Do You Know How to Transfer Your Military Training to College Credits?
Your military training, including leadership courses, like the Basic Leadership Course these soldiers are graduating from, can transfer to college credits. (U.S. Army/Sarah Williams)
Most military-connected students have college credits from multiple institutions. And while this makes you very well-rounded and experienced, it can be overwhelming when you're ready to settle down and finish a degree program. There are a few ways you, as a military-connected student, can easily transfer your military training to college credits; here are some of them.
There are several reasons why you may be interested in transferring credits. Maybe you just moved to a new location and plan to be there long enough to finish your program. Perhaps the school you started at doesn't have the degree program you want. And, perhaps most commonly, you have credits from all over the place to consolidate, including community colleges and military training.
Some institutions make it easier to transfer credits, and at others, it is more difficult, making the research all the more critical. Ideally, you'd be able to transfer all of your credits seamlessly, but it is common to lose a few credits. Students lose about 10-15% of their credits through the transfer process.
The academic institution you chose to apply for should have clear instructions on applying as a transfer student and what is required to transfer your previously earned credits successfully. If not, reach out to their admissions office or a military-associated group or office on campus.
Transferring Military Training as Credits
Did you know that some of the training you've completed in the military can count as college credit? Some installations even collaborate with local community colleges to offer a degree program. They provide additional classes on the installation to fill in requirements, and service members walk away with an associate's degree after their initial training.
Related: How to Determine Which Degree is Right for You
There are several benefits to transferring your military training to college credits. It saves you time, allows you to finish your degree faster and saves you money by stretching your tuition assistance or Post-9/11 GI Bill®️ farther. Additionally, transferring these credits gives you the flexibility to take classes that interest you and align with your career goals, making things a bit more fun.
How to Get Started
When you're researching your college options, make sure that you've checked to see what academic programs best align with your military experience and the maximum number of transfer credits they accept.
Related: How to Determine Which School to Attend
Then you'll need to get a copy of your military transcript. This transcript includes all your jobs and job descriptions, the courses you've completed and other experiences. All of these come with credit recommendations. Also included in this transcript are college-level test scores you may have taken, such as CLEP tests.
You can compare your military transcript, transfer credits and the degree program's requirements and see what courses you may need to finish the program. All this extra work will be worth it when you discover that a good portion of your credits have transferred and you're closer to completing your degree.
Ready to learn more about navigating the higher education system as a veteran? Start here.