Transfer Credits to TCC

What is the difference?

Official Transcript

Required for an Official Evaluation from Enrollment Services. Used for granting credit towards a TCC degree or certificate.

Official transcripts are documents that are produced by the registrar's office of the transferring institution.

Issued as secure .pdf documents or printed on tamper proof security paper, official transcripts are important to TCC so we can be assured of authenticity and content accuracy. Official transcripts typically contain the seal of the institution and the signature of the Registrar.

Official Transcripts will only be accepted if sent electronically directly from the institution, brought into Enrollment Services Building 7 in a sealed official envelope from the institution or mailed from the institution.

Transcripts sent to us from a students email would not be considered official and will be rejected for an official evaluation.

Unofficial Transcript

Required for a Unofficial Evaluation from Placement. A unofficial transcript can be used for prerequisites. Milestones can be assigned based on your external coursework.

Unofficial transcripts are typically available from your previous school and are normally free using a students self-service, Student Information System. They are a means by which students may review their academic record. There are content differences between an unofficial transcript and an official transcript.

Has been opened by the student;
Can be a photocopy of the original;
Can be retrieved and viewed by the student typically through their student self-service portal.
If the original seal of the University or College envelope is broken, the transcript is no longer considered official and can only be used by placement.

Transcript Evaluation Steps

Transcripts provided to Tacoma Community College become a part of your permanent record and cannot be copied, returned or removed.

Email Unofficial Transcripts to Placement@tacomacc.edu. Some courses at Tacoma Community College have prerequisite requirements that block your ability to register until the prerequisite has been satisfied, sending unofficial transcripts to Placement will allow for registration into courses that have prerequisite. They will place milestones to meet pre-requisites allowing you to enroll in the course(s). View your milestones by logging into ctclink and navigating to Student Homepage--> Academic Records-->View My Milestones
Review your Unofficial Transcript from the transfer school to confirm your Primary Name and Date of Birth in ctcLink match with the transcript information so we are able to match the official transcript to your account when that comes in.

If your name or date of birth does not match please complete the Name Change form or follow the steps for a Date of Birth Correction. If the incoming transcript name does not match the ctcLink name we will not be able to match the official transcript with your student record. Transcripts that cannot be attached to accounts based on name discrepancies will be placed in an "Unknown" file until the student connects with credeval@tacomacc.edu.

Review the email on your ctcLink account. This is the email that will receive notifications. Once personal information matches please continue to Step 4.
Official Transcripts will only be accepted if sent electronically directly from the institution or mailed from the institution. Official printed transcripts in a sealed envelope will also be accepted 24/7 at our Drop Box location.

Tacoma Community College
Enrollment Services, Bldg. 7
6501 S. 19th St
Tacoma, WA 98466

credeval@tacomacc.edu

Once official transcripts are received by Enrollment Services you will receive a Message Center Notification.
Official transcripts enter the evaluation queue after the following has occurred:
1. A student has registered for classes AND
2. The term of that registration has started.
Transcript Evaluation Processing Time Scenarios

Scenario 1: If the official transcript is submitted prior to the start of the term you are enrolled in. If you submit your official transcripts prior to the start of the term you are registered for, your transcript will enter the evaluation queue on the first day of the quarter. Anticipate a processing time of 8-12 weeks from the first day of the term. For example, you submit transcripts during Summer Quarter specifically June 01, 2024 but are registered for Fall Quarter and classes for you will begin September 24, 2024. Your transcripts will enter the evaluation queue on the first day of the term. In this case September 24th. Expect 8-12 weeks after September 24th for a evaluation. You should receive a evaluation by December. It is strongly recommended that you submit your official transcripts as soon as you enroll in classes so that your transcripts enter the evaluation queue as soon as your classes begin.

Scenario 2: Submitting official transcripts without being enrolled in classes: Transcripts will not enter the evaluation queue.

Scenario 3: Submitting official transcripts during the term in which you are enrolled: If transcripts are submitted in the middle of the term. For example, October 30 and you are enrolled for Fall Quarter. Expect 8-12 week processing time from the date TCC receives your transcript. Enrollment Services tracks incoming transcripts daily. You will receive a generic message in your message center the day we receive your transcript. Calculate 8-12 weeks after receiving the message center notification. In this scenario 8-12 weeks after October 30th would place this transcript evaluation in Winter term. Expect a transcript evaluation in January.

Scenario 4: Submitting transcripts with a different name listed. For example, Jane Smith changed their legal name to Jane Davis. Jane Smith's transcript will not enter the evaluation queue until we receive a name change and are notified that Jane Smith and Jane Davis are the same student.

For ALL students:
- official transcripts will fall off of the evaluation queue if you stop attending TCC.
- Unfortunately, we are unable to evaluate transcripts for prospective students who have not applied to TCC or enrolled in classes.
It is recommended that you continue to revisit this site for updates on processing times.
A generic email is sent to the preferred email listed in ctcLink. Once you receive this email login to ctcLink and check your message center. Navigate to ctcLink and select the-->Message Center, this notification is providing status updates.
Step 5: View your official transcript evaluation by logging into your ctcLink Account. Select Student Homepage --> Academic Records--> View Transfer Credit Report. For any questions regarding your official evaluation contact credeval@tacomacc.edu. The total credit number accepted from other institutions by TCC can also be viewed on a unofficial transcripts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Grading Criteria for Transfer Credit

Transfer in grades of 3.9-4.0 are calculated as an A
Transfer in grades of 3.6-3.8 are calculated as an A-
Transfer in grades of 3.2-3.5 are calculated as an B+
Transfer in grades of 2.9-3.1 are calculated as an B
Transfer in grades of 2.6-2.8 are calculated as an B-
Transfer in grades of 2.2-2.5 are calculated as an C+
Transfer in grades of 1.9-2.1 are calculated as an C
Transfer in grades of 1.6-1.8 are calculated as an C-
Transfer in grades of 1.2-1.5 are calculated as an D+
Transfer in grades of 1.0-1.1 are calculated as an D
Semester Credits to TCC Quarter Credits

