Credit for Prior Learning

Credit for prior learning may be earned for eligible courses approved by the district for students who satisfactorily pass an authorized assessment.  Authorized assessments may include the evaluation of Joint Services Transcripts, approved external standardized examinations, student-created portfolios, and credit by examination.

Credit for Military Service / Training (Joint Service Transcripts)

Students interested in Credit for Prior Learning using Joint Service Transcripts shall receive credit as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) Directory and approved by the appropriate discipline faculty of the college under the following circumstances:

• The student shall complete the Credit for Prior Learning assessment petition available in the Counseling or Records Office.
• Official transcripts must be on file in the Records Office. These may include Joint Services Transcript (JST), Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART), Army and American Council on Education Registry Transcript Service (AARTS), Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), Coast Guard Institute (CGI), DANTES/USAFI, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Transcripts (DLIFLC), Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), DLPT Examinee Results, DA Form 330 Language Proficiency Questionnaire, or verified copies of DD214 or DD295 military records.
• Credit course equivalency shall be determined by the faculty of the appropriate discipline.

Industry Recognized Credentials (External Standardized Examinations)

Students interested in Credit for Prior Learning using industry recognized credential(s) shall receive credit as recommended by the appropriate department chair or faculty designee:

• The student shall complete the Credit for Prior Learning assessment petition available in the Counseling or Records office
• Enrollment services shall grant credit for industry recognized credential(s) that have already been evaluated and approved by the appropriate department chair or faculty designee
• If an industry recognized credential(s) has not yet been evaluated and approved by the appropriate faculty:
  • The student meets with the department chair or faculty designee to receive further instructions for industry recognized credential(s) assessment
  • The student submits all industry recognized credential documents to the department chair or faculty designee for assessment of prior learning
  • If the department chair or faculty designee determine the industry certification adequately measures mastery of the course content as set forth in the Course Outline of Record, the appropriate faculty shall sign the petition with the recorded grade, attach the industry recognized credential(s), and forward the completed petition and supporting documents to the Records Office to be kept on file and recorded on the student transcript

Student-Created Portfolio Assessment

Students interested in Credit for Prior Learning using a student-created portfolio shall receive credit as recommended by the appropriate department chair or faculty designee under the following circumstances:

• The student shall complete the Credit for Prior Learning assessment petition available in the Counseling or Records Office
• The student meets with the department chair or faculty designee to receive further instructions for student-created portfolio assessment
• The student submits all portfolio documents to the department chair or faculty designee for assessment of prior learning
• If the department chair or faculty designee determine the student-created portfolio adequately measures mastery of the course content as set forth in the Course Outline of Record, the appropriate faculty shall sign the petition with the appropriate grade and forward it to the Records Office to be kept on file and recorded on the student transcript

Credit by Examination from Within the College

The department chair or faculty designee shall determine whether or not a student requesting Credit by Examination is sufficiently well prepared to warrant being given this opportunity. This determination is based upon a review of previous course work and/or experience.

Students wishing to take a course through Credit by Examination are encouraged to informally discuss the matter with the department chair or faculty designee and instructor prior to initiating the formal process. All steps must be completed in the order listed or the Petition for Credit by Examination shall not be processed. The Petition for Credit by Examination must be completed prior to the end of the current semester or session.

The district will award college course credit for successful completion of a district examination administered by the appropriate departmental faculty under the following circumstances:

• Achievement of a grade that qualifies for Credit by Examination through the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Transitions program
• Credit by satisfactory completion of an examination administered by the district in lieu of completion of a course listed in the college catalog

The College Credit by Examination Process

In order to permit students to demonstrate that they have met the objectives of a course through experience in the workplace, foreign language proficiency, or some other process outside the conventional academic setting, students may earn credit by receiving a passing grade on an examination administered by the appropriate instructional department/ program. The completion of Credit by Examination may require the demonstration of other skills or the completion of assignments in addition to an examination.

Upon completion of an education plan, students interested in Credit for Prior Learning using Credit by Examination shall receive credit as recommended by the appropriate department chair or faculty designee under the following circumstances:

The Credit by Examination Procedures

• Student shall complete the Credit for Prior Learning assessment petition available in the Counseling or Records Office
• Student meets with the department chair or faculty designee further instructions for Credit by Examination

If the department chair or faculty designee determine the Credit by Examination assessment measures mastery of the course content as set forth in the Course Outline of Record, the appropriate faculty shall sign the petition with the recorded grade and forward to the Records office to be kept on file and recorded on the student transcript. Completed exam materials must remain on file with the department/program for three years.

(SBCCD Administrative Procedure 4235)