Semester Hour: This is the amount of credit given for the successful completion of a course that meets one period each week for one semester of at least 18 weeks. A course that meets five periods per week for the two semesters, therefore, would permit a student to earn 10 semester hours of credit.

Carnegie Unit: This is the amount of credit given for the successful completion of a course which meets 40 minutes daily, five days per week for at least 36 weeks, or the equivalent amount of time within the school year. The equivalent is 120 clock hours.

Credit by Performance: The school establishes guidelines by which credit may be given on a performance basis by means of approved assessments of varying kinds covering the content ordinarily included in a regular school course in the subject. A school also may use assessments as the basis for admission of students with educational experience for which transcripts of credit are not available.

Acceptance of Instructional Credits: A member school will accept credit earned by students from schools or programs accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations. The school will determine which, if any, of the accepted credits will meet local requirements (e.g., graduation, honors, athletics). Each district (or school if there is no district structure) will establish and have available to the public a policy on the acceptance of credits from schools or programs not accredited by one of the six regional accrediting associations.

Independent Study Programs: The school may provide planned programs of independent learning in which students need not attend classes a specific amount of time during a semester. In such instances, credit may be granted for satisfactory performance on proficiency examinations or for successful completion of curricular units, steps, or phases established by the school as comprising the equivalency of a unit of work.

Work-Study Programs: Credit may be given provided the program is under the supervision of the school.

Credit through Military Experiences: The school may, in accordance with the established policies of the state department of education, grant units of credit towards graduation for the following types of educational experiences received while in military service:

1. United States Armed Forces Institute courses.
2. United States Armed Forces Institute subject examinations.
3. High school courses offered through USAFI by cooperating colleges and universities: credit upon transfer from the school offering the course.
4. Marine Corps Institute courses.
5. Basic or recruit training accepted in lieu of required courses in physical education and health.
6. Service school training.
7. PREP (Pre-discharge Education Program), but only when provided by a regionally accredited secondary school.

Each district (or school if there is no district structure) shall establish and have available to the public a policy on the acceptance of credit from courses taken through extension, correspondence, television, or distance learning (Internet, software).

Credit for Summer School Study: The school may offer summer school courses for credit or accept summer school credits earned in some other accredited high school. If a school operates a summer school, the courses offered are under the instruction of teachers and the supervision of administrators who meet NCA CASI criteria.