Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Glossary
These are common definitions used by NCCCS and its member institutions. Each individual institution may define these terms differently.
Adult Learners - Students 25 and older, who are often balancing work, family and school. They have their own unique characteristics, often attending school half- or part-time, online or on a non-traditional schedule. They may require re-entry program, technology skills training, daycare, attendance flexibility, and more.
Advanced Standing: A status given to students who enter a program with previously earned credit (often through CPL), allowing them to bypass certain courses and/or prerequisite requirements. There may be other, institutional level uses for this term.
American Council on Education (ACE, pronounced as the letters, not as a single word): The association with authority by the U.S. Department of Defense to coordinate the review process for military-related knowledge and learning. They do this by partnering with DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) to implement the Military Training Evaluation Program (MTEP). This results in the ACE Military Guide, see definition below. ACE also coordinates the evaluation of learning and skills earned through national programs or companies, published in the ACE National Guide.
- ACE Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces: The online platform which displays learning outcomes and content recommendations for select courses, trainings, knowledge and skills earned while in the U.S. Armed Forces. Relevant URL: https://www.acenet.edu/Programs-Services/Pages/Credit-Transcripts/Military-Guide-Online.aspx
- ACE National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training: An online platform that displays learning outcomes and content recommendations for company, exam, or learning experiences such as Disney, UExcel, and others. Relevant URL: https://www.acenet.edu/National-Guide/Pages/default.aspx
Advanced Placement (AP): College credit awarded based on passing scores earned on the Advanced Placement Exams as offered by The College Board. Relevant URL: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/courses
Articulation: An overall term to explain how one item translates to another; the item may be a course, learning outcome, skill set, credential, or more. Along with the valid assessment of learning, the articulation of learning to learning is the basis for CPL.
Assessment: The process by which qualified faculty, or their designee, determines the application of learning and knowledge from one educational source to another; in the case of CPL, this is determining that the learning/course outcomes align with experiences, skills or knowledge earned by the student in an approved format or structure.
Assessment Rubric: A scoring guide used to evaluate a student’s submitted learning evidence, often detailing how it aligns with course objectives or competencies.
Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET): A training program for law enforcement careers in North Carolina. Students completing this program will become an entry level police officer.
Cambridge Exams: College credit earned by the successful completion of exams offered to learners in a variety of subjects by the University of Cambridge. Relevant URL: https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/usa/higher-ed/guide-to-cambridge/
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways: A broad term for education that combines academic and technical skills with the knowledge and training needed to succeed in today’s labor market. CTE prepares students for the world of work by introducing them to workplace competencies in a real-world, applied context.
Career Credentials: Certificates, diplomas, or recognized qualifications earned after completing a career-specific program.
Certificate: Certificate programs lead to employment or provide skills upgrading or retraining for individuals already in the workforce. A certificate program may be a stand- alone curriculum program title, or a college may award a certificate under the college's associate degree or diploma curriculum program for a series of courses taken from the program of study.
Certification: An industry-recognized credential or designation that is obtained once the student has successfully passed a certification exam. Certification differs from licensure in that certification is a validation of specific industry-valued competencies and not a legal requirement for practicing a profession. Otherwise known as Industry Standard Certifications.
Challenge Exam: A departmental or institutional exam for a community college course used to determine if a student’s subject matter proficiency is equal to or greater than the corresponding proficiency the student would have achieved had he or she completed the actual course. Sometimes known as Credit by Exam or Department Exam.
College Level Exam Program (CLEP): College credit awarded based on passing scores earned on the College Level Exam Program (CLEP) exams. Relevant URL: https://clep.collegeboard.org/
College-level learning: Knowledge, skills, and competencies equivalent to those expected of a student who successfully completes the corresponding curriculum course at a post-secondary institution
Competency Based Education (CBE): A process by which learning is assessed by outcomes or deliverables, rather than the amount of time spent learning. It can be used both to evaluate prior learning or as a course delivery modality.
Continuing Education (CE) – Continuing Education programs provide education and training opportunities for targeted audiences. Courses are non-credit, short-term, and are offered in a variety of instructional delivery modes and locations. May also be a reference to the CE division at an institution, a differing course approval process, or varying state and federal regulations. Sometimes known as Non-Credit or Workforce Development.
