<p>It may not be so much whether a course for a high school senior or college frosh is taught by someone with a bachelor’s or doctoral degree, but whether the curriculum is equivalent by design. If a college designs its biology course to have organic chemistry as a prerequisite or corequisite, then the AP course would not be a true equivalent, for example.</p>
<p>For math, a typical AP course would not be equivalent to a proof-oriented or honors course, but most schools do recognize that many of the best-in-math students are ready to move on to more advanced math and would be wasting their time retaking (regular non-honors) calculus 1 (Caltech and Harvey Mudd may be exceptions, but that is because their calculus 1 courses would be considered proof-oriented honors courses everywhere else).</p>