What is Credit for Prior Learning?

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) as defined by the California Community College Chancellor's office, is college credit awarded for validated college-level skills and knowledge gained outside of a college classroom. Students’ knowledge and skills might be gained through experiences such as:

AP/IB/CLEP
Military training
Industry training
State/Federal Government training
Apprenticeships, internships, work-based learning, or other industry-based experiential learning
Validated volunteer and civic activities (e.g. Peace Corps)
 
This Credit for Prior Learning definition does not include knowledge and skills already assessed and awarded credit through formal education at regionally accredited in-state and out-of-state institutions. In other words, transfer classes taken at other colleges.

How can CPL help me?

• are roughly twice as likely to complete a degree than those who do not.
• accumulate more credits through coursework at the institution than their counterparts, which translates to increased enrollment for colleges.
• save an average of 6-10 months in time to degree compared to their non-CPL counterparts

Who qualifies for CPL?

Students who hold industry credentials and certifications, are graduates of service academies, were trained for military occupations, or have work experience that can be demonstrated through an exam or portfolio review may qualify for credit for prior learning.

How is CPL noted on transcripts?

Students will be awarded a “pass-no pass” grade. The student’s academic record will be clearly annotated to reflect that credit was earned through an assessment of prior learning.

How much credit am I allowed to earn through CPL?

• A maximum of 30 units may be granted in total from one or more of the following: CLEP, military training, or Credit for Extra Institutional Learning, which may include student-created portfolios, industry credentials and experience, to be determined by faculty in the district-wide discipline. AP and IB exams are excluded from the unit limit. 
• In order to receive an A.A./A.S. degree, a student must complete 12 units in residence at Golden West College.
• A maximum of 50% of the major coursework – either units or number of courses - for any certificate or associate degree pattern may be awarded for credit for prior learning. 

Determination of Eligibility to Receive Credit for Prior Learning

• The student must be currently enrolled at a College in the District.
• The student must be in good standing and must meet specified eligibility requirements as defined by each College in the District.
• The course must be listed in the current college catalog.
• The student must have at least an abbreviated Student Education Plan (SEP) on file. 
  Contact the Counseling Department to schedule an appointment so they can help you with this requirement.

Credit for Prior Learning may be obtained by one of the following methods:

• Achievement of a satisfactory score on an Advanced Placement (AP) examination administered by the College Entrance Examination Board
• Achievement of a satisfactory score on a high-level International Baccalaureate (IB) examination
• Achievement of a satisfactory score on the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examination
• Evaluation of Joint Services Transcripts
• Evaluation of a student-created portfolio
• Evaluation of industry or State/Federal Government recognized credentials
• Satisfactory completion of an examination administered by the college in lieu of completion of a course listed in the college catalog
• Achievement of an examination administered by other agencies approved by the college
• Assessment approved or conducted by proper authorities of the college

The determination to offer and award credit for prior learning rests solely on the discretion of the discipline faculty. The nature and content of assessments will be determined by faculty in the discipline who normally teach the course for which credit is being granted.

Upon a student’s demonstration of sufficient mastery through an examination or assessment, an award of credit will be made, if eligible, to:

• California Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
• California State University General Education (CSUGE) Breadth
• Local community college general education requirements or requirements for a student’s chosen program
• Electives for students who do not require additional general education or program credits to meet their goals
• A maximum of 50% of the major coursework – either units or number of courses - for any certificate or associate degree pattern may be awarded for credit for prior learning. 

Credits acquired by assessment for prior learning will not be counted in determining the 12 semester hours of credit in residence required for an Associate degree.

GWC allows a maximum of 30 units that may be granted in total for Credit for Prior Learning from one or more of the following: CLEP, industry certification and training, military training, student-created portfolios, or other experiential learning. AP and IB exams are excluded from the unit limit. 

Additionally, credit for prior learning cannot be used to fulfill any requirements for federal financial aid.

**Use one form per CPL Request**

Approved Standardized Examinations (AP / IB / CLEP)

To request credit for AP/IB/CLEP exams, you must submit official scores from College Board or the International Baccalaureate to be sent to GWC. Test credits reflected on previous college transcripts will not be accepted. 

After you have submited all official test scores to Admission and Records,  fill out and submit the CPL Request form. This will notify Admissions and Records to start the evaluation. 

Once your CPL has been applied to your GWC student record you will be notified by email.
 

