Translate Your Experience into College Credit

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) allows students to earn college credit for college-level knowledge and skills gained outside of a traditional classroom. This learning may come from work experience, military service, industry training, certifications, apprenticeships, internships, volunteer service, or standardized exams.

CPL may help you save time toward your degree or certificate, reduce educational costs, avoid repeating material you already know, and reach graduation or transfer goals more quickly.

Students who have college-level knowledge or skills gained through prior experience may be eligible for CPL.

Examples include work or professional experience, military training and service, industry certifications or licenses, apprenticeships, internships, employer training programs, volunteer service, and standardized exams such as AP, IB, CLEP, or DSST.

Students should meet with a counselor, review approved CPL courses, gather supporting documentation, and submit a CPL petition or application.

Yes, meeting with a counselor is strongly recommended. A counselor can help determine whether CPL supports your degree, certificate, transfer, or career goals.

Students may contact Counseling, Admissions and Records, Veterans Services, the appropriate academic department, or the CPL coordinator.

Students can review the approved CPL course list to see eligible courses, available assessment methods, and departments offering CPL opportunities.

Yes. Requirements may vary by assessment method and course.

Generally, no. Students usually cannot receive CPL for a course in which they are currently enrolled.

In some cases, yes. Students should speak with Counseling and the academic department to determine whether CPL can satisfy prerequisite requirements.

No. CPL cannot replace or remove grades from previously completed coursework.

Students typically complete a CPL petition, identify the course being requested, submit required documentation, and complete any required assessment.

Documentation may include official transcripts, AP/IB/CLEP score reports, Joint Services Transcript (JST), industry certifications or licenses, employer training records, portfolios or work samples, and resumes or work history.

Processing times vary depending on the CPL method, faculty availability, and completeness of documentation. Students should allow several weeks for evaluation and transcript processing.

Yes. Before Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is officially posted to a student's transcript, students will be notified of the proposed CPL award and given the opportunity to accept, reject, or appeal the award.

Yes. Military training documented on a Joint Services Transcript (JST) may qualify for CPL if it aligns with approved college coursework.

Possibly. Work experience may qualify if it demonstrates college-level knowledge and skills aligned with course outcomes.

Yes. Industry-recognized certifications or licenses may qualify for CPL when they align with approved coursework.

Yes. Students may receive credit when official scores meet college-established minimum requirements.

Yes. Students may challenge approved courses by successfully completing a faculty-approved exam.

Yes. Portfolio review allows students to demonstrate prior learning through work samples, certifications, projects, and other documentation.

Most Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) assessment methods are provided at no cost to students. Barstow Community College does not charge a fee for Credit by Examination (CBE). However, students may still be responsible for any costs associated with obtaining official transcripts, score reports, certifications, or other required documentation.

It depends on the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) assessment method. Many CPL awards are posted as Pass/No Pass and do not affect GPA. However, Credit by Examination (CBE) may result in a letter grade, which may impact a student's GPA. Students should consult with Counseling before proceeding if they have questions about academic standing, transfer implications, or GPA calculations.

Approved CPL credit is posted to the student transcript and identifies the assessment method used.

Yes. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) units are included in Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) calculations, including pace and maximum timeframe measurements. CPL units do not count as enrolled units for financial aid disbursement purposes and will not increase a student's enrollment status for the term. Students should consult the Financial Aid Office before pursuing CPL if they have questions about how it may affect their financial aid eligibility.

Yes. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) may affect veterans educational benefits, Social Security benefits, and other programs tied to enrollment status because CPL units are awarded as earned credit rather than units in which a student is actively enrolled. CPL units generally do not count toward the number of units certified for a term and may not increase a student's full-time or part-time enrollment status for benefit purposes. Students receiving veterans benefits, military tuition assistance, Social Security benefits, or other enrollment-based aid should consult the Veterans Services Office or Financial Aid Office before pursuing CPL.

Transferability depends on the receiving institution, the CPL assessment method, and the course involved. Students planning to transfer should meet with a counselor before pursuing CPL.

UC acceptance of CPL is limited. UC generally accepts standardized external exams such as AP and IB but may not accept other forms of CPL.

Possibly. CPL can benefit transfer students, but students should carefully review transfer implications with a counselor before proceeding.