The University of California recognizes College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations for college credit. AP examinations presented with official scores of 3, 4 or 5 will receive units of college credit and, in specific instances, may be comparable to some lower-division courses. College credit will apply toward the minimum 180 quarter units required for a bachelor’s degree.

To learn how many units can be received for an AP examination and to which UC lower-division courses AP examinations are comparable, see College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examination Credit under Credit Toward Degree. How units will be applied toward specific degree requirements in each college is explained within each examination category.

In general, students may not earn university credit for college courses or International Baccalaureate (IB) transfer credits that duplicate credit already earned through AP. There are, however, a few exceptions as indicated in the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) Examination Credit chart. Since it is often difficult to know exactly which UC Davis course students should take when they have earned AP credit, they should speak with an academic advisor in their major department, dean's office or the Biology Academic Success Center (BASC) before selecting and enrolling in classes to determine any restrictions in the use of AP examinations toward breadth requirements and lower-division major course requirements. Courses for which AP credit has been granted may not substitute coursework required as part of the UC Davis General Education Requirement.