CPL FAQs for Faculty

Credit for prior learning (CPL) is credit awarded for validated college-level skills and knowledge gained outside a college classroom—it’s a strategy to grant students credit for what they already know and can do. Across the nation, individual institutions and systems of higher education are implementing comprehensive CPL practices to help working adults reskill and achieve quality credentials that increase their economic mobility.

Check out the: CPL Materials and Resources

How is Credit for Prior Learning defined in Title 5?

On September 16, 2019, the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges approved a revision to Title 5, Section 55050 that redesigns how students at California Community Colleges receive credit for prior learning. The new regulation aims to make the process more consistent and equitable for students who come to community colleges with college-level skills and knowledge acquired in a variety of non-classroom settings.

What are some benefits of CPL?

Research suggests that CPL benefits students and colleges by increasing completion and closing achievement gaps. In California, this means CPL can help the system achieve the goals outlined in the Vision for Success and increase college funding through improving measures on the Student Centered Funding Formula metrics.

CPL Research Source: CAEL Fueling the Race for Postsecondary Success

What is the Palomar College policy on Credit for Prior Learning?

Policy AP4235 Credit for Prior Learning is a great resource to learn more about the different methods of assessment that Palomar accepts for Credit for Prior Learning.

AP – Advanced Placement
IB – International Baccalaureate
CLEP – College Level Examination Program
Military Service/Training
Industry Recognized Credentials
Student-Centered Portfolio Assessment
Credit by Examination from Within the District

Is there a cost to students for CPL?

There is no cost for CPL, except for the Credit by Exam assessment method. Credit earned through the other assessments methods listed above are free to the student.

The Credit by Exam (CBE) cost is current tuition rates per unit for in-state, out-of-state, or international students depending on your student status. NOTE: This CBE cost is not covered by the Palomar Promise. Units acquired by examination might not be applicable to meeting such unit load requirements as Selective Service deferment, Veteran’s Benefits, or Social Security Benefits.

Advise students to contact Counselor Tina Barlolong at cbarlolong@palomar.edu to set up a CPL Counseling appointment.

Title 5: (CCR, tit. 5, § 55050 (i)) A district may charge a student a fee for administering an examination pursuant to this section, provided the fee does not exceed the enrollment fee which would be associated with enrollment in the course for which the student seeks credit by examination (CCR, tit. 5, § 55050 (i)). [The use of the term “examination” draws a distinction between Credit by Examination and other methods of prior learning assessments. While districts may charge a fee for examinations, districts should keep student equity in mind when determining fees and ensure earning CPL does not place an undue financial burden on students or limit access to CPL].

What steps do I need to take to make my course CPL eligible?

Congrats on taking the first step to making your course CPL eligible, and helping your students earn credit for the knowledge and skills they may have gained through experiences such as military training, industry training, state/federal government training, volunteer and civic activities (e.g. Peace Corps), apprenticeships, internships, work-based learning or other industry-based experiential learning.

Review this website and the resources to familiarize yourself with CPL.
Contact the Interim CPL Coordinator, Candace Rose, at cpl@palomar.edu or crose@palomar.edu
Meet with the CPL Coordinator to…
- Evaluate the course using a CPL Inventory/Crosswalk spreadsheet (provided by the coordinator).
- Review and possibly strengthen the course SLOs to support effective CPL assessment.
- Determine the method(s) of assessment that best suit this course.
Meet with the Articulation Officer.
If you determine that the course is a great fit for CPL, inform your department Chair and colleagues and bring them into the conversation.
If Portfolio Review or Credit By Exam is a method of assessment for your course, collaborate with at least one other faculty discipline expert to develop a rubric or exam. (A CPL Portfolio rubric template will be provided for you.)
If Industry Certification or Military Transcript is a method of assessment for your course, you will need to provide a copy of the certificate and/or military transcript information to the CPL Coordinator. The Coordinator can also help you determine which military transcripts align with your course learning outcomes by using the ACE (American council on Education) website as a resource.
Once these steps have been completed, your CPL Inventory Spreadsheet and assessment materials/methods will be reviewed to make sure they meet transfer eligibility requirements, and then a CPL Eligibilty Approval Form will be signed by you, your Department Chair, the Articulation Officer and the CPL Coordinator.
The CPL course will be added to the CPL Website and Course List page.
The CPL Coordinator will take the next steps to provide any necessary materials to students services, for example, adding an industry certification or military transcript to our database.
Students will then be able to start their CPL process to demonstrate their prior learning and earn credit for this course, by meeting with a counselor to create an education plan (required by Title 5.) and then reaching out to either the CPL Coordinator or the discipline faculty.
If a student is required to take an exam or provide a portfolio to earn CPL for your course, a special section of the course will be created in Canvas where the student can upload their work and the instructor can evaluate it and post a grade to eservices/My Palomar. (This process is still being developed, but for now, the CPL Coordinator can help with this step.)
If the CPL assessment is industry certification or military transcript, the student can work directly with records and evaluations to determine CPL eligibility. They will not need to meet with the discipline faculty.
This grade will then show on the students transcript as prior learning assessment, with the method of assessment clearly annotated.

How can I learn more about Portfolio Review assessment?

Canvas has an easy-to-use ePortfolio option that you and your students can use for portfolio assessment – check out this very helpful Palomar Teaching Excellence page on Portfolium ePortfolio

Create a portfolio rubric with this template: PC CPL RUBRIC final