Credit for Prior Learning
You’ve already done the work. We help it count—so you can finish faster, spend less, and move forward with confidence.
- Save time to graduation
- Lower total tuition
- Skip what you already know—without skipping quality
- Get personalized advising every step of the way
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) recognizes college-level knowledge you’ve gained outside a traditional classroom—on the job, in the military, through certifications, training, self-study, volunteering, or previous coursework—and awards college credit when it matches our course outcomes. It’s rigorous, faculty-reviewed, and fully aligned with our programs.
Who Benefits:
- Working professionals leveling up or changing careers
- Military service members and veterans
- Career changers with real-world skills
- Parents and caregivers returning to school
- Apprentices and union members
- Students with international education
What can count toward credit:
- Professional certifications and licenses (e.g., CompTIA, AWS, OSHA, EMT)
- Employer, apprenticeship, or union training (documented)
- Military training and occupations (via JST/CCAF)
- Standardized exams (CLEP, DSST, AP)
- Challenge exams created by our faculty
- Portfolios that prove college-level learning with evidence
- Prior college transcripts (including international, evaluated)
How It Works
- Meet your pathway advisor: Map your goals and review what you’ve done so far.
- Choose methods: Transfer credit, exams, certifications, portfolio, or military evaluation.
- Submit evidence or test: We evaluate against course outcomes.
- List your trainings, certifications, and major job responsibilities.
- Gather documents: transcripts, JST/CCAF, certificates, syllabi, work samples.
- Email or call the CPL team to set up your free intake and book a 30-minute CPL advising session.
- Ask your employer or supervisor for a skills confirmation letter.
- If a portfolio is likely: collect artifacts (projects, reports, designs, care plans, code, lesson plans).
- Check upcoming CLEP/DSST test dates and sign up if appropriate.
- We’ll send a personalized CPL plan with target credits, fees, and timeline.
- Receive credits: Approved credits appear on your transcript and reduce what you need to take.
CPL Methods Offered
- Transfer evaluation: Bring official transcripts; we’ll match courses.
- Standardized exams: CLEP/DSST/AP; pass = credit for equivalent courses.
- Faculty challenge exams: Prove mastery, earn credit.
- Portfolio assessment (PLA): Document learning with artifacts, reflections, and supervisor letters.
- Military credit: Use JST/CCAF; ACE-recommended credits considered.
- Industry certification crosswalks: Pre-reviewed pathways for popular credentials.
Time & Cost Advantages
- Many students shave off 1–3 semesters.
- CPL assessment fees are typically far lower than course tuition.
- Financial aid applies to remaining coursework (not to CPL fees in most cases).
Quality & Integrity
- Faculty determine equivalencies and standards.
- Credits align with course outcomes and accreditation requirements.
- We award credit for what you know, not just what you’ve done.
Additional Info
- Maximum CPL credits: There is a cap of total degree credits.
- Residency requirement: You’ll still complete a set number of credits with us.
- Grades/GPA: CPL usually posts as credit (no letter grade), doesn’t boost GPA but reduces courses needed.
- Transfer: Universities vary; we’ll help you choose options widely accepted.
- Recency: Some fields require recent learning (e.g., technology, healthcare).
- Licensure programs: Certain courses may not allow CPL due to accreditation or safety requirements.
- Appeals: If credit is denied, you can submit more evidence or appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Will CPL delay me?
No, most methods run alongside your first term.
Can I try multiple methods?
Yes, and we’ll design the most efficient path.
What if I don’t pass a challenge exam?
You can retake later or enroll in the course.
Can I use international documents?
We accept evaluated transcripts from approved services.