Credit for Prior Learning: Recognizing Experience, Reducing Barriers

In today’s rapidly evolving educational and workforce landscape, institutions must do more than simply offer courses. They must meet learners where they are. One of the most effective ways to do that is through Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). This strategy allows colleges to recognize the college-level knowledge students have gained outside traditional classrooms, helping them save time and money while accelerating degree completion.

What Is Credit for Prior Learning?

Credit for Prior Learning refers to the process of evaluating and awarding academic credit for demonstrated knowledge and skills acquired through work, military service, professional training, independent study, volunteering, or life experience. CPL ensures that students do not have to relearn what they already know and pay for it again.

CPL can take many forms including:

• Portfolio assessment

• Standardized exams such as CLEP or DSST

• Faculty-designed challenge exams

• Industry certifications and licenses

• Military transcripts like the Joint Services Transcript (JST)

• Employer training programs evaluated by organizations such as ACE or NCCRS

Why It Matters

Awarding credit for prior learning has a significant impact on student success and equity. Research from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) found that students who receive CPL are more likely to complete a degree and do so more quickly. This is especially true for adult learners, students of color, and low-income students (Klein-Collins et al., 2020).

CPL also aligns with broader institutional goals:

• Increases enrollment and retention by reducing time to degree

• Improves affordability by lowering overall tuition costs

• Supports workforce development by validating real-world skills

• Promotes equity by recognizing non-traditional learning pathways

Building a CPL Culture on Campus

Implementing a successful CPL program requires collaboration and clear, student-centered policies. Faculty must help define academic standards. Counselors and student services staff must support students through the process. Admissions and records teams must ensure consistent and transparent credit evaluation.

Colleges can get started by:

• Mapping industry credentials to existing courses

• Developing user-friendly CPL handbooks for students

• Training staff and faculty on CPL options

• Incorporating CPL into student onboarding and academic planning

• Using technology to manage CPL requests, portfolios, and assessments

A Pathway to the Future

As more students seek flexible and affordable educational options, Credit for Prior Learning is becoming a critical tool for college completion. Recognizing what students already know is not only practical—it is a matter of access and equity.

By embracing CPL, colleges send a powerful message: that every student's journey matters, and that learning—wherever and however it happens—deserves to be counted.

References

Klein-Collins, R., Taylor, J., Bishop, C., Bransberger, P., Lane, P., & Leibrandt, S. (2020). The PLA Boost: Results from a 72-Institution Targeted Study of Prior Learning Assessment and Adult Student Outcomes. CAEL and WICHE.