Certificate Student Handbook

• Overview
• Registration
• Credit Certificate Policies
• Noncredit Certificate Policies
• Certificate Completion
• Refunds & Withdrawals
• International Student Eligibility

Online Student Handbook

• Overview
• Getting Started
• Registration
• Fees & Finances
• Materials
• Assignments
• Examinations
• Grades & Transcripts
• Incompletes & Withdrawals
• Netiquette

Course Guide

• Overview
• Credit Course Fees
• Credit Course Policies
• Credit Course Registration & Enrollment
• Credit Course Grading
• Credit Course Refunds & Withdrawals
• Credit Course Important Dates
• Noncredit Course Policies
• Noncredit Refund & Withdrawal Policies

Advising FAQ

• Choosing a Certificate Program
• Applying to a Certificate Program

General Information

• Fees, Aid & Payment
• Student Services
• UWPCE Policies
• Getting Around
• Important Forms

• How do I earn my certificate?

  To earn a certificate of completion, students must satisfactorily complete all requirements according to the standards defined for each program. Students are encouraged to complete the certificate within a single program cycle with their student cohort.

  UW Professional & Continuing Education certificate program students are evaluated in each course of the certificate program on the basis of standards established by the instructors, the program director and the advisory board. These standards may include specific requirements for completion of course assignments, projects and examinations.

• What are the certificate attendance requirements?

  Students are required to progress through the courses in a program in a timely and appropriate fashion. In the majority of cases, the way in which courses are ordered in a program is purposeful. Students are expected to take the courses in this specific order. Professional & Continuing Education courses that offer University of Washington undergraduate or graduate credit follow the same policies as regular UW credit courses.

  For noncredit, at a minimum, certificate program students are expected to attend 80 percent of all class sessions for each required course. Program instructors may set higher attendance standards.

• What if I cannot finish my program?

  Students who must drop a certificate program due to unavoidable conflicts may be allowed to transfer to the following program year and complete the certificate. Students who wish to request a drop should contact their academic programs direct support representative.

• Can I apply courses taken via single course enrollment toward my certificate?

  This will vary from program to program. Typically a program will allow no more than two courses to be taken via single course enrollment. For information on a specific program, please contact your academic programs representative at UW Professional & Continuing Education.

• Can I waive a course in a certificate program based on previous education or experience?

  Individual courses in a certificate program cannot be substituted or waived based on prior knowledge or experience. Certificate students may petition to waive up to two courses in a certificate program with proof of successful completion of the identical University of Washington course taken within the last two academic years as a noncertificate student. Before submitting a petition, contact the program director to determine if there have been any changes to the program that would affect your request to waive courses. A written petition must be submitted after a student has been accepted to the certificate program and should include the following information:

  • Full name of student
  • Name of certificate program
  • UW Professional & Continuing Education ID number or Social Security number
  • Name of course(s) to be waived
  • Photocopies of UW Professional & Continuing Education grade letters or University of Washington grade reports showing successful completion of identical course(s) during the last two academic years.

  Petitions should be sent directly to the program director administering the certificate program. The program director will review the petition and approve or deny the request based on any changes to the program or individual course curriculum.

• Is there a graduation ceremony for my certificate program?

  The annual certificate program awards ceremony is held each summer and students are notified by official invitation. Students who are enrolled in a program still in progress or who have a grade of incomplete on their record are invited to the ceremony.

  Attendance is optional. Actual certificates will not be dispersed at the event, but mailed to students 4–6 weeks after program completion.