Earning High School Credits
Homeschoolers may choose to earn BC high school credits for a variety of reasons. A credit may be needed as a prerequisite for a post-secondary program; it may be useful for demonstrating knowledge in a particular subject; or the teen may be part of working toward a BC graduation credential. Some teens may also choose to earn credits simply because they are interested in a particular course or subject.
Homeschooling alone does not result in BC high school credits. A BC high school credit is official recognition of learning that meets the requirements established by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care and is recorded on an official BC transcript. When an institution requires an official transcript or graduation credential, it must be issued by a recognized education system, rather than created by the family.
Aside from enrolling in the school system for grades 10 -12, there are several ways a homeschooler may be able to earn BC credits, depending on their goals and the type of learning involved.
Online Learning School Courses
Registered homeschoolers can retain their homeschool status while taking individual Grades 10–12 Online Learning courses through a BC public or independent school authority. This is called cross-enrolling.
These courses provide BC graduation credits on a BC transcript. A teen can choose courses based on future requirements, as well as personal interest.
The school offering the Online Learning course reports the final grade, and the registering school is responsible for ensuring that the course is recorded on the homeschooler’s BC transcript.
How to cross-enrol as a homeschooler:
- Find the course or course you need or want to take in the Online Learning course registry.
- Contact the school that offers the course at the time and in the way you wish it to be provided
- Ask about and follow their method of cross-enrolling a homeschooler
- The school will email the start up information for the courseware
- The course will require regular activity
- When the course is complete, the school will send the course information and grades to be placed on a BC transcript.
A homeschooler can take as many online learning courses from any number of online learning schools as they wish. Prerequisites are not required, but you should be confident in your course readiness.
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Online Learning Courses and Programs
Course Challenge
Course Challenge provides a way to earn credit by demonstrating the required learning without taking the full course.
The challenge process assesses whether a teen has the knowledge and skills required for a particular Grade 10, 11, or 12 course. This can be useful when a teen has already learned the material independently, through experience, or through another learning opportunity and does not need to complete the entire course.
Challenge processes are administered by schools or school authorities, so families should contact the appropriate school to find out whether a particular course can be challenged and how the process works. The first step the administrator needs to take is to assess the child’s prior learning. This policy is to prevent the costs and time associated with course challenges if they are instead simply able to grant the credit for equivalency, but for some it may be hard to gather the information they need for this assessment.
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Equivalency
Equivalency allows documented learning completed outside the regular BC school system to be recognized as equivalent to a BC Grade 10, 11, or 12 course.
Previous courses or credentials may qualify when the learning is sufficiently similar to the BC course. The school or school authority determines whether the learning meets the requirements for equivalency and may require documentation showing what was completed.
Equivalency can be useful when a teen has completed learning elsewhere that closely matches a BC course and wants that learning recognized for BC credit rather than repeating the course. They won’t consider a pieced together home education for equivalency. They are looking for accreditation from other jurisdictions or similar.
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External Credentials
External Credentials recognize certain approved learning, certifications, and achievements completed outside the regular school system for BC graduation credit.
The BC Ministry maintains a list of approved external credentials. These include certain language certifications, music and dance credentials, lifesaving certifications, and other approved achievements. The type and amount of credit available depends on the specific credential.
External credentials are reported for credit through the BC education system. Contact your registering school.
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Post-Secondary Courses for Credit
A homeschooler can take courses at a post-secondary institution and, where the course meets BC requirements, have that learning recognized for BC high school credit. This is particularly relevant to the Adult Dogwood, which allows qualifying courses and credits from both the secondary and post-secondary systems. The post-secondary institution’s transcript provides the documentation of the course and grade, and the qualifying credit can be applied toward a BC transcript, reported as a grade 12 elective.
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How Credits Appear on a BC Transcript
A BC high school credit is formal recognition of learning within the BC education system and is recorded on an official BC transcript.
The way a credit was earned can also be identified on the transcript. For example, credits awarded through equivalency or challenge are reported with indicators showing how the credit was obtained.
For registered homeschoolers taking Online Learning courses, the registering school is the school of record and is responsible for reporting the final grades so that the courses are recorded on the homeschooler’s Ministry transcript.
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When Credits May Be Useful or Necessary
Whether a teen needs BC high school credits depends on what they plan to do next.
Credits may be useful or necessary for:
- Meeting specific admission or work? requirements
- Completing prerequisites for a post-secondary program, trade, apprenticeship, or other training
- Meeting course requirements for a particular program
- Working toward a BC Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood)
- Working toward an Adult Graduation Diploma (Adult Dogwood)
- Demonstrating formal completion of particular courses
Credits are not necessary for every pathway after homeschooling. Often Most Some universities, colleges, trades, apprenticeships, training programs, and othersr opportunities have alternative admission routes or do not require a traditional BC high school transcript.
If a particular pathway does require specific courses or credits, it is important to find out the requirements early and plan accordingly. Credits are a tool that can be used when they serve a particular purpose.