AP 209

Course Challenge and Equivalency

Background 

The purpose of students earning credits through challenge, equivalency, external credentials, and post-secondary credits is to grant credit toward graduation for learning that has occurred beyond the scope of regular schooling and which meets or exceeds the provincial standards for course completion. 

Within the Graduation Program, there are 52 required credits and 28 elective credits within the minimum 80 grade 10, 11, and 12 credits for graduation. Within (or beyond) the 28 elective credits there are no limits to the number of credits earned through equivalency, challenge, external credentials, post-secondary credits, independent directed studies or board/authority authorized courses. 

Procedures 

1. Definitions: 

  • 1.1 Challenge: A formal process in which a student completes for credit, without taking the course, specific tasks to demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes as prescribed in a Ministry-developed or board/authority authorized course. The entire course must be challenged; a partial credit will not be granted through the challenge process. Students will be granted only one opportunity to challenge a specific course. International students must comply with the challenge procedures set out in the Ministry's International Student Graduation Credit Policy. The Board is not obliged to provide challenges for courses not taught in the district. (See section 1 below)
  • 1.2 Equivalency: (Documented Prior Learning): Recognition of equivalent grade 10, 11, or 12 coursework from outside the BC school system. Students may apply to have such coursework recognized for credit. There is no limit to the number of credits awarded through equivalency. (See sections 2 and 3 below)
  • 1.3 External Credentials: (Ministry-Approved Documented Prior Learning): External credentials approved by the Ministry, based on an official list of the approved credentials and assessments published in the Ministry's online Course Registry. These may count as required or elective courses. School administrators will ensure there are processes for students to provide appropriate documentation. There may be restrictions where credentials are deemed equivalent. (See section 4 below)
  • 1.4 Post-Secondary Credit (Dual Credit): Students may earn graduation credit for courses taken at post-secondary institutions that are part of the BC Transfer System or offered in French through Educacentre. For a list of which post-secondary courses for which credit may be earned refer to British Columbia Council on Admissions and Transfer Guide. These credits count toward Grade 12 requirements. No fees are charged for transcript reviews. (See section 5 below).
  • 1.5 Independent Directed Studies Policy (IDS): Students are able to initiate their own area of learning and may receive credit towards graduation. Schools can recognize prior learning in a Ministry-developed or Board Authorized course that a student may not have completed. IDS credits may be awarded by boards to students who have successfully completed independent work based on a subset of learning outcomes of Grade 10, 11, or 12 Ministry courses or Board Authorized courses. A student may study one or more learning outcomes in depth, or study more broadly a wide variety of learning outcomes from a single course. IDS credits may only be used to satisfy elective requirements. IDS courses can be 1, 2, 3, or 4 credits and the maximum value of an IDS course is 4 credits. A plan of study must be developed by a student and a teacher, and approved by a principal. If students complete a portion of the outcomes for a course, schools may report their achievement to the Ministry using IDS credits. 

2. Challenge Procedures 

  • 2.1 Students may challenge a Ministry-Authorized or Board/Authority Authorized Grade 10, 11, or 12 courses if they:
    • Are currently enrolled or registered as a home school student in the district
    • The course is not a Board/Authority Authorized Course in its first year of implementation
    • Has not completed the course or its equivalent through previous enrollment
    • Can provide compelling evidence of readiness to succeed in the challenge.
  • 2.2 Process:
    • Students must submit a “Course Challenge Application Form: Student Declaration” to their counsellor.
    • Principals or designated staff will review the application and any documentation of prior learning to determine if equivalency applies
    • If proceeding with a challenge, the principal and staff will confirm the outcome using the AP-209-1 Challenge Application Form.
  • 2.3 Readiness may be demonstrated through teacher recommendations or evidence of learning outside the classroom. The demonstration is not to be an onerous process.
  • 2.4 Assessment strategies may include demonstrations, oral performances, interviews, exams, or portfolios. Principals or designated must document the challenge assessment to be delivered to each student, including a Pre-Challenge Equivalency Review (see documents: AP 209-1 Challenge Application Form and AP 209-2 Course Challenge Application Form: Student Declaration, and the documentation must be made available to Ministry auditors if requested.
  • 2.5 A challenge is successful with a minimum grade of C- (50%).
  • 2.6 Credit is reported via the TRAX system by June 30 of the school year in which the Challenge has occurred. Schools must assign a letter grade and percentage.