Continuing Education to Curriculum Credit (CE to CU): A process allowing students to receive curriculum course credit for successful completion of certain continuing education courses, applying toward graduation requirements in the student’s curriculum program
Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL): A national organization that promotes and supports adult learning and prior learning assessment best practices. Relevant URL: www.cael.org
Credential: The educational certificates, degrees, certifications, and government-issued licenses earned by a student through various methods. This may include a diploma from the community college, a badge issued by a third party with authoritative power, etc. It is proof of an individual's qualification or competence in each area.
Credit by Exam: A departmental or institutional exam for a community college course used to determine if a student’s subject matter proficiency is equal to or greater than the corresponding proficiency the student would have achieved had he or she completed the actual course. Sometimes known as Department Exam or Challenge Exam.
Credit for Prior Learning: An overarching term to explain the award of academic credit by the evaluation of demonstrable learning that takes place outside of courses that are part of registered credit-bearing academic programs offered by institutions of higher education. Sometimes known as ‘prior learning assessment or PLA’, or ‘learning recognition’.
Credit for Prior Learning Standard. A designated amount of academic credit colleges shall award college–level learning that fulfills established criteria; this may range from 1 – X number of credits, but no more than 75% of the overall program. (Reference to State board Code 1D.SBCCC.400.8. and 1D.SBCCC.800.2.g).
Crosswalk: A managed record of the articulation rules between a credential or continuing education course and the curriculum coursework being awarded for that credit. It often refers to equivalencies of industry-recognized credentials or courses listed in the Continuing Education/Workforce Combined Course Library to courses listed in the Curriculum Combined Course Library. The document is a public record and should be published and available as such.
Curriculum Procedures: The North Carolina Community College System process manual for implementing and regulating various Curriculum-related functions; CPL procedures are identified in chapter 19. Relevant URL: https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/college-faculty-staff/academics/programs/curriculum-procedures/
Department Exam A departmental or institutional exam for a community college course used to determine if a student’s subject matter proficiency is equal to or greater than the corresponding proficiency the student would have achieved had he or she completed the actual course. Sometimes known as Credit by Exam or Challenge Exam.
Diploma: Diploma programs provide entry-level employment training. A diploma program may be a stand-alone curriculum program title, or a college may award a diploma under the college's associate in applied science degree curriculum program for a series of courses taken from the program of study and structured so that a student may complete additional non-duplicative coursework to receive an associate in applied science degree. The program includes 36-48 semester hours.
DSST: College credit awarded based on passing scores earned on the DSST Examination Program or its predecessor, the DANTES (Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support) Examination Program. Relevant URL: https://getcollegecredit.com/
Employer-based Training: Training programs developed in collaboration with employers to provide students with skills directly applicable to the workforce.
Evaluation Service Provider: An external organization (e.g., ACE, NCCRS) that evaluates training programs, certifications, or experiences and recommends credit values.
Excelsior College Examinations (UExcel): College credit awarded based on passing scores earned on Excelsior College Examinations, and their predecessor. Relevant URL: https://www.excelsior.edu/start-with-more-credit/transfer-your-uexcel-credit/
Experiential Learning: Learning that results from hands-on experience, such as internships, work, or volunteer activities, which may be assessed for academic credit through CPL.
Faculty Assessor: A faculty member responsible for reviewing and evaluating a student's learning (via portfolio or other CPL evidence) to determine if it meets academic standards.
High School Dual Credit - Credit from a college course is counted at both the college and high school.
High School Transfer Credit - Credit from a high school course is transferred to the college by local H.S./college articulation agreement.
High Schcol to Community College Articulation Agreement: An agreement between the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the NCCCS providing a seamless process that joins secondary and postsecondary Career and Technical Education programs of study. This statewide articulation agreement is comprised of high school CTE courses that match the knowledge and skills taught in similar community college courses. The articulation agreement ensures that if a student is proficient in his/her high school course, the student can receive college credit for that course at any North Carolina community college. Relevant URL: https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/high-school-to-ncccs-course-articulation/
International Baccalaureate Exam (IB): College credit obtained by successful completion of International Baccalaureate Credit. Relevant URL: https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/assessment-and-exams/
Joint Service Transcript (JST): An official record of a service member’s military education, training, and occupational experience that can often lead to transfer credit at a postsecondary education institution. Students can access their JST here.
Learning Evidence: The documentation or proof submitted to demonstrate prior learning—can include work samples, certifications, performance reviews, etc.
Learning Outcomes: Statements that describe what a learner is expected to know or be able to do after completing a learning experience; and also used to evaluate CPL submissions.
Licensure: A legal status granted by a government entity that provides permission to practice a profession. Licensure restricts practice of the profession to individuals who have met specific qualifications in education, professional experience, and/or have successfully passed an examination.
