Alternative Placement
Guided-Self Placement: Per AB 705, students have the right to complete our locally developed process for self-placement into English, math, and English as a Second Language (ESL).
- For English guided self placement, students who do not place into ENG-1A directly may opt-out of ENG-91 by completing a simple form; click here to access the opt-out form. For further information about this process click here and scroll down on the page to How Am I Placed into English 1A vs. English 1A+91?
- For math guided self placement, students must visit with a counselor (schedule online counseling appointment) to discuss appropriate placement. In certain circumstances, some students will be referred to the Math Department Chair for further assistance in self-placement.
- For English as a Second Language (ESL) self-guided placement, students who feel they would benefit from English language instruction may visit RCCD Guided Self-Placement Tool to take the ESL GSP.
Advanced Placement (AP) Test: Students will be granted credit for Advanced Placement examinations with a score of 3, 4, or 5 in specified subject areas. Advanced Placement subject credit is granted for the fulfillment of Riverside Community College District programs only. Other colleges or universities may have different policies concerning Advanced Placement. Therefore, the transfer institution will reevaluate the Advanced Placement scores based upon their own college policies.
Students who have successfully completed AP exams with scores of 3, 4, or 5 may earn credit towards RCCD GE and graduation requirements, IGETC, and CSU GE Breadth Certifications. Please see the AP Credit chart in the college catalog for specific information on how AP credits are applied to each of these categories. Official AP scores must be sent to the Admissions and Records office for official evaluation.
Students who do not have their official AP transcript on file who wish to use their AP scores to validate a prerequisite may submit an unofficial College Board transcript and complete a Matriculation Appeal Petition in the Counseling Office to validate a prerequisite for one term. Future validations based on transcripts will require official transcripts on file.
New students who validate AP scores of 3, 4, or 5 in English and/or math exams included in the AP Credit Chart will not need to take the placement test in that subject.
Foreign Languages: Two years of high school language with a “C" or better are equivalent to the first semester of the same language at RCCD. For subsequent semesters, one year of high school language with a “C" or better is equivalent to one semester of the same language at RCCD. (For example, two years of high school Spanish are equivalent to Spanish 1 at RCCD; three years of high school Spanish are equivalent to Spanish 2; four years of high school Spanish are equivalent to Spanish 3.)
Students will need to meet with a counselor to validate the prerequisites. If you have not submitted a copy of your official high school transcripts, please bring official or unofficial transcripts to the meeting to be reviewed by a counselor. Counselors are available in-person and online. For more information regarding a counseling appointment, please go to https://www.norcocollege.edu/services/counseling/Pages/index.aspx
Early Assessment Program (EAP) Test: Students who participated in the Smarter Balanced EAP (Early Assessment Program) as part of the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) in their junior year of high school, may be able to clear both or one section of the placement test. It is important to note that EAP results must be used within two years from the date of your CAASPP test.