You may earn college credit for your non-college or experience-based learning attained outside of accredited postsecondary education institutions.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) includes learning acquired from work and life experiences such as:

• Correspondence and extension courses
• Individual study and reading
• Civic, community and volunteer work
• Participation in formal courses and in-service training sponsored by associations, business, government and industry.

CPL is not awarded for experience but for college-level learning, which entails knowledge, skills and competencies. ACC may award up to 50% of credit requirements toward a degree or certificate (a maximum of 25% may be used for Portfolio method) for prior learning.

• ACC only awards CPL credit to courses listed in the ACC Catalog.
• CPL credits do not have grade letters.
• Students must be enrolled in at least one credit hour.
• CPL credits are not eligible for financial aid or veterans’ education assistance.
• CPL may not be applied to courses in the core general education curriculum for the purpose of determining whether the core curriculum has been completed and the transcript should be stamped “core program completed.

Fifty percent of degree requirements may be earned through a combination of the following:

1. National standardized placement tests

• College Level Examination Program (CLEP), both general and subject examinations
• Advanced Placement Program (AP)
• Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support program (DANTES)
• Regents College Exams

Other nationally recognized testing, training, licensing or certification programs may be used to assess levels of knowledge, skills and competencies. You must submit official scores (institutional copy) from the national standardized placement test to the Admissions and Records Office.

2. Institutional Challenge Examinations such as objective tests, essays and oral, hands-on or simulated demonstrations will be used to evaluate the competency of students in specific courses. Institutional examinations are the equivalent of the comprehensive final examination for the courses challenged.

3. Experience in the Armed Forces programs may transfer as credit after evaluation through published guides.

4. Portfolio Assessment awards CPL credits using work and life experiences substantiated through a formal portfolio. The portfolio must demonstrate learning with a theoretical and applied component, be college level, applicable and equivalent to a specific course in your certificate or degree