Matriculation: The formal process of entering a postsecondary education institution for a degree, diploma, or certificate, or of becoming eligible to enter by fulfilling certain academic requirements such as formal examination. This timing of matriculation varies among institutions.
Nationally Recognized Exams: A set of common examinations, including AP, IB, CLEP, DSST, UEXCEL, Cambridge and others, which are often accepted by higher education institutions for college credit. Additional exams may be included in the definition. Sometimes known as Standardized Exams.
National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS Assessed Credit Workplace and Volunteer Training): College credit recommendations as evaluated by the faculty of the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS), which is a program of the Board of Regents of The University of the State of New York. Relevant URL: https://www.nationalccrs.org/
Non-Credit – Non-Credit programs provide education and training opportunities for targeted audiences. Courses are non-credit, short-term, and are offered in a variety of instructional delivery modes and locations. May also be a reference to the CE division at an institution, a differing course approval process, or varying state and federal regulations. Sometimes known as Continuing Education or Workforce Development.
Non-Traditional Learning: Any learning that occurs outside the standard college classroom, such as workplace training, military experience, or community service.
Portfolio Assessment: College credit awarded based on a student's demonstration of knowledge. This collection of artifacts can be manifested as an interview, performance, product, written narrative, or other relevant and acceptable demonstration. A qualified faculty member, or group of qualified faculty members, assesses this demonstration against the course(s) learning outcome(s) for determination of satisfactory completion.
Portfolio Course: Multiple meetings, including the course a student is earning by completing the portfolio assessment, or the course the student enrolls in to learn about the portfolio process, or the course the student completes to earn the portfolio process.
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA): Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is an academic assessment process used by colleges and universities to evaluate skills and knowledge acquired outside the classroom. This is an academic process and the procedures must maintain the same quality, integrity and equity as any other academic program at the institution in order to award equivalent credit. Also see Credit for Prior Learning.
Public Safety Training Program (PST): Courses in the Combined Course Library with a Public Safety Training (PST) prefix can be used for awarding prior-learning credit for industry-recognized public safety training and/or credentials.
Registered Apprenticeships: An industry-driven, high-quality career pathway where employers can develop and prepare their future workforce, and individuals can obtain paid work experience with a mentor, receive progressive wage increases, classroom instruction, and a portable, nationally recognized credential. These are approved and validated by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency.
Skilled Tradesmen: A worker specializing in a particular trade that requires a high level of skill and ability, often performed hands-on.
Standardized Exams: A set of common examinations, including AP, IB, CLEP, DSST, UEXCEL, Cambridge and others, which are often accepted by higher education institutions for college credit. Additional exams may be included in the definition. Sometimes known as Nationally Recognized exams.
State Board Code: The North Carolina Community College System governance document, Credit for Prior Learning, is covered in 1D SBCCC 800. The Code provides the base minimum institutions should do; in certain areas colleges have individual authority to set their own CPL policies. Relevant URL: https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/about-us/state-board/state-board-code/
State or Industry Recognized Credentials: Industry recognized certifications and licenses are those listed on NCWorkforce Credentials. Institutions may identify additional credentials to award credit for. Relevant URL: https://nccareers.org/credentials
Structured On-the-Job Learning: Work-based learning experiences allowing students to gain practical experience in their field.
Transfer: The articulation and awarding of curriculum coursework earned from another higher education institution. CPL is not transfer credit and should not be treated as such.
U.S. Armed Forces: For CPL, this includes the U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army and U.S. Space Force. In some cases, experiences and skills learned through the U.S. Air Force may show up on the ACE Guide, but academic learning earned at the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) is considered transfer credit.
Work-Based Learning (WBL): An educational approach or instructional methodology that uses the workplace or real work to provide students with the knowledge and skills that will help them connect school experiences to real-life work activities and future career opportunities. Can be applied as an individual course or as part of an apprenticeship. This is CPL adjacent; the assessment is done in collaboration with the work location supervisor and the student being awarded academic credit.
Workforce Development: Programs provide education and training opportunities for targeted audiences. Courses are non-credit, short-term, and are offered in a variety of instructional delivery modes and locations. May also be a reference to the CE division at an institution, a differing course approval process, or varying state and federal regulations. Sometimes known as Continuing Education or Non-Credit.
Workforce Training Credit: Academic credit awarded for completing employer-sponsored or industry-specific training programs that align with academic coursework.
To add to this list, or for additional information, please email kamens@nccommunitycolleges.edu