Credit for Prior Learning

If you are interested in coming to LBCC for a degree or certificate but already have some expertise in your area of interest, we want to ensure that your experiences are recognized and translated into college credits, saving you time and money. We offer a program called Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) that does this in a few different ways:

LBCC awards credit when an assessment of prior learning corresponds to equivalent courses at LBCC in your program of choice. We do not award credits that you may qualify for if they won’t help you earn your desired degree or certificate since that would be a waste of your money and might affect your financial aid eligibility in the future.

We invite you to make an appointment with our CPL experts to explore what type of method for seeking an award of credit is appropriate.

 

CPL Types

 

Credit by Exam

LBCC awards credit for courses articulated to AP exams. Students who complete college-level work in high school under the Advanced Placement Program sponsored by the College Entrance Examination Board and who receive satisfactory grades (3, 4, or 5) in examinations administered by the board may, on admission to LBCC, be granted comparable credit towards a degree. Students who meet the requirements must submit official scores to receive credit. LBCC follows the score and credits to be awarded as established by a statewide agreement among community colleges and public universities. Accepted AP scores and related course credit awards are published in the Advanced Placement Equivalency Table.

LBCC awards credit for courses articulated to CLEP exams. Students who meet the score requirements must submit official scores to receive credit. Credit is awarded in alignment with Oregon State University. Visit Testing Services for more information.

Some students may be able to take the CLEP for free through ModernStates.

LBCC awards credit for courses articulated to IB exams. LBCC recognizes IB achievement by awarding credit to students who score 4 or above on higher level IB exams. Students who meet requirements must submit official scores to receive credit. LBCC follows the score and credits to be awarded as established by a statewide agreement among community colleges and public universities. Accepted IB scores and related course credit awards are published in the International Baccalaureate Equivalency Table.

Credit for Training and Certificates

LBCC follows the American Council of Education guidelines in awarding credit for military training. Official transcripts from respective branches of the military are required. Students may request evaluation of military credit by supplying a Joint Service Transcript (JST).  Students may need to provide an official ACE transcript as well. Separate transcripts from the US Coast Guard can also be provided and evaluated for credit.

In some programs, faculty have aligned the skills that make up professional certifications or licensure with the skills that you would learn in LBCC courses. If you have one of these licenses or certificates, you are eligible to receive credit for the corresponding LBCC courses. In order to receive credit, LBCC has to receive a formal record of your certification or license.

View List Of Accepted Licenses And Certificates

 

More Information about CPL

There is no college-wide limit to how many credits you can receive through CPL. However, awarded credit cannot be used toward meeting the minimum number of earned credits required to be taken at LBCC:

There is an administrative fee associated with each credit that you are awarded through CPL (except for credit through standardized national exams). That fee is $40 per course in 2024-25.

If you would like to explore whether you are eligible for CPL, please contact us at cpl@linnbenton.edu.