About Tech Prep

The Tech Prep program provides academic and vocational preparation in a career pathway. Tech Prep students begin their program of study in a High School and then transition into post College to earn an advanced technical degree or certification. Career pathways are academically rigorous and provide students with not only the fundamental skills that are required for post College admission but also the technical skills that will enable them to have successful careers in California's new, highly technical economy.

Students can earn college credits for specific Tech Prep courses taken in high school that will transfer to certificate and degree programs at Palomar College. Students do not pay for high school Tech Prep courses so they save on College tuition. Students also save time by not having to repeat those courses when they enroll in college certificate or degree programs.

Procedures for Granting College Credit

*See Step by Step - Flow Chart

Tech Prep Student Completes Articulated Course

• Student completes high school/ROP articulated Tech Prep course/program with a grade of “B” or better in the course and on the final examination/performance. Students demonstrate mastery of college course competencies through the “Credit by Examination” process which requires college faculty who teach the course(s) being challenged, to approve the test(s) and performances assuring that students who pass have mastered the corresponding College course competencies. (Title 5 revision Nov. 2001)
• Students who complete the course/program with a “B” or better will receive college credit for the corresponding articulated College class.

Tech Prep Application Forms Are Recorded

• High school faculty completes the “Final Grade Enrollment Form” for those students earning the college credit. All information requested must be completed. High school faculty must insert the high school and college course/program information along with the grade earned, then sign, date and return to the Palomar College Tech Prep office, before the deadline date.
• The Tech Prep office records all students with a “B” or better into the Tech Prep student database.
• Tech Prep office sorts all High School application forms by high school and submits list of students earning college credit to Student Services and Evaluations office.
• High school student is enrolled into Palomar College and receives credit.
• Palomar College transcript is sent to all high school students that earned credit.
• Tech Prep Coordinator will send a letter of congratulations addressed to “The Parents Of…” which explains the Tech Prep program and credits received by their child.

Tech Prep Articulation Enrollment Forms are input into the College System

• College inputs the college credit for Tech prep course(s) in academic history as Credit by Exam (with grade).
• (Evaluation)(Student Services) Office after entering student application into the system the original form will be sent back to the Tech Prep Office.
• Tech Prep Student Data is Entered into the MIS System
  • A quarterly report must be submitted to the State Chancellor’s Office, the following information is required:
    1. Total number of students served with Title II, Tech Prep
    2. Students gender
    3. Ethnicity of student served
• Tech Prep Coordinator has access to data for reporting purposes