A student must be enrolled in courses before transcripts may be requested for an evaluation. Please be aware that a student must complete at least one quarter of their program at NOVA in order to obtain a degree from the college.

It is both a military and NOVA policy through Service Members Opportunity Colleges (SOC) that each student must have a SOC agreement after finishing 6 credit hours. The only exception to this rule is if the student has a SOC agreement through another college.

Northern Virginia Community College is also a participant in the Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC).  As a participating member of SOC we are  required to issue a SOC agreement SOCMAR (MARINE),  SOCAD (ARMY),  SOCNAV (NAVY)  to our students.  Simply put a SOC agreement is a standard NOVA degree plan, put on a SOC form.  It is the responsibility of the Student, their Education Center, and the MSO to ensure the Military Student has a valid SOC.  All of our degree plans have a corresponding SOC agreement.   A student is required by SOC to have a SOC agreement completed after the student has completed 6 credit hours, and NOVA has completed an evaluation on the student to include their Military Transcripts, CLEP/DANTES, college transcripts, etc.  

You will first make contact with a Counselor at the MSO when you first apply for Admissions to NOVA.  The closer the college is to the last day of registration the less time a Counselor at the MSO can spend with any one student.   Therefore, to ensure you get the service you need, please register early and/or make a follow-up appointment with a specific counselor after you apply for admission and register for classes.  Though it is not required to have an appointment to see a Counselor, it is however recommended.  

To help speed up the process, you should review our on-line Catalog, print off an Advising Sheet, or course requirement checklist, look at the Alexandria Campus schedule of courses.  In addition, to better serve you, please complete the on line admissions form and bring  the following with you to our office:

• Unofficial or official  copy of all College Transcripts
• Unofficial copy of your Military Transcripts
• The MSO will submit evaluations to the counseling department for Military Transcripts, and all prior college transcripts as necessary..

Before coming into the MSO, remember to ask yourself some questions. 

Ask yourself the following:

Did I complete any Advance Placement (AP) courses in High School?

If so, NOVA accepts AP courses.

Did I graduate from a Virginia High School that NOVA has an articulation
agreement with?  

Did I complete a dual enrollment program at my High School which 
was accredited with another College?

Depending on your High School and or program of study, you may have NOVA credits or credits from another participating college.

Did I pass any CLEP/DANTES test?  

NOVA accepts both CLEP and DANTES  and may be able to apply these credits towards your degree plan.

CLEP/DANTES School Codes are:

5517 CLEP
9711 DANTES

The following CLEP tests are available on Ft. Myer:

General Exam:

• English Composition
• Social Sciences and History
• Natural Sciences
• Humanities
• College Mathematics

CLEP Subject Exams:

• Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
• College Algebra
• Freshman College Composition
• History of the US I
• History of the US II
• Information Systems and Computer Applications
• Introductory Psychology
• Introductory Sociology
• Principles of Management

All other CLEP tests will have to be taken at off-post national testing centers.   NOVA, Alexandria Campus offers CLEPS for a fee.  See their website.

Do I speak a foreign language? 

If so, you should take a CLEP foreign language exam if offered in the language you speak.

After the student has been admitted,  the student should request that all "transcripts" from any accredited source be sent to the Admission and Records office of Alexandria, or to Viola Tovar at the Military Site Office – 3001 North Beauregard Street – Alexandria, VA 22311. Below are some information and links that Military Students will find useful.

Army Military Occupational Specialties (MOS) :  Credit may be granted for Army primary and secondary MOSs at Skill Level 30-40 if current proficiency can be documented. Credit for MOS Skill Level 10 will only be granted for ratings prior to October 1991, but credit may be granted for  courses leading to this skill level after October 1991. After March 1995 skill levels 30 and 40 may yield credit for management skills but not technical skills. Skill level 20 is valid only from January 1990 to February 1995.  No credit is awarded for duty MOSs.

Marine Corps (MCE), Navy (NER) and Coast Guard (CGR) Ratings & Schools: Credit may be given in accordance with ACE Guide recommendations.  Students who are active duty or Reserve Sailors/Marines or who separate/retire on or after 10/1/99 must submit a Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART).    Please see the MSO for the SMART request form.

Marine Corps Correspondence Courses (MCI) :  Transcripts listing completed correspondence courses may be obtained from the Marine Corp Institute, Arlington, VA 22222-0001 or call toll free 1-800-MCI-USMC.

Community College of the Air Force : Air Force personnel, both active and veteran, must submit a CCAF (Community College of the Air Force) transcript. Transcripts may be obtained from CCAF/RRR, 130 West Maxwell Blvd, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL 36112-6613.  CCAF will not accept  fax requests for transcripts.