Store FAQs

An access code is a 12-letter code used to gain access at vhlcentral.com to your textbook's digital site and your instructor’s course assignments. See below for an explanation of the types of access codes available for purchase on our store.

Supersite Plus:

This is considered the ‘base’ level access code. It grants access to vhlcentral practice activities, assessments, videos, and tutorials. You must have this access in order to redeem a WebSAM upgrade code.

WebSAM:

This is the online version of the workbook for the program. It offers additional online activities and may be required for your course. This code may be used in combination with a Supersite Plus code to get full access privileges to all online activities for a textbook.

PRIME:

Everything the Supersite Plus includes mentioned above along with a learning progression that focuses on student-directed learning, vocabulary and grammar tutorials and additional features.

vText:

The online version of the textbook hosted on the Supersite. You need an active internet connection to view the vText.

eBook:

The downloadable version of select textbooks delivered through VitalSource. You do not need an active internet connection to view the content once downloaded. Neither version is designed to be printed. This option is not available for all textbooks.

Upgrade:

This code must be used in combination with a base access code to upgrade existing access privileges. Generally, these codes will provide privileges for the online workbook.

Extension:

This code will only work if you had previous access to the same title. If you have not previously had access to that title, this code will not work and you must purchase a Supersite Plus code.

Instructors choose the access level required for your course. Therefore we do not know what access code you need and you will need to check with your instructor or syllabus to see what access level is required for your particular course.

Whether you purchase a package that contains an access code or a standalone access code, you will receive your access code immediately upon purchase. The access code will be displayed on the order confirmation screen upon order completion and it will also be emailed to you in an order confirmation.

You need to redeem your access code at www.vhlcentral.com. If you have an existing account, log into your account and redeem your access code. If not, create a new account and redeem your access code.

We offer extension codes for many of our introductory Higher Ed programs. Talk to your instructor about the code offerings available for your course.

Extension codes can be used to regain access to any vhlcentral program as long as the user had prior access to the same program. It does not matter when or for how long a user's access to that program has been expired.

Our access codes are nontransferable. Once an access code has been redeemed, the owner of record on the account cannot transfer the account to another student/person or change the name on the account to that of another student/person. If necessary, a new access code would need to be purchased.

Yes, you can purchase the access code needed for your course. (Note: excludes ¡Adelante!) Once you determine which access code is needed, navigate to the program you are using or search for the ISBN and you should be able to find the access code needed.

Vista Higher Learning is not responsible for lost, misplaced, or stolen student access codes. If you purchased your textbook package from a bookstore and lost or misplaced the online access code, or if it has been stolen, please contact the bookstore.

Access code lengths vary by the program you are using, and depending on the materials that your instructor has selected for the course. The access durations for our programs are included in the descriptions listed while shopping, as well as during the checkout process.

Access codes can be redeemed only once. If you take a follow-up class using the same textbook, you can enroll in your instructor’s course (as long as the code hasn't expired) using the same account in which you originally redeemed the access code. If your code has expired, you may be able to purchase an extension code. Talk to your instructor about the code offerings available for your course.

No, we do not offer student trials.

We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa credit/debit cards, as well as PayPal.

We accept financial aid and scholarship funds in the form of credit or debit cards and PayPal. Institutions and financial aid programs have their own disbursement policies and timelines, so you will need to ensure the funds you intend to use are available at time of purchase.

Vista Higher Learning is required by law to charge local sales tax for orders shipped to most states. Sales tax rates vary by state. Compliance is one aspect of a company’s State and Local Tax (SALT) picture that it cannot ignore. Vista Higher Learning, Inc. has addressed their state and local tax exposure through an in-depth due diligence process. If sales and/or use tax is required to be assessed on your order, we will assess the appropriate state and local county tax rates and remit to the proper taxing authority on your behalf. This will eliminate your burden of self-assessment.

Please contact your bank or credit card company to confirm the billing address listed on your account. Make sure you are entering this address on your order exactly as they have it listed.

You can purchase the code while logged into any account. However, the code MUST be redeemed in the student’s VHLcentral account. Once an access code has been redeemed, it cannot be transferred to another account.

Please email your order to [email protected]. This site is intended for direct student purchases only. Local tax rates apply and tax exemption rules are not applicable for purchases on this site.

All orders take 1–2 business days for processing BEFORE they are shipped. Orders are NOT always shipped the same day that they are placed.

All orders are shipped from Wisconsin.

Transit times vary depending on location and shipping method selected at time of checkout. We offer the following shipping methods for physical items:

• UPS Ground (free on all orders over $35 shipped within the U.S. and its territories)
• UPS 2nd Day Air (rate will be calculated and displayed at time of checkout)
• USPS Priority Mail (free when shipping to P.O. Boxes only)

You can choose your shipping method during checkout. If UPS ground is selected, you can find the transit times here, we ship from zip code 54915: https://www.ups.com/maps/?loc=en_US&WT

If an access code is included, it will be emailed to you immediately upon purchase.

If you receive a damaged or defective product or don't receive your shipment, please contact our customer service team. We will be happy to assist you with a replacement or return. Please have your order number handy.

No refunds will be made for purchases that contain only an access code. This includes all access codes purchased without a physical book. No exceptions will be made. We do not give store credit for an unused access code purchase. Please make certain you are purchasing the correct access code for your course prior to purchase.

Customers are eligible to return physical materials purchased from the Vista Higher Learning store within 30 days of the purchase date. All returned materials must be in new, unmarked, unused, and saleable condition. If material is sent back to us in non-saleable condition or was purchased more than 30 days from receipt of the return, the items will not be returned and credit will not be issued.

When making a return, you are responsible for all transportation costs incurred. Materials must be shipped via a traceable method of your choice to:

Vista Higher Learning Returns
c/o Lakeside Book Company
677 Brighton Beach Road
Menasha, WI 54952-8009

You do not need an authorization number to make a return, but please include a copy of your order confirmation email with the shipment. If you do not have a copy of your order confirmation email, please make sure to include your order number and/or the name on the order. If nothing is included with the package and we are unable to determine which order was returned, no credit will be issued. VHL is not responsible for return shipments lost in transit.

Refunds take up to 30 days to process after the materials are received at our warehouse.

No. If a refund is applicable, customers will receive full credit for their purchase. Therefore, if you purchase a package (textbook + code) and only need part of the package, you will have to return the entire package and place a new order for the item needed.