Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)

Incoming and current students are eligible to have their prior learning evaluated for academic credit in the following training programs below. The student must be credentialed, certified and/or licensed in a healthcare field and that credential must be current and active at the time of review. Expired or inactive credentials are ineligible for consideration.

Basic Emergency Medical Technician

CU offers this through Workforce Development, and the Lock Haven campus has had several students use this credential for prior learning credit in the past. EMT training is 240 hours. ACE and the University of Memphis recommend 6 credits. Lock Haven has awarded 6 credits in the past for this credential. The HES working group recommends 6 credits. This non-equivalent training aligns with the discipline HLSC; however, the coursework is not equivalent to an existing course in the catalog. Given the alignment to a discipline, but not to a specific course, HLSC 199 is justified. This equates to 6 credits HLSC 199

Clinical Medical Assistant

CU offers this through Workforce Development: 140 hours with clinical externship (optional). NHA certification eligible program. The HES working group recommends 3 credits with an option for additional credits if the student provides documentation of completing an externship (credit to be determined by the length of the externship). This non-equivalent training aligns with the discipline HLSC; however, the coursework is not equivalent to an existing course in the catalog. Given the alignment to a discipline, but not to a specific course, HLSC 199 is justified. This equates to 3 credits, HLSC 199 with the option for additional credit with documentation of successful completion of a clinical rotation.

Dialysis Technician

CU offers this through Workforce Development: 50 hours long, NWCA national certification eligible program. There is an optional clinical rotation offered as part of this program that is 100 hours long. The HES working group recommends 1 credit with an option for additional credit if the student provides documentation of completing a clinical rotation. This non-equivalent training aligns with the discipline HLSC; however, the coursework is not equivalent to an existing course in the catalog. Given the alignment to a discipline, but not to a specific course, HLSC 199 is justified. This equates to 1 credit HLSC199 with the option for additional credit with documentation of successful completion of a clinical rotation.

Policy

This policy defines the requirements for implementation of the Credit for Prior Learning processes at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (Commonwealth University) to enable undergraduate students to enrich or accelerate their programs of study by eliminating duplication of learners’ educational efforts through the awarding of credit for prior learning.

To recognize college-level learning students acquired outside of formal higher education, Commonwealth University relies on this policy to ensure its practices meet high academic standards and are responsive to adult learners. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) or Prior learning assessment (PLA) is the process used by Commonwealth University to award academic credit for a student’s knowledge and expertise acquired through life and professional experience when the student’s knowledge and skills are determined to be equivalent to college-level learning.

Procedures

The process and procedures implemented in presenting the credit request will provide evidence of learning for faculty review, assessment, and approval/denial of said request.
The procedures listed are the CPL methods that are acceptable at Commonwealth University and how academic credit is awarded in accordance with academic and administrative standards. These procedures are intended to support the transparent transfer of credit for prior learning.

Scope/Applicability/Eligibility

All students who have been admitted to Commonwealth University and are currently in good academic standing are eligible to apply for credit for prior learning as it relates to their degree requirements.

Methods of Assessing Credit for Prior Learning and Definitions

The assessment of CPL includes the use of a broad range of tools for demonstration of competence that includes but is not limited to nationally recognized and locally developed examinations; individual assessments; portfolio review; non-college education and training, industry-recognized credentials, and military training.

Number of Credits

Students may earn up to 75% of their degree requirements through credit for prior learning if the residency requirement is satisfied. Credits earned through credit for prior learning are not considered part of the residency requirement.

Credit Validation Methods

Credit for Prior learning must align with existing courses/curriculum using the course description, equivalencies, or competency equivalencies in competency-based curricula for guidance.  At a minimum 75% of learning outcomes for a given course must match the learning outcomes of the prior learning. The following guidelines and methods are acceptable for validating prior learning for awarding credit.

Standard Exams

• Advanced Placement (AP) is a program that offers college-level courses at high schools followed by an examination.
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a series of examinations that test an individual’s college-level knowledge.
• DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST) is a series of 37 examinations in college subject areas that are comparable to the final or end-of-course examinations in undergraduate course examinations in liberal arts and sciences subject areas.
• Excelsior College Examinations (UExcel) is a credit-by-examination program offered in a computer-based format at thousands of test centers globally. These exams include the Excelsior College Examination or UExcel exams and their predecessors, the Regents College Examination, and the ACT Proficiency Exam Program.
• National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) delivers assessments or standardized tests for students studying career and technical programs.
• Challenge Exams/Credit by Examination (Test Out) is an opportunity for a student to demonstrate college-level learning through course-specific Commonwealth University examination designed by college faculty who teach the course.
• ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)/ ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL)/Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy
  • Limitations
    • Credit for passage of ACTFL examinations shall not be awarded if
      • it has previously been awarded.
      • equivalent degree credit has been previously earned through regular coursework, prior learning assessment, or other instructional processes.
• Credit has been granted at a level more advanced than the content level in the examination

Evaluation of Non-College Education and Training

Credit awards will only be made for training and occupations that are directly applicable to the student’s degree program.

