An acceleration opportunity for students who possess the skills to show mastery in the content of a course that they have not yet taken.
The following courses are excluded from Credit by Demonstrated Mastery: - Career and Technical Education (CTE) work-based learning courses (co-op, internship, apprenticeship); - CTE courses that have a clinical setting as a requirement of the course, such as ProStart, Early Childhood Education I/II and Nursing Fundamentals; - CTE Advanced Studies courses; - English Language Learner (ELL) courses; - Healthful Living required courses; - AP and IB courses; and - Occupational Course of Study (OCS) Occupational Preparation I, II, III, and IV courses. (Based on NC State Board of Education Policy)
If you are interested in pursuing CDM after reviewing this information, please complete the application form at the end of this page and submit to Mrs. Mauk (either at her office or through the main office).
NHC Press Release:
NHCS Students May Apply for Credit by Demonstrated Mastery
Students who want to accelerate their coursework to achieve their academic goals may apply for Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM). The CDM process allows students to earn credit in a particular course by demonstrating proficiency in the subject without completing the classroom instruction. All North Carolina students in grades 9-12 are eligible to apply for Credit by Demonstrated Mastery in the available courses.
Credit by Demonstrated Mastery is a two-phase process:
Phase I: Establishes that a student has a strong foundational knowledge of a subject area, assessed through an End of Course test or exam. The student must achieve a Level 5 on the EOC/state assessment or 90% correct on the local exam, then the student may move on to Phase II.
Phase II: Establishes that a student can demonstrate and apply mastery knowledge of the course content. A student must provide an assigned artifact assessed by a school review team in order to achieve credit for the course.
CDM Schedule 2025-2026
Fall 2025
Student application window August 26 -September 9, 2025
Test administrators will submit test requests By September 15, 2025
CDM assessment (at school sites- dates set by NCDPI) Sept 24-30 or Oct 24-30, 2025
CDM assessment results reported to students & families By November 6, 2025
Artifact assigned By November 7, 2025
Artifact deadline (turned in to CDM School Contact) November 25, 2025
CDM Review Panel disseminates results By December 18, 2025
CDM credit earned in Fall 2025 should inform placement in Spring of 2026 or Fall of 2026
Spring 2026
Student Application window January 21 - 30, 2026
Test Coordinators submit tests requests By February 13, 2026
CDM assessment (at school sites set by NCDPI) March 17-31. 2026
CDM phase I results reported to students April 13, 2026
Artifact assigned to students continuing to phase II By April 14, 2026
Artifact deadline By May 5, 2026
CDM Review Panel disseminates results By May 29, 2026
CDM credit earned in Spring 2026 should inform placement in Fall of 2026 or Spring of 2027
CDM credit earned in one semester should inform placement in the following semester or school year.
Click here for a link to the CDM application. To learn more about CDM, visit DPI’s CDM website, or contact your school’s CDM Coordinator for more information.
Applications should be submitted to Reagan Mauk. Also, please contact me if you have any questions: reagan.mauk@nhcs.net. Please email me if you would like to be contacted with more information.