Transcripts & Enrollment Verification

Includes all Credit coursework for the receiving institution.

Why order an Official Transcript for Transfer when transferring to a UC or CSU?

An official transcript is required when transferring to a University of California (UC) or California State University (CSU) because it serves as the verified record of your academic history. It confirms the courses you complete, the grades you earned, and the units you attempted and completed at each institution you attended.

UC and CSU campuses use official transcripts to:

• Validate the information you self-reported on your application.
• Determine your eligibility for admission.
• Evaluate transfer credit and apply it toward degree and major requirements.
• Verify completion of general education and major preparation coursework.
• Calculate your final transfer GPA.

Because official transcripts are sent directly from the institution and cannot be altered, they ensure the accuracy and integrity of the admissions and evaluation process. Without official transcripts, the university cannot finalize your admission or award transfer credit.

Includes all coursework: Credit, Noncredit, and/or CBE.

Why order an Official Transcript for Purposes Other than Transfer (Non-Transfer Purposes)?

An official transcript may be requested for purposes other than transferring because it serves as a certified and secure record of your academic history. It provides official verification of your enrollment, coursework, grades, units earned, degrees awarded, and academic standing.

Official transcripts are commonly required for:

• Employment or promotion verification
• Professional licensing or certification
• Scholarships and financial aid applications
• Background checks or credential evaluations
• Military, government, or immigration requirements
• Graduate school or professional program applications
• Personal records requiring official documentation

Because official transcripts are issued directly by the institution and contain institutional authentication (such as a seal or secure electronic delivery), they are recognized as legally valid documents. This ensures that third parties can rely on the accuracy and authenticity of the academic information provided.

Includes CBE courses with competencies.

Why order an Official Competency-Based Education (CBE) Transcript?

A student would request a Competency-Based Education (CBE) transcript when they need official documentation of specific skills or competencies they have mastered, rather than a traditional record of courses and grades. A CBE transcript focuses on demonstrated learning outcomes and proficiencies aligned to industry or workforce standards.

Students typically request a CBE transcript for purposes such as:

• Employment or career advancement – to show employers verified competencies and job-ready skills.
• Workforce training or apprenticeships – to document mastery of required technical or professional competencies.
• Professional certifications or licensure – to verify completion of competency-based programs or training.
• Employer reimbursement or sponsorship programs – to confirm successful completion of job-related learning.
• Portfolio or skills-based evaluations – to supplement a résumé with official evidence of competencies.

A student may request only a CBE transcript (instead of a traditional academic transcript) when the receiving organization is interested in skills and outcomes rather than credit units, GPA, or degree progress. CBE transcripts are especially useful in workforce, career technical education, and industry-aligned programs where competencies provide more meaningful evidence of readiness and performance than traditional grades.

Only includes noncredit coursework.

Why order an Official Noncredit Transcript?

A student would request only a noncredit transcript when they need official documentation of learning or training that does not apply toward college credit or a degree, but is still required for professional, personal, or regulatory purposes. A noncredit transcript verifies participation, completion, and outcomes for courses focused on skill development, workforce preparation, or personal enrichment.

Students typically request a noncredit transcript for purposes such as:

Employment or job placement – to verify completion of job training, workforce, or adult education programs.

Professional licensing or certification – to document required training hours or continuing education.

Employer reimbursement or workforce funding programs – to confirm eligibility for tuition or training benefits.

Apprenticeships or trade programs – to show completion of required noncredit coursework.

Personal records – to maintain an official history of completed training or skills.

Community or government programs – to meet eligibility or participation requirements.

A student may request only a noncredit transcript (instead of a credit transcript) because the receiving organization is interested solely in proof of training or skill attainment, not academic credit, GPA, or degree progress. Noncredit transcripts provide an official and authenticated record of learning that supports workforce and continuing education needs.

Official sealed transcripts from other schools may be submitted in an official, sealed envelope from the other institution.

We accept official transcripts from the following  Regional Institutional Accrediting Organizations:

• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC)
• Higher Learning Commissions (HLC)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)

Submit by mail or in person to:

We also accept official electronic transcripts from Credential Solutions, Scrip-Safe, National Student Clearing House, and Parchment.  Please have electronic transcripts sent from the service provider directly to [email protected].

Submitted transcripts may take between 30 – 45 days to be evaluated depending on volume and peak times of the year.  If you have questions about a submitted transcript email Admissions at A&[email protected].

Only lower division credit will be accepted provided the institution offering the courses accepts them towards its own degree.  Institutions must be listed as being fully accredited by one of the regional institutional accrediting organizations that are recognized by the United States Department of Education.  Transcripts submitted to Merced College become the property of Merced College and cannot be returned or forwarded to another institution.

Merced College does not evaluate international transcripts until they are evaluated by ERES- Educational Records Evaluation Service- an international transcript evaluation service recommended by Merced College.  ERES order forms are available in the Admissions office or online at www.eres.com.  Students should indicate on their ERES order that they would like a “Course Listing.”  The cost of the ERES evaluation is the responsibility  of the student.

The Admissions Office will only consider lower division courses recommended by the ERES service.  Course descriptions in the native language, catalog information, or relevant syllabus must be provided by the student for courses that they would like reviewed and submitted to the Admissions Office.  Discipline faculty will review and provide a report to the Admissions office when their analysis of coursework is complete.  This may take 60-90 days.  All evaluated coursework will be scanned to the students record and be available for review and course planning with their counselor.

As international transcripts do not have the California Course Identification Numbering System (C-ID) or general breadth articulation with the CSU/UC, students wishing to use these courses to fulfill an ADT- Associate Degree for Transfer should file a general petition for general breadth exceptions or a course substitution for exceptions to the major core requirements (BP/AP 4227).