Posted in HS4CC

ACE Update

Posted on by Jennifer Cook-DeRosa, M.S.

I continue to follow the updates and changes rolled out by ACE this year. This post outlines what I know so far, and what you’ll need to do if you have ACE credit.

ACE is a third party evaluator of college credit. Some of the college credit options used by our members are “worth college credit” because ACE has evaluated them. In the past, the parent created one ACE account and manually added all of their teen’s ACE credit from every company into their ACE account. At the end of 2020, ACE decided to delegate this transcript creation/account recording process over to a new company Credly Acclaim. Initially this was an uneventful announcement, but the transition has been a little rocky and there have been many parents concerned that their teen’s college credit (earned by an ACE provider before November 2020) may not get counted properly, thus making it hard to send to a college later. This post is important if you’ve earned or plan to earn college credit from one of these sources:

ACE Credit Providers Used in the HS4CC Community

Though ACE has sent out communication emails and website updates, there is a lot of confusion and rumor and speculation about what’s happening- mostly panic. I don’t think there is any reason to panic yet. I do think that a transition of any kind is going to have wrinkles and hiccups, but that we will end up with a better service once this is all fully implemented. Since it is unclear to me today whether or not ACE will retain any type of record system (mixed messages,) I want to share everything I know so far.

NOVEMBER EMAIL FROM ACE:

“Hello from the American Council on Education,

You are receiving this email because you have previously ordered a transcript from the ACE Registry and Transcript System for workplace training or courses.  As of November 30, 2020, ACE has transitioned our transcript services to Credly’s Acclaim, a digital badging platform where you can share your accomplishments and order free digital transcripts sent directly to schools to receive credit towards a degree.

If you are interested in maintaining your credentials in the new platform, ACE needs your permission to share records of your approved courses with Credly so that you can be issued digital badges in Acclaim.  Please fill out the short survey at the link below letting us know if you would like to migrate your course records into Acclaim.  Once we have your response, ACE will coordinate with each training provider to issue badges so that you can continue to access official ACE transcripts. 

Follow this link to the Survey:
Take the Survey

If your credentials are older or the organization that approved them is no longer active with ACE, we may not be able to secure the approvals needed to publish those courses or exams as digital badges.  However, even if you know that the providers you studied with are no longer in operation, it is important to us to know if you still need access to your records so that we can offer assistance. 

Additionally, you may already have been issued badges for recent courses.  If you have received an invitation to accept a badge from Acclaim, click the link inside and make an account to have immediate access to your transcripts.  If all of your courses are there in your dashboard, there is no further action you need to take.  We know that this process has been confusing for students, and we appreciate your patience as we work to modernize our services and provide a life-long digital credential that will always be freely accessible to you. Thank you!

–ACE Learning Evaluations

DECEMBER WEB UPDATE FROM ACE:

Beginning December 2020, ACE’s transcript services for Learning Evaluations (formerly CREDIT®) are offered through a Working Transcript. These enhanced credentials require issuance; please see the “Working Transcript Request” section below for additional details. Former transcripts offered through Credential Solutions/Parchment may still be considered valid.

The ACE Working Transcript includes credit recommendations and competencies that learners have earned through workplace training, exams, certifications, and alternative educational experiences. These transcripts incorporate digital credentials (badges) through Credly’s Acclaim digital credential platform and are designed to allow recipients to grant college credit, satisfy degree requirements, or verify skills required for a job opportunity. 

Effective December 1, 2020 transcript services for ACE’s Learning Evaluations (formerly CREDIT®) migrated to Credly’s Acclaim platform in an effort to provide enhanced credentials to learners and allow additional flexibility for providers.

Many of our providers are already issuing free digital transcripts and badges, some have elected to no longer participate in ACE transcript services, and others are still transitioning to the new system.

If you completed and passed a course or exam that carries Learning Evaluations recommendations, and your provider has already migrated to the new system, you will be sent an email invitation to claim your free badge. After claiming the badge, you may create an account on Acclaim and use that account to order free ​academic transcripts without further approvals. Visit Acclaim’s Transcript help page for questions that may arise regarding Working Transcripts.

If you completed an ACE-endorsed course or exam and have not received an email invitation to claim your badge, please contact your training provider for more information. If you are not sure whom to contact at your training provider, please connect with the ACE Resource Center at credit@acenet.edu for assistance.

Jennifer’s advice so far….

What you need to do depends on whether or not your teen has earned ACE evaluated college credit, when they earned it, and whether or not it’s on a college transcript at this point. As new information becomes available, I will share it with you here.

If your teen earned ACE credit that was used for a bachelor’s degree AND your teen has graduated with their bachelor’s degree: you’re good. You don’t have to do anything unless you expect your teen will want a second bachelor’s degree with a different college. In that rare case, you would have to open a Credly Acclaim account and have the old ACE credit recorded to produce an official transcript of those ACE courses.

If your teen earned ACE credit that was used for an associate’s degree AND your teen has graduated with their associate’s degree: If your teen plans to earn a bachelor’s degree with the same college that they earned their associate degree, you’re good. The college already has the records. If your teen is planning to earn a bachelor’s degree from a different college, it is likely that the second college will ask for an official ACE transcript. In my opinion, you should open a Credly Acclaim account and verify that each ACE credit appears on the Credly Acclaim transcript. Follow ACE’s advice above if you hit a snag.

If your teen earned ACE credit prior to November 1, 2020 but it has not been applied to a degree: In my opinion, you should open a Credly Acclaim account and verify that each ACE credit appears on the Credly Acclaim transcript. Follow ACE’s advice above if you hit a snag.

If your teen earned ACE credit prior to November 1, 2020 but you never opened an ACE account: In my opinion, you should open a Credly Acclaim account and manually reach out to each provider to have your credits added to the account. ACE is unlikely to help your transition.

If your teen earned ACE credit after November 1, 2020: Your credit earned should automatically prompt you to open a Credly Acclaim account (the procedure will vary by course provider) You will not open an ACE account; all of your credit will appear on your Credly Acclaim transcript. In my opinion, you should verify that each credit appears on your new Credly Acclaim transcript. Contact your course provider if you are missing anything, and follow ACE’s advice above if you hit a snag with your course provider.

If your teen earned ACE credit both before and after November 1, 2020: Your credit earned after November 1, 2020 should have prompted you to open a Credly Acclaim account and automatically populated into your new account. Your old credit may need to be manually added into your Credly Acclaim account by your credit provider (Sophia, Studycom, Straighterline, etc.) if it hasn’t automatically appeared by now. In my opinion, you should verify that each ACE credit appears on the Credly Acclaim transcript and contact your course provider directly. Follow ACE’s advice above if you hit a snag.

If your teen has not yet earned but plans to earn ACE credit: Choose an ACE provider whose transition to Credly Acclaim is complete (see list above). Credit earned will (should) automatically prompt you to open a Credly Acclaim account. Your credit will automatically appear in your new Credly Account. Follow the guidance of your course provider if you hit a snag.

Author:

Executive Director of Homeschooling for College Credit