Military Service/Training Credit

1. Contact the School Certifying Official, Stephani Rogers, at srogers@cccd.edu or (714) 895-8140 for assist in submitting your official JST.
2. Meet with your counselor. During the appoinment they will fill out and submit the CPL Request form on your behalf.
3. Once your CPL has been applied to your GWC student record your counselor will receive notification. They will follow up with you at that point.

Industry or State/Federal Government Recognized Credentials

1. Upload supporting documentation and/or image of the certificate within the CPL Request form.
2. These items will then be viewed by the discipline expert.
3. Once your CPL has been applied to your GWC student record you will be notified by email.

Student-Created Portfolio Assessment

1. Upload one of two types of portfolio; “instructional” or “working” and/or include the website address that houses your work within the CPL Request form.
2. These items will then be view by the discipline expert.
3. Once your CPL has been applied to your GWC student record you will be notified by email.

Validated Volunteer and/or Civic Activities

Specific duties performed through validated volunteer and/or civic activities must be stated in a letter from the organization and upload to the CPL request form.

1. Please attach a letter from each organization on the agency's letterhead. 
   The letter should address the following:
   1. Hours completed at the site
   2. Timeframe of completion
   3. Title and type of relevant work performed 
2. These items will then be reviewed by the discipline expert.
3. Once your CPL has been applied to your GWC student record you will be notified by email.

Credit by Examination

Credit by Examination may be offered on a limited basis at the discretion of the respective instructional division. Students may inquire in the respective division office regarding eligible courses.

Credit for Prior Learning Request 

 

Students requesting credit for prior learning using Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and/or College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) may receive credit for earning a satisfactory score in the following circumstances:

• Official AP, IB, and/or CLEP transcripts are on file in the Admissions and Records Office
• The student achieved a minimum acceptable score on the examination as specified in the college catalog

To request credit for AP/IB/CLEP exams, you must submit official scores from College Board or the International Baccalaureate to be sent to GWC. Test credits reflected on previous college transcripts will not be accepted. 

Duplicate Credit

Duplicate credit will not be awarded in the same area for Advanced Placement Exams, the International Baccalaureate and the CLEP subject exams. In order to receive credit students must have official test results from the testing service sent to Golden West College. Credits are posted to the transcript upon completion of all other graduation requirements.

Course credit and units granted at Golden West College may differ from course credit and units granted by a transfer institution.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP credit can be used to satisfy CSU General Education Breadth requirements. It cannot be used to meet IGETC requirements. CSU grants CLEP credit, UC does not. It is up to the receiving institution to evaluate and grant CLEP credit. CLEP credit awarded at GWC may not transfer to other colleges. See a GWC counselor for more information.  

College Board CLEP information. 

Historical CSU CLEP exam credit and changes.

The CSU CLEP Chart is based on the most current information available. 

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Students can earn GWC credit for International Baccalaureate examinations with a minimum score of 5. Exam results can be used to satisfy CSU General Education Breadth and IGETC requirements but may require a score of 4 in some of the areas.

Students can earn IB credit with a minimum score of 5 except where noted.

The IB Chart is based on the most current Information available.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Students may earn credit for the College Entrance Examination Board (CEEB) Advanced Placement (AP) Tests with scores of 3, 4, or 5. AP credit can be used to meet IGETC, CSU/GE and A.A. general education (GE) and/or major requirements. [Local/Non-transfer Degree Exceptions to the minimum AP score are the PHYS G120 Algebra Based Physics: Mechanics and PHYS G125 Algebra Based Physics: Electricity/Magnetism courses (AP Physics 1 and 2) which require a score of 5 for GWC unit and subject credit. Also, students who score 5 in Calculus BC can earn 10 units and subject credit for MATH G180 + G185].

Students must have the College Board send AP exam results to Admissions and Records (hand carried copies will not be accepted) for use on the A.A. or GE patterns. Course credit and units granted at Golden West College may differ from course credit and units granted by a transfer institution. See a GWC counselor for more information.

The AP Chart is based on the most current information available

Students interested in credit for prior learning using Joint Services Transcripts shall receive credit as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) Directory and approved by the appropriate discipline faculty of the college under the following circumstances:

• Official transcripts must be on file in the Admissions and Records Office. These may include but are not limited to Joint Services Transcript (JST), Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART), Army and American Council on Education Registry Transcript Service (AARTS), Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), Coast Guard Institute (CGI), DANTES/USAFI, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Transcripts (DLIFLC), Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), Military Occupational Specialty Code (MOS) , Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC), DLPT Examinee Results, DA Form 330 Language Proficiency Questionnaire, or verified copies of documents such as DD214, DD295, or similar military records.
• Credit course equivalency shall be determined by the faculty of the appropriate discipline.

