AP vs. Dual Credit…. Whats the difference?

What’s the difference between AP and Dual Credit?

AP is Advanced Placement, a national program of standardized courses taught in high school by teachers certified by the AP program. AP is part of the College Board, which also administers the SAT. A passing grade earns high school credit, but in order to receive college credit the national AP Exam is required. Individual colleges decide which exams are accepted and the score required to award credit.

Dual Credit is a partnership between a high school and a local college. Courses are taught, usually in the high school, by teachers qualified by the partnership college and have completed graduate-level coursework in the content area. A college grade is assigned using the college grading scale and a college transcript is issued for a student who completes dual credit coursework. Students are not required to take the AP Exam, instead a college grade is issued and the college transcript can be sent to a college or university of the student’s choice to award credit.