How to Earn College Credit for Life and Work Experience

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) awards college credits for work and life experience. Thousands of colleges award credit for professional certifications, military training, and work experience. You can also receive credit by exam for your knowledge in a subject.

CPL can help adults graduate faster and save money on a college degree. For example, by applying 30 credits earned from exams, certifications, and portfolio assessments, degree-seekers can graduate a year earlier. That makes it important to know how to maximize your prior experience.

CPL turns your prior experience into college credits. Policies awarding college credit for life experience vary by school, but can include:

Here are some of the most common ways to leverage prior learning to earn your degree faster.

If you have military or law enforcement experience, you may qualify for college credits. You’ll typically submit a Joint Services Transcript and American Council on Education (ACE) credit recommendations to receive credit for military or law enforcement training.

Transferability varies by institution, and many cap the maximum transfer credits at 75% of the credits required for a degree.

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST) exams demonstrate your subject knowledge based on prior learning. Many colleges award credit for passing scores on these exams, which cover topics such as:

Colleges typically provide institutional equivalency charts so you can determine how much credit you’ll receive for each exam.

Professional development training completed through your employer may also transfer toward a degree. However, this type of training can be harder for colleges to evaluate. Some corporate training programs have been evaluated by ACE and recommend credit equivalencies.

If your corporate training does not qualify, it still may prepare you to pass credit by exam options at your college.

Professional certifications and licenses may be eligible for college credit. Here are some credentials that may qualify.

A competency-based program awards students credit when they prove their mastery in a subject area. These programs appeal to working professionals with experience in their field.

Rather than following a set semester schedule, students complete assessments to advance through the program. Experienced learners can significantly cut the cost and time of earning a degree thanks to this format.

A portfolio assessment evaluates a candidate’s qualifications based on a portfolio showcasing their knowledge. Depending on the college and subject, the portfolio may include work samples, performance evaluations, training certificates, or other materials.

While a portfolio assessment can grant credit, students typically pay a fee for the evaluation and credit awarded.

Here are some of the most popular and affordable colleges awarding CPL:

Want to maximize your CPL? You’ll need to understand these factors that can limit your college credit for life experience. Research colleges to learn how their policies apply to your unique situation.