For more information on active military or veteran students please visit GWC's Veterans Resource Center (VRC)

Procedure for Military Service/Training Credit:

1. Contact the School Certifying Official, Stephani Rogers, at srogers@cccd.edu or (714) 895-8140 for assist in submitting your official JST.
2. Meet with your counselor. They will make any notes on the JST that will help with the CPL process and assist with submitting the CPL Request form.
3. Once your CPL has been applied to your GWC record you will be notified by email.

Challenge/Advanced Placement for Military-Trained Healthcare Personnel Policy

Individuals who have held Military Health Care Occupations, specifically: Basic Medical Technician Corpsman (Navy HM or Air Force BMTCP), Army Health Care Specialist (68W Army Medic) or Air Force Independent Duty Medical Technician (IMDT 4N0X1C) may achieve advanced placement into the nursing program with documentation of education and experience qualifying them for the specific Military Health Care Occupation and upon successful completion of the challenge exam, dosage calculation exam, and skills competency exam.

Challenge/Advanced Placement Request Form is in the process of being built. Please check back at a later date.

Students interested in credit for prior learning using industry-recognized credential(s) will receive credit as recommended by the appropriate department chair or faculty designee. The knowledge and skills validated by the industry-recognized credential(s) must align with the content of the course for which credit is being requested. Credit will be awarded under the following circumstances:

• The student’s industry or State/Federal Government recognized credential is on file in the Admissions and Records Office. This will be uploaded on the CPL Request form.
• The discipline faculty has evaluated the industry or State/Federal Government recognized credential and verified that it effectively demonstrates sufficient mastery of course content as set forth in the course outline of record.

Students interested in credit for prior learning using a student-created portfolio shall receive credit as recommended by the appropriate department chair or faculty designee under the following circumstances:

• A department-approved portfolio assessment rubric for the course is on file.
• The department chair or faculty designee determines that the student-created portfolio adequately measures sufficient mastery of the course content as set forth in the course outline of record.

Specific duties performed through validated volunteer and/or civic activities must be stated in a letter from the organization and upload to the CPL request form.

1. Please attach a letter from each organization on the agency's letterhead along with a resume and/or other documentation.
   The letter should address the following:
   1. Hours completed at the site
   2. Timeframe of completion
   3. Title and type of relevant work performed 
2. These items will then be viewed by the discipline expert.
3. Once your CPL has been applied to your GWC student record you will be notified by email.

Credit by Examination may be offered on a limited basis at the discretion of the respective instructional division. Students who are currently enrolled in at least one course (other than the course to be challenged) and in good academic standing are eligible to seek “credit by examination.”

Students may inquire in the respective division office regarding eligible courses. If approval is granted, a Petition for Credit By Examination should be completed and submitted to the instructor and division office.

A grade of  will be awarded based on the grading method for the course, and the course will be identified as a “Credit by Examination” on the transcript.

Once the petition is approved by the dean and the instructor, the student will need to file the petition with Admissions and Records, make payment no later than the third week of the semester, and meet with the instructor to take the examination.

Exam grades are final and will be posted to the transcript. Failure to successfully complete the examination will result in an unsatisfactory grade.

Students should not enroll in the course to be taken as Credit by Examination.

The course credit is clearly identified on the student’s transcript and designated as “Credit by Examination.” Since Credit by Examination may not transfer to other institutions, students are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with a counselor. Transferability of Credit by Examination is subject to review and approval by other colleges and universities.

Units earned by examination are excluded from enrollment verifications, Financial Aid eligibility, and the college’s residency requirements for associate degrees.

Students requesting credit by examination may receive credit for satisfactory completion of an examination administered by a college department in lieu of completion of a course listed in the catalog under the following conditions:

• The student demonstrates that they are qualified, through previous training, experience or instruction, to successfully complete such examination.
• A student may challenge a course for credit by examination only one time.
• Students will be charged a fee for the examination equivalent to the enrollment fee for the course.

The determination to offer credit by examination rests solely on the discretion of discipline faculty. A separate examination will be conducted for each course for which credit is being grated.

Credits acquired by examination are not applicable for meeting such unit load requirements as Selective Service deferment, Veteran’s or Social Security benefits.