Do prerequisites taken online actually count?
Whether an online prerequisite "counts" comes down to one thing, and it isn't whether it was online — it's whether the school that taught it is regionally or institutionally accredited.
Whether an online prerequisite "counts" comes down to one thing, and it isn't whether it was online — it's whether the school that taught it is regionally or institutionally accredited. That's a very fair thing to wonder about, especially with prerequisites often taken years after — or well before — starting a TCM program, since a course that looks legitimate on a course-marketplace site can still turn out to be non-transferable if the underlying school isn't accredited.
Five Branches requires six prerequisite courses — General Biology, General Chemistry, Physics, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and General Psychology — and per what the school publishes (checked 07/2026), online sections of any of these are accepted as long as they come from a regionally/institutionally accredited college and produce an official transcript. Labs are the other thing to check course-by-course, since online providers handle them differently (at-home kits, virtual labs, or an in-person lab requirement).
| Provider | Accreditation | Prereqs covered | Lab format |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA community colleges via cvc.edu | Regionally accredited (ACCJC) | All six | Varies by campus — often cheapest route |
| University of New England Online | Regionally accredited (NECHE) | All six | Mailed at-home kits |
| Portage Learning | Via Geneva College (MSCHE) | Bio, A&P I/II, Chem — Physics/Psych not confirmed | Integrated |
| Doane University Open Learning | Regionally accredited (HLC) | Bio, A&P I/II, Chem — Physics/Psych not confirmed | Mailed/virtual |
| UC San Diego Extension | WSCUC | Anatomy & Physiology as separate courses, Chem | Confirm inclusion |
| UC Berkeley / UCLA Extension | WSCUC | Chem, Physics, Bio, Anatomy, Physiology | Some labs in-person |
One caution: platforms like StraighterLine or Sophia Learning carry only an ACE credit recommendation, not accreditation — they're a real transfer risk here and need written pre-approval from Five Branches before relying on them.
Curious which of the six you're missing, or want a sense of what a given provider's lab actually looks like?
Sources
- Five Branches University — Educational Requirements checked 2026-08
- Five Branches University — published materials checked 2026-07
Last reviewed: