The requirements for these awards for completion of curricula are determined by the College faculty and are intended to meet the requirements specified by the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, certain specialized accrediting agencies, and the faculty of the College. The A.A.A. degree may also be accepted for transfer by some senior colleges and universities. This varies by institution. In some A.A.S. degree programs one or more summer terms may be required.
Most certificates prepare the student for a specific job or aspect of a job.
Some certificates are part of an associate degree program, in which case the credit earned in the certificate may be used toward the degree. Some credit earned in a career studies certificate curriculum may be used to meet the requirements in other certificates and degrees that require similar courses.