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Work Experience Credit

Turn Your Job Into High School Credit

Many students balance school with part-time or full-time work.

Students 16 years of age or older and currently employed in a paying job may be eligible to earn high school credit for the work hours. This opportunity allows students to gain recognition for the skills you are building outside of the classroom.

Why Work Experience Credit Matters

  • Earn graduation credit while working and earning money.
  • Gain real-world skills that connect directly to career and college goals.
  • Showcase responsibility and time management skills valued by employers and colleges.

Credit Options

Worksite Learning (WSL)

Students can earn high school credit for paid work experiences related to their Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Pathway. Students gain credit by applying classroom learning to real-world job settings, helping bridge the gap between school and employment.

  • Counts as a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Graduation Pathway credit.
  • Must align directly with CTE goals by giving students credit for applying workplace skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and technical expertise.

Paid Work Experience (PWE)

Students can earn credit for their paid employment not directly tied to a CTE Career Pathway. It recognizes the skills students develop in real-world employment and helps meet graduation requirements and emphasizes financial awareness, responsibility, and workplace readiness.

  • Counts as an Elective credit only.
  • Ideal if the student has already met their CTE pathway requirement buts want elective credit for your job.
  • Students must complete financial literacy assessments.

Grading

Grades are issued as Credit (CR) or No Credit (NC) only.

How Credit Is Earned

Students earn credit by documenting and verifying their work hours. For every 180 hours of approved work, students earn 0.5 credit.

Total Hours Worked Credit Earned
180 hours 0.5 credit

How to Apply

  1. Schedule a meeting the school counselor or College, Career, and Readiness Specialist (CCR) TOSA - They’ll confirm eligibility, explain which program fits your goals, and help you get started.
     

  2. Gather employment details - Employer’s name, job title, supervisor contact, and a brief job description.
     

  3. Apply online through SchooLinks - Log in through Clever, open the Programs section, and select Worksite Learning or Paid Work Experience.
     

  4. Wait for approval - After applying, the employer and the district coordinator will review the student's information and confirm placement.
     

  5. Begin earning credit - Once approved, you can start tracking your work hours toward graduation credit.

Tracking Work Hours

Students earn credit by logging and verifying their paid work hours throughout the semester.

  • Track your hours monthly - Log in to through Clever and record the total hours you’ve worked for the month.
     

  • Upload proof of hours - Students will submit a copy of their paystub or signed work log each month as documentation.
     

  • Supervisor verification - The employer will receive an email to verify the student's hours, which are approved once both the supervisor and district coordinator confirm entry.
     

  • Stay on schedule - Monthly timesheets are due by the 15th of the following month (e.g., September hours are due by October 15). Staying on schedule helps ensure credit is processed before the semester ends.

Program Deadlines

  • W (Withdrawn) - The student dropped the course before the withdrawal deadline. A “W” appears on the transcript but does not affect GPA.

  • N/C (No Credit) -  The student did not complete the required hours or course requirements after the withdrawal period. “N/C” means no credit was earned and does not affect GPA.

Fall Semester (Semester 1) Spring Semester (Semester 2)
Sign-Up Deadline: September 30 Sign-Up Deadline: February 28
Withdraw with “W”: November 1 Withdraw with “W”: April 1
Withdraw with “N/C”: After October 31 Withdraw with “N/C”: After March 31

Additional Resources

Need Help?

Contact your school’s Counseling Office or CCR TOSA (College, Career, and Readiness Specialist) for help.