: D CSM: E5B |
3 |
D and US-2 |
4 |
2.6 |
|
U.S. History |
HIST 201 |
Skyline: C2 or D & US-1 Cañada: C2 or D CSM: E5B or E5C |
6 |
C2 or D and US-1 |
3B or 4 |
5.3 |
|
World History: Modern |
HIST 106 |
Skyline & Cañada: C2 or D CSM: E5B or E5C |
3 |
C2 or D |
3B or 4 |
5.3 |
(1) Maximum Credit: If a student passes more than one AP exam in Calculus or Computer Science, only one examination may be applied to the baccalaureate for CSU.
(2) Maximum Credit: 5.3 semester units for both MATH AB and BC Exams; 2.6 semester units for both AB and the AB Subscore for UC
(3) Students who take the BC exam and earn a subscore of 3 or higher on the AB portion will receive credit for the AB exam, even if they do not receive a score of 3 or higher on the BC exam for UC.
(4) Maximum Credit: 5.3 semester units for both English Language and Composition and English Literature and Composition exams for UC
(5) Maximum Credit: 4 semester units toward GE and 6 semester units toward transfer for all Physics exams passed for CSU.
(6) Maximum Credit: 5.3 semester units for all Physics exams for UC.
(7) Maximum Credit: 5.3 semester units for all Studio Art exams for UC.