- Las Positas College
- Academic Services
- Credit for Prior Learning (Students)
Academic Services
Credit for Prior Learning
For Students
Students please note that not every discipline has courses available for CPL.
If you do not see your discipline below, please reach out to
lpc-priorlearning@laspositascollege.edu and copy your instructor.
Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)
A currently enrolled student in good standing with an educational plan on file may be awarded credit for prior learning with faculty consent. Request for credit may be made for general education, program, or elective coursework. Types of credit for prior learning include: credit by exam, credit by portfolio, credit by industry recognized training (IRT), and credit by military joint service transcripts (MJST).
Methods for awarding credit for prior learning are as follows:
- Credit through satisfactory completion of examination
- Faculty assessment of a portfolio or documentation of college-level knowledge/skills
- and/or college-level training not acquired at an institution of higher learning, such as industry recognized credentials or training (IRT)
- Evaluation of a Military Joint Service Transcript (MJST)
- Achievement of a satisfactory score on the Advanced Placement (AP) examination
- Achievement of a satisfactory score on a high-level International Baccalaureate (IB) examination
- Achievement of a satisfactory score on the College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Student Eligibility
Students may petition for Credit for Prior Learning if they meet the following:
- Are currently enrolled in the semester in which credit is to be earned
- Are in Good Academic Standing (Not on Warning, Probation, or Dismissal)
- Have less than 15 units earned through credit by examination
- Are not currently enrolled in the course petitioning for
- Are not currently enrolled in nor received credit for a more advanced course in the
same subject (may be waived by dept.)
Disciplines with Courses Available for CPL
- Automotive Technology (AUTO)
- Computer Networking Technology (CNT)
- Administration of Justice (AJ)
- Music (MUS)
About the Methods of CPL
- Application and Administration
The petition must be approved by the appropriate discipline faculty, the Division Dean, and the Vice President of Academic Services. The assessment or examination will be scheduled and administered by the relevant faculty member. - Awarding of Credit
Upon completion of the assessment or examination, the administering instructor will verify the course and number of units to be received and will assign an appropriate grade. Students shall be offered a credit/ no-credit option if that option is normally available for the course. A student must achieve a “C” or better to be awarded credit. - Limitations
Coursework credit awarded through assessment or examination may not be counted as part of the 12-unit residency requirement necessary for graduation from LPC. The amount of credit that may be earned and counted toward a certificate or degree is no more than three-quarters of the units needed for completion. Credit for Prior Learning is transferable to California State University campuses. Students must pay the $46/ unit for credit-by-exams and portfolios, but not for industry-recognized training or JST. - Notations
The student's academic record will indicate that credit on microfilm after a five-year retention period. Grade changes shall not be made after that time.
Students who have achieved elsewhere an equivalent knowledge, understanding and experience that is required by regular college courses may receive units of credit based on successful completion of a comprehensive assessment of documentation, credentials, or an assessment designed and approved by LPC discipline faculty. A student may petition for courses available for prior learning assessment publicly listed on the LPC website.
Students who have achieved elsewhere equivalent skills, knowledge, understanding and experience required by regular college courses may receive units of credit based on successful completion of a comprehensive course exam or certification approved by the College discipline faculty.
- Credit may be earned by students who satisfactorily pass military courses on their Joint Services Transcripts (JST) and at the Community College of the Airforce (CCAF). Students wanting to petition for credit for prior learning with their Military Joint Services transcripts must do so by going through the Incoming Transcript Evaluation Process in the Admissions and Records office.
- Student may request their Joint Service Transcript on https://jst.doded.mil/jst/
- Students may upload their JST to the Military Articulation Platform to see if their
courses are approved for Credit for Prior Learning. https://veteransmapsearch.azurewebsites.net/default.aspx
- Students please note the "Summary" page at the end of your JST will need to be included in the upload for it to be processed through this platform accurately.
-
To view the list of courses from other institutions that have already been determined to be equivalent to courses at Las Positas College please visit the CollegeSource website. These courses will apply towards certificate and degree programs at Las Positas College using the course equivalencies listed.
