Credit for Prior Learning

The College provides the opportunity for students to receive credit for selected experience-based learning. Credit is awarded for college-level learning that includes knowledge, skills, and competencies that students have obtained as a result of their prior learning experiences. This learning may be acquired from a number of sources:

• Work or life experiences
• Correspondence and extension courses
• Individual study and reading
• Community and volunteer work
• Participation in informal courses and in-service training sponsored by associations, business, industry, and government.

Credit for prior learning may be awarded by a variety of methods that include:

1. Standardized Tests
   • College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
   • American College Testing Proficiency Program (ACT-PEP/RCE/EXCELSIOR)
   • Defense Activity for Nontraditional Educational Support (DANTES)
   • Advanced Placement (AP)
   • International Baccalaureate (IB)
2. Institutional Challenge Examinations
   • Examination equivalent to the comprehensive final exam
   • Examination may be written, oral, demonstration or a combination of all three
   • Evaluated by a designated subject expert
3. Published Guides
   • American Council on Education (ACE) for military training and experiences
   • ACE (non-collegiate) for industrial and corporate training programs
   • Other published guides developed by nationally recognized organizations
4. Portfolio Assessment
   • Portfolio requirements and assessment determined by college faculty
   • Work or life experiences that meet the following criteria:
     • The learning is demonstrable
     • Includes both theoretical and applied components
     • Is at the college level, and
     • Is equivalent to a specific college course or courses in the student's program of study

       Note: To facilitate the awarding of credit among the state's community colleges, the Community Colleges of Colorado have established the CCCS Standardized Test Matrix for the Award of Credit. This Matrix is accessible on line at www.CCCS.edu/cccns/faculty.html.