• ACE Military – Training, Occupations, and Other Military Credit utilizes the American Council on Education’s Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces which recommends college credit for formal courses offered by all branches of the military and for military occupations. These recommendations appear on the service member’s Joint Services Transcript (JST) for the Army/National Guard, Navy/Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Other Military Credit refers to Commonwealth University’s MAC-RB evaluation of military training or experience web page.
  • Boot camp, basic training, officer training school, and other courses offered by the military may be eligible for college credit.
  • The ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experience in the Armed Services will be used as the evaluation tool. For further information visit the ACE Military Guide.
• ACE CREDIT – Education, Workplace, and Training utilizes the American Council on Education’s Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training which recommends college credit for non-accredited general education, corporate, workplace, and (non-military) training.
  • The American Council on Education (ACE) College Credit Recommendation Service helps students and learners gain access to academic credit for formal courses and examinations taken outside traditional academic programs.
• National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) approved credit recommendations can be found at nationalccrs.org.  NCCRS (National College Credit Recommendation Service) evaluates training and education programs that are offered outside of the traditional college classroom setting and translates them into college credit equivalency recommendations.
• NCCRS Workplace and Volunteer Training utilizes the recommendations of the National College Credit Recommendation Service.
• Technical or Professional Certification/Credential is a review of technical or professional certification or industry-recognized credentials.  A certification is a designation earned by a person ensuring the individual is qualified to perform a task or job. Certification is often an employment qualification but not a legal requirement for that profession and can be earned through classes or tests. The following conditions apply:
  • Certifications and industry credentials will be checked for validity through the issuing body
  • Certification/Industry Credential may need to be verified through demonstration of continuation of the knowledge and skill required
  • Certification/ Industry Credentials must be current as of the last day of the awarding semester
  • Faculty experts may award credit for multiple courses, dependent upon the content of the Certification/ Industry Credential.
• Technical or Professional Apprenticeship is a review of apprenticeship programs. Credit is considered for a combination of comprehensive on-the-job training and related instruction of theoretical and practical aspects of highly skilled occupations.
  Learners who have completed or are currently enrolled in a Technical or Professional Apprenticeship Program that aligns with a Commonwealth University program may be eligible to earn college credit. The following conditions apply:
  • Technical or Professional Apprenticeship will be checked for validity
  • Apprenticeship knowledge and skill may need to be verified through demonstration
  • Faculty experts may award credit for multiple courses, dependent upon the content of the Technical or Professional Apprenticeship
• Technical or Professional Licensure is a review of technical or professional licensure programs.
  Licensure is a means by which "permission to practice" is regulated and is a qualification required by law. Learners who have earned a Technical or Professional Licensure that aligns with Commonwealth University programs, may be able to earn college credit. The following conditions apply:
  • Licensure will be checked for validity
  • Licensure may need to be verified through demonstration of continuation of the knowledge and skill required
  • Licensure must be current as of the last day of the awarding semester
  • Faculty experts may award credit for multiple courses, dependent upon the content of the licensure
• Digital badges are an online validation of proof of skills, achievement, outcome, competency, or completion of a course that a student or learner has earned.  A badge is an online representation of a skill, mastery of a skill, and/or recognition of expertise, as well as verification of technical competence through projects, programs, courses, assessments, and other activities. Badges enable academic institutions and professional associations to recognize professional and experimental learning achievements in a way that can be verified and shared online.
  • If students or learners have earned a Badge(s) that aligns with Commonwealth University programs they may be able to earn college credit. The following conditions apply:
    • Badges will be checked for validity
    • Badges may need to be verified through demonstration of the knowledge and skill acquired
• Certificates and credentials evaluated by Commonwealth University college faculty experts and identified as equivalent to matching Commonwealth University courses (see list of currently approved credentials at commonwealthu.edu. Additional credentials may be petitioned for evaluation).

Individualized Assessments

A CPL Portfolio is an individualized assessment that are demonstration of college-level learning obtained from work or other experiential learning such as domestic and international volunteering, and/or professional development.  Examples of include portfolios, demonstrations, oral interviews, or a combination of methods.

Articulated College Credit (Career and Technical Education)

Commonwealth University provides students with a pathway from high school to college. Students may earn college credits (Articulated College Credit) for high school CTE courses completed in 10, 11, and 12 grades.

Approved articulation program agreements can be found here as well as student eligibility. Students must be admitted and enrolled in Commonwealth University the fall semester after high school graduation.

CPL Transfer Transcription

Commonwealth University Office of the Registrar shall record the approved credit earned through Credit for Prior Learning on the official student transcript. Documentation will be maintained on students’ unofficial transcripts.

Transparency and Information Dissemination Transparency:

• Requests should be directed to the Credit for Prior Learning Director in Workforce Development 
• The website will include links to CPL standards, policies, procedures, applications, resources, and services.

Information Dissemination

Commonwealth University shall provide timely and readily accessible information to prospective and admitted students regarding opportunities for CPL in official publications, such as the academic catalog, student handbook, and University website. University resources include but are not limited to the Office of Admissions, Workforce Development, Student Success Center, faculty advisors, and admissions counselors.

Transferability of Credit for Prior Learning Credits

Commonwealth University does not guarantee that another college or university will accept CPL credit in transfer. Students planning to transfer to a college or university should contact the receiving institution to determine the acceptability of transferring CPL.

Faculty and Staff Development

Personnel involved in CPL will receive preparation for engagement with the institution’s CPL Program Policies and Procedures. Professional development will include benefits, opportunities, assessment tools, and associated processes of Commonwealth University credit for prior learning.

Data Tracking and Reporting

Commonwealth University will track and report CPL credits by category and method.in collaboration with the Registrar’s Office.  The benefits of CPL and its relationship to student persistence, degree completion, time to degree, and cost-saving to the student will be evaluated annually and shared with the University Leadership team. Refinement of processes and procedures will be based on the data collected and the student/faculty/staff survey.

Credit awarded for CPL will be coded indicating the category and method of prior learning assessment used with the following codes:

SNE = Standardized/National Exams (e.g. AP, CLEP)
CE = Challenge Exam/Credit by Examination (i.e. Test Out)
IA = Individual Assessment (i.e. Portfolio, Skill Simulation, Interview) 
NET = Non-College Education and Training (e.g. Military, ACE, Industry Credential) 
O = Other (e.g. Tech Prep, Previous SCC Education)

Policy Review

The policy will be reviewed and modified as appropriate through the Academic Affairs and faculty senate process.