Possibilities at CPCS: Evaluation of Prior Learning

Most students come to CPCS with a variety of different experiences behind them, much of which may be relevant to the CPCS curriculum. CPCS does not “give credit for experience,” as some people mistakenly believe. But the College does “give credit” for what people have learned from their experience – when that learning coincides with part or all of a CPCS competency. (Note that the phrase Prior Learning does not refer to courses that may transfer in from another college. Note too that CPCS itself refers to competencies rather than credits, though each competency and each course that transfers in have a credit equivalence for transcript purposes.)

 

If a student has learning experience that matches one or more competencies in the CPCS curriculum, it is possible to use that experience to demonstrate the competency through evaluation of prior learning. Sometimes the experience a student brings may cover some portion of the competency, but to fully meet the criteria and standards of the competency, the student will also need to do some “new” learning. That doesn't mean that you should not use your prior experience where you can.

 

When contemplating how you might utilize prior learning, review relevant competencies.  Ask yourself which of the criteria in a given competency you think you might be able to demonstrate and which will require new learning. In fact, you might find it useful to look through the various competencies to see if one of them triggers recognition of prior learning you hadn't considered.