Credit For Prior Learning
The College may award Credits for Prior Learning (“CPL”) as designated by law and state regulations for the following prior learning methods:
1. Apprenticeship
2. Certification and licensures
3. Courses listed in high school to community college articulation agreements
4. Military education and training
5. Standardized examinations
6. Challenge exams/Proficiency
7. Portfolio assessment
8. Public Safety Training ("PST") prefix courses
The College may award curriculum CPL when the documentation of prior learning meets or exceeds a demonstration of learning outcomes at the College’s standards for awarding credit for the corresponding curriculum course. The College shall award CPL in a manner consistent with State Board regulations.
To be eligible to receive CPL, students must 1) meet all admission requirements for their program of study; 2) be enrolled in a curriculum program to which the credit will directly apply; and 3) request a prior learning assessment.
A. CREDIT THROUGH APPRENTICESHIP
The College shall award CPL based on statewide articulation as approved by the Curriculum Course Review Committee for related instruction provided by external entities for registered apprenticeship programs. All apprenticeships must be approved and registered with the North Carolina State Apprenticeship Agency through ApprenticeshipNC.
The College, participating employer, and North Carolina Community College System shall cooperatively put together an apprenticeship agreement that will require at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning plus an additional amount of classroom instruction.
Upon successful completion of a registered apprenticeship, the individual will receive work-based learning course credit.
B. CREDIT THROUGH CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURES
Students seeking CPL via industry recognized and/or state regulated credentials will complete a request form for a prior learning assessment, attach supporting documentation that substantiates credential attainment, and submit it to the designated college official or office for consideration. Designated faculty/staff should review the request form and supporting documentation to determine whether the student is eligible to receive academic credit.
Students are responsible for providing evidence of their valid (non-expired) certification(s) which must have been issued within five (5) years prior to their request for articulated credit. Students must be enrolled in the associated program to receive course credit.
C. HIGH SCHOOL TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARTICULATION AGREEMENT CREDITS
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction high school courses that are listed in the High School to Community College Articulation Agreement are eligible for Combined Course Library curriculum course credit. Transcripts of high school courses must be submitted to the College.
D. MILITARY EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Servicemen and veterans may be awarded college credit for service schools they have attended. The service schools must be accredited by a regional accrediting agency.
Before applying for credit, contact the service school(s) and ask them to which regional accrediting agency they belong. Contact Student Services for more information.
E. STANDARDIZED EXAMINATIONS
The College may award CPL credit for the following standardized examinations:
1. College Board Advanced Placement Program (“AP”): College course credit will be granted
to students who pass the AP examinations with a score of three, four or five.
2. Cambridge Assessment International Education: College course credit will be granted to
students who score a grade of e/E or better based on the AS and A Level exam(s) taken.
3. College-Level Examination Program (“CLEP”): College course credit will be granted to
students who participate in CLEP Subject Examinations and achieve the minimum passing
score as recommended by the American Council on Education.
4. DANTES Subject Standardized Tests: College course credit will be granted to students
who score at or above the credit-granting score recommended by the American Council on
Education.
5. International Baccalaureate Diploma Program: College course credit will be granted to
students who earn a grade of 70% or higher in courses taken from a recognized
international institution, validated by a US credentialing agency.
F. REQUESTING CHALLENGE/PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION
CPL may be awarded through examinations created and administered by academic units that offer the course. The examination is constructed to allow the student to demonstrate
mastery of the learning outcomes of the course.
If a department offers credit by examination, no eligible student can be refused the opportunity to take the exam for course credit. A student must meet all pre-requisite
requirements before they are eligible to take the challenge/proficiency examination for a course.
Students meeting challenge exam eligibility requirements, as provided by the State Board, state and federal law, and this policy, are responsible for submitting a challenge examination request.
As defined in the State Board of Community Colleges Code, developmental courses,supplemental courses, and courses including clinical practice are not eligible for challenge exams/proficiency.
G. PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT PROCESS
CPL may be awarded through a portfolio assessment process managed by an academic department of the College. A portfolio is “a formal communication” presented by a
student as a request for prior learning credit. Prior learning assessment by portfolio assessment will follow a course-equivalency credit model. Students demonstrate college-level learning by submitting a portfolio consisting of an organized collection of evidence that demonstrates mastery of the learning outcomes of a specific course offered at the College.
To submit a portfolio for assessment, students must contact the department offering the course and follow the schedule established by the department. Courses eligible for credit
by portfolio assessment are determined by the department. All portfolio assessments will be completed by discipline-appropriate faculty trained in assessing portfolios for credit.
Departments offering prior learning assessment by portfolio will establish rubrics to guide faculty assessment and scoring.
H. CREDIT THROUGH PUBLIC SAFETY TRAINING PREFIX COURSES
Courses in the Combined Course Library with a Public Safety Training (PST) prefix may be used for awarding prior learning credit for industry-recognized public safety training
and/or credentials. Credit shall be considered for public safety training that meets the criteria outlined in the Public Safety Training course descriptions as listed in the Combined Course Library.
Official documentation from the training provider or credentialing entity shall be provided to the College to validate the training.
The College recognizes that students may request work-based learning course credit for prior learning using apprenticeships, state or industry recognized credentials/continuing education to
curriculum credit, courses listed in high school to community college articulation agreements, military education and training, standardized examinations, challenge examinations, portfolio
assessments, and public safety training prefix courses consistent with College policy and State Board of Community College Code 1D SBCCC 800.2.
To ensure optimum management and student opportunities, students must follow the below procedures to request a prior learning assessment ("PLA"):
A. The student must be admitted as a full-time or part-time student at the College and meet
all requirements for the program in which course credit for prior learning is being sought.
B. The student must make application to the College for prior learning through Student
Services and provide any documentation that supports their application.
C. Students are referred to an instructor in the area of the student’s interest to recommend
evaluations necessary to determine the student’s level of expertise in the course(s).
D. An instructor will evaluate the student’s knowledge, skills, and experience in the program
field to determine if the student should be considered for PLA credit.
E. Upon completion of evaluations, the student will be informed of recommendations for
award of credit or course work needed.
F. All documentation of the PLA process, including evaluation results, must be maintained
in the student’s file.
Academic departments determine the specific procedures they utilize to grant course credit, course waivers, or prerequisite overrides and determine the scores or outcomes required for such
consideration. Students who wish to receive credit for prior learning must consult with the head of the College department that offers courses in that area or a designee of the Vice President of Instruction. Such requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis