Are alternative credits only an American thing?

[Stanislav]

If the degree is RA it's generally recognized. YMMV. E.G. Germany - U.S.MBA's are "AACSB or the Autobahn." Quite a few countries (e.g. UK) - evaluators (ENIC-NARIC) will not evaluate NA degrees. In UK Universities can make up their own minds on admitting someone with an NA degree - in other countries, they may not have that option. I don't THINK most foreign evaluators "dig" as to where you got your transfer credit. If a "good" Uni accepted it -- it's as good as Blockchain. ... I THINK.

You would think so, but no. A friend's son got a diploma at one of these Swiss Hospitality schools and got credit for it at US RA College (through an articulation agreement). Then he wanted to get into a German Master's program, but the German evaluator didn't recognize Swiss studies for credit and, hence, his RA degree. Illogical, but it happened.