Virginia Western Community College
  • MyVWCC
  • Student Resources & Handbook
  • Faculty & Staff Resources
  • EXPLORE
    • About VWCC
    • Visit VWCC
    • VWCC News
    • Programs & Training
    • Campus Life
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Campus Safety
    • Community Events
    • Request Info
  • ENROLL
    • Before You Apply
      • Get Started at VWCC
      • Dual Enrollment
      • Apply to VWCC
      • Programs & Training
    • After You Apply
      • Discover Orientation
      • Academic Advising
      • Credit for Prior Learning
      • Academic Calendar
    • support
  • FIND YOUR PATH
    • Programs & Training
    • Virginia Western Online
    • Career & Corporate Training
    • Dual Enrollment
    • Class Schedules
    • Academic Advising
    • College Catalog
  • PAY FOR VWCC
    • Resources
      • Tuition Rates
      • Ways to Pay
      • Financial Aid
      • Scholarship Opportunities
      • CCAP
      • Veterans Benefits
    • Buttons
  • GET SUPPORT
    • Programs & Training
    • Brown Library Services
    • Tutoring
    • Testing Center
    • VWCC Bookstore
    • Student Support Services
    • Help Desk

Register Now for Fall! Chapman Hall is open for in-person support (appointments available Mon – Thurs, walk-ins on Friday)
View the Class Schedule | Click here for Advising | Click here for Financial Aid

CASHIER’S OFFICE: Due to maintenance in Fishburn Hall, the Cashier can be found in Chapman Hall until further notice.

MENUMENU
  • MyVWCC
  • STUDENTS
        • Campus Life
          • Food on Campus
          • Student Activities & Events
          • Clubs & Organizations
          • Recreation & Fitness
          • More from Student Life
        • Learning Resources
          • Academic Calendar
          • Programs & Training
          • College Catalog
          • Dual Enrollment
          • Brown Library Services
          • Help Desk
          • VWCC Bookstore
          • VWCC Bookstore ACCESS Program
        • Student Services
          • Financial Aid
          • TRIO Pathways
          • Hall Career Center
          • Disability Services
          • College Policies
          • More Resources & Services
        • New to VWCC? START HERE!
  • ADULT LEARNERS
    • Programs & Training
    • School of Career & Corporate Training
    • Virginia Western Online
    • Credit for Prior Learning
    • Teacher Recertification
  • FACULTY & STAFF
    • Faculty & Staff Resources
    • College Directory
    • Faculty & Staff Calendar
    • VWConnect (requires VWCC login)
    • IIWS Login
    • Login to Webmail
  • EMPLOYERS
    • School of Career & Corporate Training
    • Hall Associates Career Center
  • GIVE TO VWCC
    • Give Now to Virginia Western
    • CCAP
    • Educational Foundation
GET HELP
Virginia Western Community College
  • EXPLORE
      • About VWCC
      • VWCC News
      • VWCC Response to COVID-19
      • Programs & Training
      • Campus Life
      • Institutional Effectiveness & Research
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Campus Safety
      • Community Events
    • VISIT VWCC

      SCHEDULE A CAMPUS TOUR

      REQUEST INFORMATION
  • ENROLL
    • Before You Apply
      • Get Started at VWCC
      • Dual Enrollment
      • Apply to VWCC
      • Programs & Training
    • After You Apply
      • Discover Orientation
      • Academic Advising
      • Credit for Prior Learning
      • Academic Calendar
    • 24/7 Student Support Logo
  • FIND YOUR PATH
    • Programs & Training
    • Virginia Western Online
    • Career & Corporate Training
    • High School/Home School Students
    • Class Schedules
    • Academic Advising
    • College Catalog & Handbook
  • PAY FOR VWCC
    • Resources
      • Tuition Rates
      • Ways to Pay
      • Financial Aid
      • Scholarship Opportunities
      • CCAP
      • Veterans Benefits
    • COMPLETE YOUR FAFSA

      APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
  • GET SUPPORT
    • Programs & Training
    • Brown Library Services
    • Tutoring
    • Testing Center
    • VWCC Bookstore
    • Student Support Services
    • Help Desk
APPLY TO VWCC

CPL Guidebook

Get Started at VWCC > Credit for Prior Learning > CPL Guidebook

What is Credit for Prior Learning?