3. Equivalency Procedures 

  • 3.1 Administrators must ensure students can submit documentation for equivalency, external credentials, and post-secondary credit. Equivalency is based on a comparison of learning outcomes, subject matter, and assessment standards. For equivalency to be granted there should be a match of approximately 80% or more of the learning outcomes.
  • 3.2 Approval is made by the principal in consultation with the advisors, parents/guardians, and the student. No fees are charged. For reporting and transcript purposes, schools will assign letter grades and percentages. If a letter grade cannot be determined, “Transfer Standing” (TS) is awarded.
  • 3.3 When equivalency is not available, students may challenge for credit. 

4. Equivalency Credits for Students Who Have Left French Immersion 

  • 4.1 Upon completion of Français Langue 7 or 8:
    • 4.1.1 Students may be placed in French 9 or 10 based on ability and according to the offerings at the school. Prior to registration in French the student and parents must consult with the appropriate school-based personnel.
    • 4.1.2 Placement in French 12 required an interview in French with the teacher and a written response to a French reading. If the teacher determines that the student has a reasonable chance of success in French 12, then the student will be enrolled in a French 12 class for a trial of 12 hours of class time. An adjustment to the placement may be made after the trial in consultation with the parent and student.
  • 4.2 After Français Langue 9 or 10 students may:
    • 4.2.1 Receive credits for French 11 Challenge (based on average of best two of last three Francais Langue marks). Note that Francais Langue 8 is the lowest level course to be used to calculate the average mark.
    • 4.2.2 Challenge French 12 (based on average of best two of last three Francais Langue marks). Note that Francais Langue 8 is the lowest level course to be used to calculate the average mark.
    • 4.2.3 Credit for French 11 Challenge and enroll in French 12. French 11 Challenge mark is calculated and reported to the Ministry of Education and Child Care as described above.
    • 4.2.4 Enroll in French 11 to improve their grade.

5. Procedures for External Credits 

  • 5.1 In order to earn credit for an approved credential, students must provide the appropriate documentation proving successful completion of the external assessment, course, or program.
  • 5.2 Students may have earned an approved external credential prior to entering Grade 10. If so, they are awarded credit if they present their credential any time after they enter Grade 10.
  • 5.3 For reporting and transcript purposes, schools will assign a letter grade and percentage or “Transfer Standing” (TS) may be used. 

6. Procedures for Dual Credit 

  • 6.1 All post-secondary level courses will be reported using course codes listed in the Course Registry.
  • 6.2 For reporting and transcript purposes, schools must assign all credits earned at a post-secondary institution a letter grade and percentage. Provided a course consists of the standard number of hours for most courses offered at that post-secondary institution, such courses will be awarded 4 credits, regardless of the number of credits indicated on the post-secondary institution’s transcript. If the course is offered in modules, credits awarded should be proportionate to 4 credits for the whole course.
  • 6.3 Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses do not count for dual credit. 

7. Procedures for Independent Directed Studies 

  • 7.1 Students wishing to complete an Independent Directed Studies will need an Individual Learning Plan to be completed in collaboration with their IDS sponsor teacher. (AP 209-3 IDS Learning Plan)
  • 7.2 The IDS Learning Plan shall include:
    • An outline for the directed study including, subject, grade level and the number of credits pursued (30 hours per credit)
    • Related learning outcomes from Grades 10, 11 or 12 Ministry of Education and Child Care course or BAA elective course
    • Planned inquiry activities and related demonstrations of learning
    • List of advisors and/or mentors that will support the student’s inquiry
    • An IDS timeline outlining check-in times and significant milestones
    • A final evaluation and grade submission upon completion of the IDS
  • 7.3 The learning plan must include signatures from the student, the IDS teacher (advisor) as well as the Principal.
  • 7.4 A signed parent consent form (AP 209-4 Parent Permission Form) must be received prior to the commencement of the IDS.
  • 7.5 Copies must be submitted to the Director of Instruction and Assistant Superintendent and filed in the student's G4 file.

8. When to Challenge 

  • 8.1 Challenge requests are reviewed twice a year:
    • October 15th
    • March 15th
  • 8.2 Applications must be submitted before these dates.

Reference

Ministerial Order 192/94, The Provincial Letter Grades Order 

Ministerial Order 302/04, Graduation Program Order

BC Graduation Program - Handbook of Procedures

AP 209-1 Challenge Application Form

AP 209-2 Course Challenge Application Form: Student Declaration

AP 209-3 IDS Learning Plan

AP 209-4 IDS Parent Permission Form

Last Revised: June 2025
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