CPL saves you time and money on your educational path — no need to take a course on something you already know. And instead of just waiving a prerequisite, you can now earn actual course credit for it.
Students who hold industry credentials and certifications, military transcripts, or have work experience that can be demonstrated through an exam or portfolio review may qualify for credit for prior learning.
- Military Transcript
- Credit by Exam
- Portfolio Review
- Industry Certification/Accreditation or License
- AP, IB, and CLEP exam scores (refer to the Palomar Articulation webpage for more information)
Check out our CPL Course List. Don’t see your discipline or course? Email cpl@palomar.edu – we’re still building our database and can reach out to faculty on your behalf.
No – there is no cost for CPL.
No. You just need to be a registered Palomar student — admitted, with a student ID, and eligible to enroll.
Go to Steps to Apply for CPL in the site menu and follow the instructions.
Less than 10 minutes. Have your POST Profile, Industry Certificate, or JST, (if applicable) downloaded and make sure your Palomar student account is active before you start.
Each semester has its own CPL petition deadlines — check the current deadline before you apply.
Your petition goes through review by the CPL Coordinator, an academic counselor, a discipline expert, and the department chair. Once approved, it’s sent to the Evaluations Office — credits typically appear on your transcript by the end of the semester, sometimes sooner.
Contact the CPL Coordinator at cpl@palomar.edu (and your professor too, if petitioning for credit by exam or portfolio review). Your petition will be withdrawn with no W on your transcript, and you’re free to petition again later or enroll in the course.
No. Just send your official JST to Palomar College and these credits will be added to your transcript automatically. For other CPL-eligible courses tied to your military training, you’ll still need to complete the petition through Steps to Apply for CPL.
Any questions? Email cpl@palomar.edu – we’re here to help!
Meet with a CPL counselor to discuss transferability — not all schools accept every CPL assessment method. UCs, for example, only accept Credit by Exam.
Visit our High School Credit by Exam webpage for details.
Schedule an appointment with a CPL Counselor through the Counseling Appointments for CPLin the site menu, or email the CPL Coordinator at cpl@palomar.edu with any questions.