Yes, TCC accepts semester credits. Although, Tacoma Community College operates on a Quarter credits. If you attended a Semester school then we will convert Semester credits to Quarter credits. 1 Semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 Quarter credits. Typically, a class at a Semester school is 3 Semester credits, this would be equivalent to 4.5 Quarter credits (3 x 1.5= 4.5). Typically, 4.5 credits means you will have satisfied the content for the course, however a student seeking a degree/certificate will need to normally make up that credit by increasing the number of electives needed.
Milestones an Unofficial Evaluation

Milestones are not related to the Official Evaluation process. Milestones are placed by Placement Department to allow students the ability to quickly enroll into classes with an unofficial evaluation. The Official Evaluation by Enrollment Services occurs when credit is granted for a course. A milestone placement does not automatically mean that transfer credit has been accepted. The official evaluation process can be seen via the Transfer Credit Report or a Unofficial Transcript in ctcLink. However, a milestone can help you get registered for a course that has not yet been evaluated.
Reverse Transfer

Reverse articulation allows eligible students to complete their associate degree after transferring to a four-year institution. Students who transfer prior to completing their associate degree can complete any remaining requirements at their baccalaureate degree institution and apply those credits back to Tacoma Community College to receive their associate degree.

To have credits from baccalaureate institutions evaluated for a reverse transfer, official transcripts are required. Visit Reverse Transfer/ Articulation to learn more.

Reverse Transfer Articulation
Foreign Transcript Evaluation

Transcripts from non U.S schools will need a Course by Course Evaluation from a Foreign Educational Credentials Evaluation Service. U.S. Schools include US territories and Palau, Marshall Islands, and Federated States of Micronesia. If you are unsure if your institution counts as non-US or not please contact credeval@tacomacc.edu for clarification. Below is a list of companies who provide this type of initial evaluation. Please have the agency forward their evaluation directly to us at credeval@tacomacc.edu .

*English composition will not be accepted with foreign transcripts (ENGL& 101, ENGL& 102).

World Education Services (WES)
P.O. Box 5087, Bowling Green Station
New York, NY 10274-5087
1.800.361.3106 (phone)1.202.739.6100 (fax)

SPANTRAN
status@spantran.com (email)

Foreign Consultants, LLC
Credential Evaluation Services
11206 A Osage Circle
Northglenn CO 80234
303.585.0978 (phone) 847.337.5478 (fax)
info@foreignconsultants.com (email)

Foundations for International Services, Inc.
505- 5^th Avenue South Suite 101
Edmonds WA 98020-3585
info@fis-web.com (email)

Academic Credentials Evaluation Institute, Inc. (ACEI)
P.O. box 6908
Beverly Hills CA 90212
310.275.3530 (phone)
acei@acei-global.org (email)

International Education Research Foundation, Inc. (IERF)
10736 Jefferson Blvd #532
Culver City CA 90230
info@ierf.org (email)

Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)
3600 Market Street, Suite 400
Philadelphia PA 19104-2651
215.222.8454 (phone)
Tacoma Community College accepts coursework from colleges and universities accredited by the following approved regional institutional accrediting organizations:
- MSA: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education
- NWCCU: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
- NCA-HLC: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, also known as Higher Learning Commission
- NCA-CASI: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement, Board of Trustees (No longer active)
- NEASC-CIHE: New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., Commission on Institutions of Higher Education
- NEASC-CTCI: New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., Commission on Technical and Career Institutions (Consolidated with NEASC in 2008)
- SACS: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
- WASC-ACCJC: Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
- WASC-ACSCU: Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities
Grades and Courses from the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) listed below can appear in the Advisee Student Center to Staff and Advisors for unofficial evaluations. This is due to sharing parts of the same ctcLink system. This unofficial information does not replace the official evaluation process. To process an official evaluation we require Official Transcripts from all institutions including the SBCTC listed below. Once the official evaluation is complete students will be able to see credits accepted in their Student Homepage--> Academic Records -Transfer Credit Report.

Courses from some of these institutions will not indicate as transferred in the Advisee Student Center instead the course will indicate, "Taken". This example indicates ENGL& 101 was, "Taken". Attached to ENGL& 101 is a decimal point instead of a letter grade. A quick indicator that the class listed was not, "Taken" at TCC is the decimal point grade. TCC does not assign decimal grades but instead letter grades. In this case direct students to submit official transcripts for evaluation.

Bates Technical College, Bellevue Courses, Bellingham Technical College, Big Bend Community College, Cascadia College, Centralia College, Clark College, Clover Park Technical College, Columbia Basin College, Edmonds College, Everett Community College, Grays Harbor College, Green River College, Highline College, Lake Washington Institute of Technology, Lower Columbia College, North Seattle College, Olympic College, Peninsula College, Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, Pierce College Puyallup, Renton Technical College, Seattle Central College, Shoreline Community College, Skagit Valley College, South Puget Sound Community College, South Seattle College, Spokane Community College, Spokane Falls Community College, Walla Walla Community College, Wenatchee Valley College, Whatcom Community College, Yakima Valley College

Course History Duplicate Issue

Course History often duplicates courses. This occurs because course equivalencies differ between schools. For example a student who took HUM 130 at Seattle Central will transfer to TCC as HUM 900 as we do not have a exact equivalency for the course. This leads to duplicate issues in the Course History page. The Course History page will indicate 5 credits for HUM 130 and 5 credits for HUM 900, however the student only completed 5 credits. Please be mindful of this when advising students using the Course History page.

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