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Program Goal
The goal of the High School to Heroes program is to create a statewide distribution of information to Texas public school districts to ensure that all high school students who have enlisted or are considering enlisting into the United States Armed Forces are aware of the availability of college credit awarded for military experience, education, and training through the College Credit for Heroes program.
What is the College Credit for Heroes program?
The College Credit for Heroes program is a Texas Workforce Commission initiative that partners with Texas colleges and universities to recognize the exceptional skills gained by veterans and service members by awarding these individuals academic credit for their military experience, education, and training.
Examples of College Credit for Heroes Accelerated Educational Pathways
Pathways have been established for the following fields. Through the pathways, military experience, education, and training may be translated into civilian credentials such as certificates or associate’s and baccalaureate degrees. Availability of pathways depends on individual, participating institutions.
- Nursing
- Business
- Information Technology
- Emergency Medical Services
- Logistics
Higher Education Institutions Participating in the College Credit for Heroes Program
Currently, 52 institutions are participating in the program. There are 27 community colleges and 24 four-year institutions participating.
Student Participation in the College Credit for Heroes Program
In the College Credit for Heroes program, veterans and service members have a variety of ways to earn academic credit for their military experience, education, and training and to apply that credit towards a degree or a certification.
If you have served or are currently serving in the United States armed forces, you may receive college credit for basic training, military occupational specialties, and other military coursework. Institutions of higher education participating in the College Credit for Heroes program will evaluate your military training and experience according to the American Council on Education (ACE) standards for recommended college credit.
Determination of credit award is based on competencies and approved by the institutions’ staff and department chairs.
Ways in which Veterans and Service Members may Obtain Academic Credit for Military Experience, Education, and Training:
- Joint Services Transcript (JST): When veterans leave the Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy, they can obtain a record of their training known as the joint services transcript. The transcript is a record of completed training that is approved for credit by the American Council on Education (ACE).
- Air University (AU)/Community College of the Air Force (CCAF): The CCAF provides transcripts for Air Force veterans and is a regionally-accredited degree-granting institution that serves the United States Air Forces’ enlisted members.
- Standardized Testing - College Level Examination Program (CLEP): The Defense Activity for Non Traditional Education Support (DANTES) funds CLEP exams for Active Duty members. DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) enable individuals to use the knowledge acquired outside the classroom to accomplish educational and professional goals.
- Credit by Exam – New or prospective students are able to demonstrate proficiency of course requirements by successfully passing an appropriate examination.
- Portfolio Assessment – A portfolio is a collection of evidence that documents experiential learning and learning outcomes to support what you have learned, the context in which it was learned, and how you applied the knowledge. Some Texas IHEs follow the guidelines for prior learning assessment established by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) when completing portfolio assessments.
