The Advanced Technical Credit (ATC) Program is an advanced placement program for students interested in preparing for college and a technical career that requires postsecondary education.
Advanced Technical Credit is one way students can earn college credit while in high school. Students who take content-enhanced, ATC-articulated career and technology courses for high school credit may also be eligible for college credit at community and technical colleges statewide.
ATC-articulated high school courses cover the same material as certain technical college courses and they are taught by high school faculty with special training.
When preparing your high school graduation plan, you may select articulated courses that apply toward college certificates and/or degrees after enrollment in a related college technical program.
High school juniors or seniors who earn a grade of 3.0 (B) or better may count ATC courses as advanced measures for the (DAP) Distinguished Achievement graduation plan.
The ATC Standard Articulation Agreement sets common statewide standards for the award of college credit for selected, content-enhanced high school courses. Any student who successfully completes ATC statewide-articulated secondary courses, graduates from any secondary school in the state, and meets the requirements outlined in the ATC Standard Articulation Agreement, is eligible to receive articulated credit from any participating public two-year college in the state that offers the corresponding college courses.
How Do I Qualify for College Credit?
- Enroll in ATC-articulated career and technology courses in high school. (Course abbreviations end in -TP and courses on your high school transcript should be noted with the letter A.
- Complete the course as a junior or a senior.
- Make a minimum grade of 80 (3.0) in the course.
- If there are course prerequisites, make a minimum grade of 80 (3.0) in each course.
- Enroll in a participating college within 15 months of high school graduation.
- Successfully complete six hours of non-developmental college credit.
- AP and/or CLEP examinations may apply toward the six required hours.
- Ask your high school teacher or counselor for a “petition for credit” form (not required, but helpful).
- Take a copy of your high school transcript to a participating two-year college when you enroll.
- Tell the college admissions staff, counselor, or advisor that you took ATC statewide-articulated courses in high school.
- College staff will help you identify the college courses that are equivalent to the articulated courses you took in high school.
- Select a college certificate or degree plan that includes one or more of these courses.
- Complete six (6) additional, non-developmental college hours.
- Check with the college registrar to make sure your articulated credit is posted to your transcript.
Many ATC Courses Count Towards College Tech Prep Degree Programs
- Content-enhanced articulated courses (ATC and/or local articulation)
- Dual credit (concurrent enrollment)
- College Board Advanced Placement (AP)
Want to find out more? Contact your high school counselor, local two-year college counselor, or a Tech Prep consortium director.
The Statewide Articulation Crosswalk is a resource for schools and colleges to readily identify high school courses included in the Advanced Technical Credit (ATC) Program and the college equivalent course(s).
Finally, state-required staff development provides information to teachers of articulated courses on the articulation process, content of college-equivalent courses, and expected levels of student performance.