Credit for Prior Learning

Overview

What is Credit for Prior Learning?

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is college credit awarded for validated college-level skills and knowledge gained outside of a college classroom (see Administrative Procedure AP-5235). CPL may be earned for eligible courses approved by the faculty for students who satisfactorily pass an authorized assessment.

Various types of CPL have been approved for many courses, as described below. If you believe a legitimate type of CPL is missing from a course that it should be approved for, contact the CPL Coordinator at cplmiramar@sdccd.edu to discuss.

Types of CPL Assessments

Standardized Examinations

Students may receive credit from their scores on nationally recognized examinations that test student knowledge of common college-level coursework, as published in the college catalog. Examples include:

  • Advanced Placement (AP) examination
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) examination
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
  • DANTES Subject Standardization Test (DANTES/DSST)

Industry Recognized Credentials

Students who have already earned a license, certificate, or other credential commonly used in industry may receive credit for a college course that prepares students to earn that credential. For example, a student with a FAA Private Pilot’s license may receive credit for Miramar College’s AVIA 101 Private Pilot Ground School. Approved courses and industry credentials are listed in the SDCCD CPL Course List.

Credit by Exam

Students may receive credit upon passing a faculty-approved comprehensive exam that covers the full content of the college course. The student’s grade on the exam will determine the grade they receive on their transcript for the course. Courses eligible for credit by exam are listed in the SDCCD CPL Course List.

Portfolio Review

Students may receive credit upon passing a comprehensive faculty review of their prior work related to the course objectives (the “portfolio” of work). Courses eligible for portfolio review are listed in the SDCCD CPL Course List.

Military Training and Experience

Students may receive credit for military training and/or experience that is directly related to a specific college course. The training and/or experience typically must have been documented on the student’s Joint Services Transcript (JST) and evaluated in the American Council on Education (ACE) Military Guide. Courses that have already been approved for military credit are listed in the SDCCD CPL Course List.

Applying for CPL

Standardized Examinations

For more information about applying for Standardized Examinations please go to View Credit for Standardized Tests

Industry Recognized Credentials

  1. If you intend to transfer to a university, first meet with a counselor to decide if CPL is the right option for you.
  2. Review the SDCCD CPL Course List to determine if your industry credential is an approved form of CPL in the course you are seeking credit for.
  3. If it is approved, complete the online CPL Request Form.
    1. Personal Information: Your Email, Phone, First and Last Name, Student ID, Date of Birth.
    2. College: Select “Miramar College”
    3. Form/Petition: Select “Credit for Prior Learning”
    4. Petitioning for CPL based on: Respond with the option based on step two above
    5. Eligibility Requirements: All 7 requirements must be true and checked, or you cannot apply for CPL.
    6. Student Signature: Type your name to sign the form
    7. Click “Send”
  4. Once it is processed, accept or decline your CPL credit through the JIRA system.

Credit by Exam

  1. If you intend to transfer to a university, first meet with a counselor to decide if CPL is the right option for you.
  2. Review the SDCCD CPL Course List to determine if credit by exam is an approved form of CPL in the course you are seeking credit for.
  3. Review the official course Outline of Record (COR) of the course you are seeking credit for to determine the topics that will be covered on the exam.
  4. If credit by exam is approved for the course and you are confident you can pass a comprehensive exam on the topics, complete the online CPL Request Form.
    1. Personal Information: Your Email, Phone, First and Last Name, Student ID, Date of Birth.
    2. College: Select “Miramar College”
    3. Form/Petition: Select “Credit for Prior Learning”
    4. Petitioning for CPL based on: Respond with the option based on step two above
    5. Eligibility Requirements: All 7 requirements must be true and checked, or you cannot apply for CPL.
    6. Student Signature: Type your name to sign the form
    7. Click “Send”
  5. Once verified and approved, a unique course in Canvas will be created for you. The instructor assigned to your CPL course will contact you to schedule the exam.
  6. After completing the exam, accept or decline your CPL credit through the JIRA system.

Portfolio Review

  1. If you intend to transfer to a university, first meet with a counselor to decide if CPL is the right option for you.
  2. Review the SDCCD CPL Course List to determine if portfolio review is an approved form of CPL in the course you are seeking credit for.
  3. Review the official course Outline of Record (COR) of the course you are seeking credit for to determine the content mastery you will need to demonstrate in your portfolio of prior work.
  4. If portfolio review is approved for the course and you are confident you can pass a comprehensive faculty evaluation of your portfolio, complete the online CPL Request Form.
    1. Personal Information: Your Email, Phone, First and Last Name, Student ID, Date of Birth.
    2. College: Select “Miramar College”
    3. Form/Petition: Select “Credit for Prior Learning”
    4. Petitioning for CPL based on: Respond with the option based on step two above
    5. Eligibility Requirements: All 7 requirements must be true and checked, or you cannot apply for CPL.
    6. Student Signature: Type your name to sign the form
    7. Click “Send”
  5. Once verified and approved, a unique course in Canvas will be created for you. The instructor assigned to your CPL course will contact you to schedule the review.
  6. After completing the review, accept or decline your CPL credit through the JIRA system.

Military Training and Experience

  1. Meet with a veterans counselor in the Veterans Resource Center (VRC), Room I-104, to determine if CPL is the right option for you and is required for your education plan.
  2. Review the SDCCD CPL Course List to determine if military credit is an approved form of CPL in the course you are seeking credit for.
  3. If it is approved, submit your JST to cplmiramar@sdccd.edu
  4. If it is not approved, work with the veterans counselor and CPL Coordinator to request a faculty review of your military training and experience for the course you are seeking credit for.

Resources and Contacts

For more information regarding CPL including a list of frequently asked questions, visit San Diego Community College District Credit for Prior Learning. To contact the CPL coordinator at Miramar, send an email to cplmiramar@sdccd.edu