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) is the process of awarding a student credit for competency in subject matter that has been achieved through previous academic study or occupational experience. This may include, but is not limited to, credit for external advanced placement such as the Advanced Placement Program (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and International Baccalaureate (IB), credit for non-traditional professional certifications, credit for educational/training programs (military, industry, state and federal government), Portfolio Development and Assessment, and credit for Cambridge Advanced (A/AS) examinations with scores of C or better.

Credit for Prior Learning policies at Virginia Western are consistent with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) principles and with Virginia Community College System (VCCS) policy.

Virginia Western Community College may award credit for the following competencies:

  • Advanced Placement (AP)
  • Credit by Credentials
  • Previous College Transfer Credit
  • Credit-by-Exam (Challenge Exam)
  • Military Training
  • Portfolio Development and Assessment
  • Previous Completion

Important Facts About CPL

  • To apply for Prior Learning credit, a student must be admitted to VWCC and be placed in a program of study
  • CPL credit cannot fulfill the 25% residency requirement needed to graduate in a program
  • CPL credit will be listed on the student’s transcript as transfer courses and will not affect the GPA
  • CPL credit will appear as equivalent courses or elective courses for which credit is earned
  • Financial Aid cannot be used to pay for prior learning
  • CPL credits will be acknowledged and recorded on the student’s record with the transferring agency or other source of credit identified

Although Prior Learning credit may satisfy VWCC curricular requirements, it will not necessarily transfer to another institution. Students desiring to transfer advanced standing credit should contact their four-year college of interest to determine its policy. The student or advisor can also refer to the list of articulation agreements listed on Virginia Western’s website.

Programs or Credentials Evaluated by Virginia Western

Several training programs and credentials have been pre-approved for Virginia Western credit, including:

  • Certified Administrative Professional
  • Early Childhood Development
  • First Aid and CPR
  • Police Academy Certificates–VA DCJS
  • Manufacturing Skills Institute; MT1
  • OSHA Certification
  • Siemens Mechatronic Systems Certification Program Level 1

For related forms visit the VWCC Forms Library at this link.

Process for Virginia Western Evaluated Programs or Credentials

The student must provide credential documentation (license, certificate, etc.) or a sealed copy of transcripts directly to the Records Office in Chapman Hall. Because each program’s requirements may differ, please verify with the department dean or program head to determine the acceptable form of credential documentation (original, copy, fax, etc.).

CPL Efficacy

In a survey of public and private 2 and 4 year institutions, the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL, April 2011) found the following to be true:

  • Students who received Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) credits were more than twice as likely to graduate
  • 56% of students who received PLA credits went on to earn an associate or bachelor’s degree, compared to 21% of those with no PLA credit
  • Employers are recognizing the benefit of PLA to help employees gain higher education, thus adding value to the company

Licenses & Attributions

© September 2015 by Northern Virginia Community College.

CC LICENSED CONTENT, ORIGINAL

College Credit through Prior Learning Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
CC LICENSED CONTENT, SHARED PREVIOUSLY

PLA Advising Guide is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This guide was developed under the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia’s (SCHEV)
College Access Challenge Grant Program (CACGP) from the U. S. Department of Education.
Contents do not necessarily represent endorsement by the federal government.

  • Guidebook Home
  • Suggested Procedures for Advisors
  • Previous Colleges
  • Credit by Exam
  • ACE/NCCRS
  • Previous Completion Credit
  • Military Experience

Contact Us

Cathy Ferguson
Credit for Prior Learning Specialist
 540-857-6825
cplinfo@virginiawestern.edu

Records Office
records@virginiawestern.edu
 Chapman Hall C107
 855-874-6690
Fax: 540-857-6102

Mailing Address:
3094 Colonial Ave. SW
Roanoke, VA 24015

Programs & Training
College Directory
EOE Statement
Privacy/Disclaimer
VW MNS
Student Consumer Information
Virginia Education Wizard
eVA Transparency Reports

Career Opportunities
FOIA Rights & Responsibilities
Site Map
Help Desk
Faculty & Staff Webmail
View VWCC Expenses
Organizational Charts
Annual Notice of Non-Discrimination

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube

Virginia Western Community College
3094 Colonial Avenue
Roanoke, VA 24015
540-857-VWCC
TTY: All users 711

© 2022 Virginia Western Community College, All Rights Reserved
24/7 Student Support Center - 855-874-6690