Chapter 143 - House Bill 966 - Higher Education Academic Credit for Prior Learning Examinations Policies and Procedures

Oct 23, 2026

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Chapter 143 (House Bill 966) requires public institutions of higher education to develop and implement policies and procedures for awarding academic credit based on prior learning examinations. The bill sets baseline score thresholds for Advanced Placement and College-Level Examination Program exams, defines comparable minimum scores for International Baccalaureate and Cambridge assessments, and requires clear credit-awarding rules for general, major, and elective requirements. It also mandates credit-transfer procedures, public posting and commission submission, annual reporting metrics, and commission regulation adoption.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Prior Learning Examination Credit - Scope and Definitions

Required Policies, Score Thresholds, and Credit Awarding Methods

Public Posting and Commission Submission

Annual Reporting Metrics and Effective Date

Chapter 143 (House Bill 966) AN ACT concerning Higher Education – Academic Credit for Prior Learning Examinations – Policies and Procedures FOR the purpose of requiring each public institution of higher education, on or before a certain date, to develop and implement policies and procedures for awarding academic credit for prior learning examinations; requiring each public institution of higher education and the Maryland Higher Education Commission to post certain policies and procedures on their websites; and generally relating to awarding credit for prior learning examinations at public institutions of higher education. BY adding to Article – Education Section 15–134 Annotated Code of Maryland (2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article – Education 15–134. (A) IN THIS SECTION, “PRIOR LEARNING EXAMINATION” INCLUDES ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM EXAMINATIONS, INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA PROGRAM EXAMINATIONS, CAMBRIDGE ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION DIPLOMA PROGRAM EXAMINATIONS, AND COLLEGE–LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM EXAMINATIONS. (B) (1) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2022, EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR AWARDING ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING EXAMINATIONS. (2) THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL: (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION, ACCEPT FOR AWARDING ACADEMIC CREDIT: 1. A MINIMUM SCORE OF 3 ON ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS; AND 2. A MINIMUM SCORE OF 50 ON COLLEGE–LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM EXAMINATIONS; (II) DETERMINE THE MINIMUM REQUIRED SCORE FOR AWARDING ACADEMIC CREDIT ON THE CAMBRIDGE ADVANCED INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION DIPLOMA PROGRAM EXAMINATION AND THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA PROGRAM EXAMINATION THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THE MINIMUM SCORES UNDER ITEM (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH; (III) INDICATE THE MANNER IN WHICH ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING EXAMINATIONS WILL BE AWARDED FOR GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, MAJOR REQUIREMENTS, AND ELECTIVE REQUIREMENTS; AND (IV) INCLUDE PROCEDURES RELATED TO THE TRANSFER OF ACADEMIC CREDITS AWARDED FROM PRIOR LEARNING EXAMINATIONS TO ANOTHER PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. (3) POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REQUIRED UNDER THIS SUBSECTION MAY REQUIRE A HIGHER SCORE ON A PRIOR LEARNING EXAMINATION THAN LISTED IN PARAGRAPH (2)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION IF THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER OF THE PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION PROVIDES EVIDENCE TO THE COMMISSION THAT THE HIGHER SCORE IS NECESSARY FOR A STUDENT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN A PARTICULAR COURSE. (C) (1) EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL: (I) PUBLICLY POST THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REQUIRED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION ON THE PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION’S WEBSITE UNDER THE “ADMISSIONS” CATEGORY; AND (II) SUBMIT THE POLICY AND PROCEDURES TO THE COMMISSION. (2) THE COMMISSION SHALL POST EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION’S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ON THE COMMISSION’S WEBSITE. (D) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31 EACH YEAR, EACH PUBLIC INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL REPORT TO THE COMMISSION AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE FOLLOWING METRICS RELATED TO THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING ACADEMIC YEAR: (1) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENTS AWARDED ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING EXAMINATIONS; (2) THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ACADEMIC CREDITS AWARDED TO STUDENTS FOR PRIOR LEARNING EXAMINATIONS; (3) THE NUMBER OF ACADEMIC CREDITS AWARDED TO MATRICULATING STUDENTS FOR PRIOR LEARNING EXAMINATIONS AND, OF THOSE CREDITS: (I) THE NUMBER OF CREDITS APPLIED TOWARD MAJOR REQUIREMENTS; AND (II) THE NUMBER OF CREDITS APPLIED TOWARD ELECTIVE REQUIREMENTS; AND (4) ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE COMMISSION OR THE GENERAL AS

FAQs

What exams are included under “prior learning examination” in this chapter?

The section defines prior learning examinations to include Advanced Placement Program exams, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme exams, Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education Diploma Programme exams, and College-Level Examination Program exams.

What baseline scores must institutions use to award academic credit?

Policies must generally accept a minimum score of 3 on Advanced Placement examinations and a minimum score of 50 on College-Level Examination Program examinations, subject to comparable minimum scores for Cambridge and International Baccalaureate assessments.

What reporting and administrative steps are required each year?

Each year before December 31, institutions must report to the Commission and the General Assembly metrics including the number of students receiving prior learning credit, total credits awarded, credits applied toward major and elective requirements for matriculating students, and any other requested information.

Oct 23, 2026

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