Codified in Title 5, Section 55050, CPL aims to make the pathways by which students with job training earn academic credit more consistent and equitable. Through these improved processes, more students who have acquired college-level knowledge and skills in non-traditional settings can reach their academic goals more quickly and at a lower overall cost.

CPL is not granting credit for experience; rather, CPL is granting credit for experiential learning. The decision to award CPL belongs to faculty, not legislators. Faculty assess the learning from the student’s experience and recommend CPL only if this learning is equivalent to the learning outcomes of a specific course(s) we offer. 

Title 5 requires districts to have a Board Policy and Administrative Procedure on file addressing CPL; however, disciplines are not required to award credit via CPL. There are many disciplines where CPL may not be appropriate. It’s important to consider all stakeholders including outside accreditation agencies and licensure organizations. 

Research suggests that students who are awarded some units through CPL go on to take more classes and complete programs at higher rates and in less time than traditional students. When students are recognized for what they already know, they tend to enter our classes with greater confidence and motivation. And the more they succeed, the more successful our programs will be!

CPL tends to increase enrollment, especially in more advanced courses in a program. Also, once students start taking some higher-level courses, they end up taking more courses overall.

Neither Title 5 nor CCSF limits the number of CPL units a student can earn. However, since CPL units count toward a student’s financial aid allowance and may not always help them reach their current academic goals, we require them to discuss their options with a counselor before submitting a petition for CPL.

Intersegmental discussions are ongoing with the CSU and UC systems. Currently, CSU’s limit CPL to 25% of a students’ coursework; UC’s accept only the Credit by Exam option. In addition, many private universities will honor CPL from community colleges, though policies may differ among institutions.

If you teach a course that aligns with the learning outcomes for a specific military or industry training certification, your department will be contacted by our CPL Coordinator to review the crosswalks already established by statewide faculty workgroups. However, if you are aware of industry training programs that align with your courses and you haven’t yet been contacted, please reach our to our CPL faculty coordinator, Lisa King (eking@ccsf.edu). She’s more than happy to create these articulations and add them to our approved course list so students can become aware of these opportunities.

We are particularly focused on building out our Credit by Exam options for students, which are the only CPL option considered by the UC’s. If you are interested in developing a comprehensive exam and assessment rubric that enables students to demonstrate their knowledge of all of your course SLO’s, Lisa wants to help you make that happen. We have materials and ideas–and even funding–to accomplish this goal.

Presentation Slides

• CPL Presentation for the CCSF Curriculum Committee, 3/11/2026
• Thinking Outside the Box with CPL – CCCAOC conference 03_16_2021

CCSF Board Policies

• CPL Board Policy: BP 6.30 Credit for Prior Learning
• CPL Administrative Procedure: AP 6.30 Credit for Prior Learning

CCC Credit for Prior Learning Training Modules

Comprised of 6 one-hour modules, these trainings from the chancellor's office are designed to support CPL leads, but provide helpful background on CPL to anyone who wants to learn more about this initiative. To access these modules, log in by entering your email at visionresourcecenter.cccco.edu/login and search for “Credit for Prior Learning: Planning through Implementation."

Additional Info & Resources

• ACE: Reimagining Transfer for Student Success
• ACE Military Guide_Institution Onboarding Guide_April 2021 (1)