PCC Dual Credit - What is it?

PAVTEC coordinates the Portland Community College Dual Credit program which is a program where high school students have the opportunity to earn "dual credit" (high school and college credit for the same course) for their advanced level courses. These "articulated" courses are essentially identical in content and student outcomes. These college level courses are taught at the high school by high school teachers and are considered to be part of a college degree or certificate program. They provide an opportunity for students to transition smoothly from high school to college, in a non-duplicative program of study. Articulated courses also help in shortening time-to-completion of a degree as well as saving money for students and parents.

Students who are interested in receiving the college credit can fill out a PCC Dual Credit Registration Form which will be mailed to their home in March.

Dual credit is related but not similar to the Oregon Department of Education's Career & Technical Education (ODE CTE) Program Approval Process. In the ODE CTE Program Approval application one of the standards addresses post-secondary connections. Dual credit is one indicator that post-secondary connections exist but is not an essential indicator. Post-secondary connections can occur without dual credit and vice versa, a high school can have dual credit opportunities without ODE Program Approval. Also, instructor qualifications differ when comparing ODE CTE Program Approval and dual credit. ODE CTE Program Approval involves an Instructor Appraisal Committee and meeting, where high school instructors wanting approval to offer dual credit to their students must qualify according to the specific department and Subject Area Committee (SAC) at PCC.