LPC grants academic credit for successful completion of examinations of the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Program. Credit awarded based on passing AP scores of 3+ may be applied differently for the AA/AS degree and for transfer; therefore, students are advised to consult with a counselor for information on how AP scores will be applied based on their educational goals. Courses deemed equivalent to AP exams as determined by LPC faculty (see chart) may be used to clear pre-requisites as appropriate – see a counselor for details. Students may not receive duplicate credit for AP exams and equivalent courses taken at LPC.
The Advanced Placement Exams (AP) chart displays how credit is awarded for the following:
- Las Positas College AA/AS degree – Las Positas College AA/AS General Education pattern area and units, elective units, and course equivalency.
- CSU General Education-Breadth pattern area and units toward CSU transfer admission.
- IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) – GE pattern area for CSU and/or UC and units toward CSU and UC transfer admission.
In order to receive academic credit toward the AA/AS degree and/ or CSU GE Breadth/IGETC certification for AP exams, students must submit the official AP score report from the College Board. to the Admissions and Records Office and request the score report to be scanned into their student records. Scanning requests may be adfnitiated by meeting with an academic counselor. In cases where the AP exams are not listed on the AP Chart or do not earn credit, students may petition the academic discipline to consider credit.
LPC grants academic credit for successful completion of examinations of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program. Credit awarded based on passing IB scores may be applied differently for the AA/AS degree and for transfer; therefore, students are advised to consult with a counselor for information on how their IB scores will be applied based on their educational goals. Students may not receive duplicate credit for IB exams and equivalent courses taken at LPC.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations chart displays how credit is awarded for the following:
- Las Positas College AA/AS degree – Las Positas College AA/AS General Education pattern area and units, and elective units.
- CSU General Education-Breadth pattern area and units toward CSU transfer admission.
- IGETC (Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum) – GE pattern area for CSU and/or UC and units toward CSU and UC transfer admission.
In order to receive academic credit toward the AA/AS degree and/ or CSU GE Breadth/IGETC certification for IB exams, students must submit the official IB score report to the Admissions and Records Office and request the score report to be scanned into their student records. The scanning request may be initiated by meeting with an academic counselor. In cases where the IB exams are not listed on the IB Chart or do not earn credit, students may petition the academic discipline for consideration of credit.
Las Positas College grants academic credit for successful completion of examinations of the College Board’s College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). Credit awarded based on passing CLEP scores may be applied differently for the AA/AS degree and for transfer; therefore, students are advised to consult with a counselor for information on how their CLEP scores will be applied based on their educational goals. Students may not receive duplicate credit for CLEP exams and the equivalent courses taken at the college.
The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) chart displays how credit is awarded for the following:
- Las Positas College AA/AS degree – Las Positas College AA/AS General Education pattern area and units, and elective units.
- CSU General Education-Breadth pattern area and units toward CSU transfer admission.
In order to receive academic credit toward the AA/AS degree and/or CSU GE Breadth certification for CLEP exams, students must submit the official CLEP score report from the College Board to Admissions and Records and request the score report to be scanned into their student records.Scanning requests may be initiated by meeting with an academic counselor. In cases where the CLEP exams are not listed on the CLEP Chart or do not earn credit, students may petition the academic discipline for consideration of credit.
Credit for Prior Learning Petition Request Forms
Please note that students petitioning for credit by exam, portfolio, and industry recognized training may use the forms below to submit their petitions.
- Petition for Credit for Prior Learning: Credit by Exam or Portfolio
- Petition for Credit for Prior Learning: Credit by Industry Recognized Training
- Students petitioning for credit by industry recognized training will need to attach their industry recognized creditentials to their petition.
Students wanting to petition for credit for prior learning with their Military Joint Service Transcripts must go through the Incoming Transcript Evaluation Process in the Admissions & Records Office (1670).
Questions? Please contact lpc-priorlearning@laspositascollege.edu