Dual Credit

A fast path to your college degree!

What is Dual Credit?

Northwest Vista College’s Dual Credit Program allows eligible high school students, grades 9-12, to earn college credit for certain high school courses in which they are currently enrolled while completing their high school requirements. In order for students to participate in the program, the high schools must be approved to offer dual credit courses. Per Senate Bill 1091, dual credit is limited to the NVC Core Curriculum, career and technology education courses, or foreign language courses within the core curriculum.


Benefits of Dual Credit:

  • Increases the likelihood that a student will complete high school and continue their college education.
  • Decreases the cost of tuition and fees for students in completing their academic degrees
  • New graduates enter the workforce at an accelerated rate and begin to earn wages, benefiting themselves and making positive contributions to our economy
  • Students can earn credit for up to 14 college courses before graduating from high school
  • Increases student’s self-confidence
  • Access to campus resources
  • Tuition is waived for ISDs or discounted for non-ISD students

View the Alamo Colleges High School Programs Dashboard for our program stats!

Admission Requirements

Dual Credit Admission Requirements
(Public and Private/Charter School Students)

Please seek timeline from your High School Dual Credit RepresentativeEach high school has a timeline in which you are to complete the admission process and submit your paperwork to the high school. Eligibility into the program is determined by completing the admission requirements and submitting qualifying test scores before the deadlines.

  1. Contact your high school counselor/liaison regarding dual credit at your campus.
  2. Complete the ApplyTexas application - Before the March deadline.
  3. Complete the Test Prep module in ACES student account (if applicable for TSIA testing).
  4. Coordinate with the high school counselor/liaison on testing requirements- Submit test scores before first week of May deadlines. Note: If using AP or UT OnRamps for registration, scores and/or course history needs to be sent to the college by July.
  5. Complete online DCSO (Dual Credit Student Orientation) in ACES and submit Parent/Student consent form via Canvas in ACES.
  6. Turn in all necessary documentation to your high school counselor/liaison before college deadlines which are usually 8 months in advance before school starts.
  7. Provide proof of residency if requested to correct your student record.

*Returning students: There is a possibility you may need to re-apply and/or take the TSI Assessment for continuing terms if you did not register for and/or dropped courses during the previous semester. Please seek guidance from your High School Dual Credit Representative.

**Homeschool Students: Please email nvc-dualcredit@taodengshi.com to request detailed program information before submitting your application, or click on the Dual Credit for Home School Students tab (below) for more information.

***Former or Current NVC Dual Credit Students graduating from high school (Seniors): If you would like to continue taking courses at Northwest Vista College after graduating from high school, you must submit a new Apply Texas application as a high school graduate.  Please follow the Application and Enrollment Steps for First Time In College Students.

Dual Credit for Home School Students

Northwest Vista College offers traditional dual credit to eligible home school students in our service area.  The Core Curriculum Selection List can be used as a guide for the potential courses students can take.  Final course eligibility will depend on student's transcript and test scores.

Before applying, please contact the NVC Dual Credit Department for detailed program information.

  • Returning students: There is a possibility you may need to re-apply and/or take the TSI Assessment for the 2024-2025 program, if you did not register for and/or dropped courses during the previous semester.
  • The dual credit department can assist you with determining the need to re-apply and/or re-test.

Program Eligibility Packet: 

Here is a printable checklist.

Deadlines:

All admission documentation must be received by the Dual Credit department no later than 4 weeks before the start of the term.

  • Fall 2024 -  July 29, 2024
  • Spring 2025 - Dec 16, 2024

*Dual Credit Students cannot register themselves. Students must email their course request to the dual credit department before the deadline.

NOTE: Home school students must choose courses that follow the high school curriculum they will need to complete in order to graduate.

Transcript Request

This process is for both former and current dual credit students.


You can request your Northwest Vista College transcript via ACES by following the steps below:

  1. Login to ACES
  2. Click on the "Student" tab
  3. Click on "Web Services" link
  4. Click on "Student"
  5. Click on "Student Records"
  6. Click on "Order Official Transcript"
  7. Complete the Transcript Ordering Services form in the pop-up window


REQUESTING YOUR OFFICIAL NORTHWEST VISTA COLLEGE TRANSCRIPT WITHOUT YOUR ACES ACCOUNT:

Order Official Transcript through Credentials Solutions, Inc.

Check Status of Transcript Request

Please know that by submitting your transcript request through the link above, there may be a delay submitting your official authorization to Credentials Solutions for the release of your transcript.

There is no delay requesting your transcript through your logged-in ACES account. If you need help retrieving your login information, please contact our helpdesk.

Within the ordering process, you will have the following options available:

Hold for Grades: your transcript will not be produced until the in-progress term has ended, and all grades are posted to your record.

Hold for Degree: your transcript will not be produced until the in-progress term has ended, and all grades with your degree award have been posted. This may be as many as 45 days after the end of the applicable term.


For additional information on transcripts, please visit the NVC Records and Transcripts webpage or email nvc-records@taodengshi.com.

Becoming a Dual Credit Adjunct

Criteria for Becoming a Dual Credit Adjunct Faculty Member

Dual Credit faculty are required to meet the same teaching standards as any of our on campus faculty. In order to be considered for hire through Alamo Colleges District, interested instructors need:

  • Master's degree with a major in the teaching discipline
  • Master's degree in another field with specific18 graduate hours in the teaching discipline they are wanting to teach dual credit
  • Associate's degree or higher (Technical Programs ONLY, certificates required)

Please DO NOT submit an application if you:

  • Have not completed the necessary graduate work
  • Are not hired by the school district you are wanting to teach for
  • High School Dean has not recommended you for teaching dual credit courses
  • Will not be teaching dual credit courses at your high school in the next two semesters
  • Are ONLY seeking employment as a non-dual credit adjunct faculty member at one of the Alamo Colleges

The Dual Credit faculty hiring process may take several weeks. Therefore, Instructors need to apply before June in order to be fully hired by the Fall term.