Faculty Resources - Crafton Hills College

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is college credit awarded for validated college-level skills and knowledge gained outside the traditional classroom. CPL enables students to earn credit for what they already know and can do, helping them reach their educational goals more efficiently.

Faculty play a central role in the CPL process by assessing whether a student’s prior learning meets the outcomes of a course and determining if credit should be awarded. This ensures academic integrity and alignment with curriculum standards.

For state and local resources, including guidelines, policies, and professional development tools, visit our:
CPL Materials and Resources

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. 

Research shows that Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) benefits both students and colleges by increasing degree and certificate completion and helping to close equity gaps. At the state level, CPL supports the goals outlined in California’s Vision for Success and can positively impact college funding by improving performance on Student-Centered Funding Formula (SCFF) metrics.