Credit for Prior Learning

Students who have gained knowledge or skills through training or other experiences outside the classroom – such as military training, employer- or union-sponsored programs, government-sponsored programs or apprenticeships – may be eligible for college credit they might otherwise earn by taking certain courses at De Anza College.

There are important requirements and conditions for seeking Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). Please review the conditions listed below and visit deanza.edu/admissions/credit-prior-learning for more details. Students are also encouraged to speak with a counselor before requesting credit for prior learning, to make sure they understand how this may affect their educational plan, financial aid or other factors.

Here are some ways that you can earn Credit for Prior Learning:

• Exam or portfolio – you can be awarded credit in certain courses based on an evaluation in the form of an exam or portfolio review
• Industry certification – you can be awarded credit in certain courses by showing that you have already earned certain industry training certificates
• Military training – you can be awarded credit in certain courses based on your military service transcript

Here are a few more ways you can earn Credit for Prior Learning:

• Advanced Placement (AP) 
• College Level Examination Program (CLEP) – visit the IB and CLEP webpage for more information
• International Baccalaureate (IB) exams – visit the IB and CLEP webpage for more information
  Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for CPL, you must:

• Be admitted to De Anza College
• Be in good academic standing (not be on academic or progress probation)
• Request CPL for a course listed in De Anza's current course catalog that is currently approved for CPL
• Be eligible for the course in terms of any prerequisites and other enrollment requirements
• Not be currently enrolled in the course for which you're requesting CPL
• Not have requested CPL for the same course previously at De Anza or Foothill college – although you may enroll in the course for credit in a future term, if the CPL assessment produced a substandard grade of D, F or NP

Additional Conditions

Credit for Prior Learning does not cover knowledge or skills for which you were already assessed and awarded credit from other regionally accredited colleges.

Units earned by CPL:

• Will not be considered as units completed in residence towards a certificate or degree
• Cannot be used for enrollment verification or reports to insurance companies or other similar agencies
• May count toward major or general education coursework for the associate degree or certificate, or as elective units
• Cannot be used to satisfy unit load requirements for purposes such as Selective Service deferment, veteran's benefits, Social Security benefits or Financial Aid.
• Will be clearly annotated on your academic record to reflect that it was earned as CPL

You must decline or appeal the award of CPL credit before the Admissions and Records Office posts the grade to your transcript.

• Once the grade is posted to your transcript, you cannot decline or appeal the grade.
• To decline CPL credit, you must indicate that on the CPL application form before it is sent to the Office of Admissions and Records.