College Credit

Advanced Placement (AP) courses follow a national curriculum and culminate in an exam given in the spring. Many colleges and universities award college credit or course placement for students who earn successful scores on AP exams. AP-level courses are offered in high school. Students may choose to take as many AP courses as they wish while staying on track for graduation.

AP exams are graded on a 1- to 5-point scale, with many colleges and universities granting college credit for scores in the 3 to 5 range. Schools vary in the scores they accept and the credit they grant.

AP students are not required to take the exam, but they must take it to qualify for college credit. There is a fee to take the exam, but waivers are available to students who are foster youth, who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, or who receive state-funded public assistance.

Learn more about the AP Program at the College Board website and talk to your school counselor.

Running Start is a statewide program created by the Washington State Legislature that allows qualified high school juniors and seniors to enroll in local colleges to fulfill high school graduation requirements and earn college credit at the same time. While enrolled in high school, students can earn college credit at the same time and work toward their high school graduation, potentially earning an associate degree in the process.

Running Start is not a good fit for every student, but it is a great way for some to transition to higher education. A placement test will determine whether they qualify for enrollment in college-level courses. For more information, please contact your high school counselor.

Local Running Start Programs

• South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC)
• Pierce College

There are fees associated with the Running Start program, but fee waivers are available to students who are foster youth, who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, or who receive state-funded public assistance. Those fee waivers are coordinated through the college in which your student is enrolled.

College in the High School is a way for juniors and seniors to earn college credit and fulfill their high school graduation requirements while staying at their high school. Classes are taught by teachers who have met the faculty appointment criteria established by the college/university. Students receive official college transcripts upon successful completion. College credit can be transferred to any college in the state, and most out-of-state colleges also accept this credit. There is no fee for these courses. Read more on the Washington State Board of Community & Technical Colleges website.

CTE Dual Credit is a state program that allows students in career and technical classes to earn college credit in addition to high school credit for specific Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes. To earn the simultaneous credit, students must earn the minimum grade each semester and meet certain technical performance competencies outlined by the credit-awarding college. There is no fee for these courses. Questions? Contact your school counselor or CTE teacher.

Current CTE Dual Credit Classes

How Students Register for CTE Dual Credit

1. Create an account in the Statewide Enrollment and Reporting System (SERS)
   • Get started on https://www.ctesers.org
   • Create your account (username and password)
   • For your school, select NORTH THURSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS and your high school from the dropdown
   • Select choices from the Career Cluster and​​​​ Future Plans dropdown menus. This information can be edited later.
2. Add currently-enrolled CTE classes
   • Register for credit by searching for and selecting the class currently taking. You must register in the same semester that you are enrolled in the course.
   • When searching for a course, be sure that your high school is included in the search field.
   • Check the box next to the class (or classes) for which you want to earn dual credit. Class Offerings & Complete Registration screen will appear.
   • Be sure to check the box for your teacher (if there's only one teacher, the box will be checked automatically)
   • To complete registration, click Save & Register.
   • A confirmation page and email are generated once the process is complete
3. The teacher will verify class performance and access SERS
   • At the end of the registered course(s), teachers will review grades and additional performance competencies to confirm that dual-credit students have met the standards.
   • Once grades are finalized, teachers will access the SERS system to verify dual-credit registration and enter the final grade.

Obtain a College Transcript

At the end of a student's senior year, they can request a college transcript from the college(s) from which they earned their dual credit. Each school has its own process. Follow the instructions provided by each college.

• For Bates, Clover Park, and Pierce College, visit the PC3 Dual Credit website for instructions on registering and obtaining a transcript.
• For South Puget Sound Community College, visit the Dual Credit Programs FAQs & Records Information page for steps and information.