Do college credits expire?

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I went to college from age 18-21 but never got my BS or BA in anything because I couldn't figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I ended up leaving college to try different jobs to see if any sparked my interest. At age 25, I went to school to get my LPN. How long can I use my old college credits? Does anyone know? Do they expire?

I have ALL the prereq's done from my studies earlier on in life.. I am praying it's not too late so I can at least use them towards my BSN or ADN program. Thanks!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

Excelsior College accepted my credits from the first time I went to college, and those were from 1990 - 1992! It might depend on the school, and the type of class ... I had always thought credits expired after 10 years, but I guess I was wrong! :lol2:

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I think it depends on the school and what the courses were. I've heard some school not accepting some A&P that was greater than 5 years.

I recently went to RN to BSN school and some of my credits from 1980 were accepted.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

I don't know that there is an automatic expiration date for any classwork you've completed, or any hard and fast rule regarding them. I think it's all up to the institution you're transferring them to as to whether or not they'll accept them. What's acceptable at college A may have expired last year for college B. Usually, things like Soc and Psych and English transfer right in; most schools, however, want the sciences (A&P, Chem, Micro) to be recent within several years. It's all up the school that you apply to.

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Exactly!!!!!!!

I don't know that there is an automatic expiration date for any classwork you've completed, or any hard and fast rule regarding them. I think it's all up to the institution you're transferring them to as to whether or not they'll accept them. What's acceptable at college A may have expired last year for college B. Usually, things like Soc and Psych and English transfer right in; most schools, however, want the sciences (A&P, Chem, Micro) to be recent within several years. It's all up the school that you apply to.
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Specializes in Sub-Acute/Psychiatric/Detox.

At my 2 schools, math expires after 5 years (we're not talking good will hunting math either here people), which is BS! I can understand however A&P and the like expiring after 5 years.

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Specializes in heading for NICU.

Depends on the school you are trying to get into. I've seen schools with a 5 year limit and 7 year limits. My college excepted credits that were 15 years old, so it all depends.

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Specializes in cardiology, psychiatry, corrections.

If you are considering Excelsior, then there's a pretty good chance they'll be accepted. A middle aged co-worker of my husband's recently enrolled in EC and had credits from the 1970's that transferred! I'm not sure if these included science courses. At many colleges (At least at our local college) science courses expire after 10 years. I don't know if science classes expire with EC after so long, but I enrolled early this year and I was granted credit for a basic biology course from 1999.

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