Credit through Exams

Challenge Exam Procedure

You may have already acquired the knowledge and skills that are actually the intended outcomes of a particular course. The type of exam you take varies depending on the subject. It may be written, verbal, practical, or a combination. Please be aware that Northwood Tech is not required to have challenge exams for all courses. A list of current challenge exams is available below. 

Understand that Challenge Exams are evaluative, rather than learning experiences. Results indicate only whether you have earned credit for prior learning: pass or fail (no score is available, nor is a report of how you performed on the exam.) Results will be emailed to your Northwood Tech email account within one week of taking the exam.

If you would like to complete a Challenge Exam please review the information below and then email Jami Koivisto at registrar@northwoodtech.edu or call 715-752-8475 to discuss the Challenge Exam.

• Essential information
  • A non-refundable fee of $50 must be paid prior to taking any exam.
  • Must be enrolled in a program that requires the course.
  • Successful students must request a class withdrawal and will receive a 100 percent refund.
  • No letter grade is assigned; CR (credit) is recorded on academic transcripts.
  • Credits obtained through challenge exams are not included in your overall gradepoint average.
• Determine whether you are eligible to take a challenge examination.
  • You may apply for credit for prior learning after you are admitted to a specific program.
  • If you are not enrolled in the course, you may take the exam at any time as long as you have met any prerequisite/corequisite requirements.
  • Students currently enrolled in the course (or intending to enroll in the course) must complete the challenge exam within 1 week of the course start date. If you are successful, you must request a withdrawal from the course and you will be given a full (100 percent) refund.
  • You may retest for the same exam after one year from the date of the first attempt.
  • You are ineligible to take a challenge exam for a course in which you have previously received a final grade (A through F, excluding W).
• Determine if passing a challenge test will affect your financial aid.
  • Credits earned through challenge exams are not included in the active credits for the term and, therefore, cannot be used when determining financial aid eligibility or enrollment status. Contact the Student Services Office for more information.
• Determine whether you are likely to pass the examination.
  • Information sheets that tell you about the exam and list the competencies it will test are available by clicking on the course link from the challenge exam course list. Your instructors can advise you as well.
  • A grade mastery level of 80 percent is required to pass most exams, unless otherwise specified. 
• Schedule a date and time to take a Challenge Exam.
  • For more information or to find out how to schedule an appointment:
    • Contact the registrar, Jami Koivisto, registrar@northwoodtech.edu or call 715-752-8475
  • Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made to ensure access to academic programs, activities, services and employment in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAA). Students with a documented disability must request accommodations by contacting the campus Accommodation Specialist and following required steps to obtain accommodations at the post-secondary level.
• Report for your testing appointment.
  • Bring any permitted materials listed on the information sheet and proof of payment. 
    • Ashland – Academic Support Associate staff at the iTLC Innovative Teaching and Learning Center
    • New Richmond – Academic Support Associate staff at the iTLC Innovative Teaching and Learning Center
    • Rice Lake – Academic Support Associate staff at the iTLC Innovative Teaching and Learning Center
    • Superior – Academic Support Associate staff at the iTLC Innovative Teaching and Learning Center