Credit for Prior Learning
Your life experience counts
Your expertise can save you time and money
Earn credit toward your degree through our Credit for Prior Learning Program (CPL).
Some limits apply, work an Academic Counselor in an individualized appointment to see where your educational experiences or "prior learning" can be integrated into your Cabrillo Education Plan. There are several categories of Credit for Prior Learning:
AP, IB and CLEP scores can satisfy degree requirements
High school course work can clear prerequisites
College transcripts can clear prerequisites and satisfy degree requirements
Completing the "Credit by Exam" process can satisfy degree requirements
Nursing Advanced Placement opportunities for transfer students and military personnel
ProTip: for all categories, documentation is required.
- Credit for Prior Learning
A few words about prerequisites
A prerequisite is a course or qualification that must be completed before you may register for:
- the next course in a sequence like English 1A for English 1B; or
- a course requiring some expertise in a related subject, like algebra for chemistry; or
- to enter a program with prerequisites, like Nursing or Dental Hygiene.
The Cabrillo equivalent of a minimum grade of "C" or "P" must be earned in the prerequisite course to satisfy the prerequisite. Clearing a pre-requisite does not earn units toward your degree, it only allows you to register in the course with the prerequisite. You will see this notated as an "EQ" in your Student Planning Timeline.
- Completing the Cabrillo Placement Process
- Taking an external exam through one of these programs:
- Advanced Placement Exam (AP),
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- Completing course work at another college or university
- Some high school courses
- Challenging the prerequisite
If feel you have the skills and knowledge to meet a course prerequisite and you don't have a transcript because your background does not include a traditional educational setting like high school, college or university, you may challenge the prerequisite. Start the process by filling out the Requisite Challenge eForm. On the form you will be asked at attach documentation of your skills and experience demonstrating that you have the required skills needed to complete coursework in the course with the prerequisite. Documentation may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Letter from the you detailing your how and where your skills and knowledge were learned and obtained.
- Recent examples of the your work in this discipline that shows mastery of the skills and knowledge in question. For example, English course challenges should include recent essays.