Many colleges and universities evaluate the college-level knowledge and skills an individual has gained outside of the classroom for college credit. This evaluation is called credit for prior learning (CPL), but it may also be referred to as prior learning assessment or experiential learning.
There are many programs and services available to help you earn credit for your workplace training, military service, and other experiential learning and apply it to a degree program. Examples of prior learning include:
- Workplace training
- Military training and service
- Independent study
- Professional certifications
- Examinations (national exams, such as AP, IB, CLEP, DSST, Excelsior College, and UExcel exams)
- Civic activities
- Volunteer service
Earning college credit through CPL can help you:
- Save time and money—shorten your time to obtain your degree and lower the cost of tuition.
- Accelerate your academic progress—take higher level courses sooner.
- Develop your resume—demonstrate to employers that your prior learning adds valuable skills.