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Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)

Earn your degree faster with experience you already have

Trevecca Nazarene University offers a Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) program in the Office of Graduate and Adult Education. As a nontraditional student, you may have gained knowledge and skills through work experience, volunteer work, military service or other life experiences that could count toward college credits. CPL is a way to have your learning recognized in your academic program, saving you time and money in achieving your degree.

Use your experience for credit

We offer several ways for you to demonstrate your learning, including written essays, portfolios and exams. Our team of experienced faculty members will review your submissions and assess whether they align with the learning objectives of the courses for which you are seeking credit.

A flexible, individualized process

CPL allows you to demonstrate what you have learned and earn credits toward your degree. By participating in the program, you can save time and money and avoid redundant coursework, potentially accelerating your path to graduation.

Getting started

To get started, you can access the Credit Predictor to review your options or contact one of our enrollment counselors, who can guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have. The tabs below can guide you through the different types of prior learning assessments and the steps for participating in the program.

If you have completed formal professional trainings, certifications or licensure courses, you may be eligible for credit. Common credit obtained in this area includes CPR/First Aid, real estate license and more.

Does your previous education or experience make you an expert in the content of a particular course, but you have no academic credit to show for it? You can complete a subject-specific exam that covers the content of a semester long course. If passed, each exam is worth college credit. Trevecca offers these exams through our testing center on-campus for which you can make an appointment by contacting Becky Headrick at rheadrick@trevecca.edu. You can also schedule your CLEP exam through College Board and DSST exams here to take the exams remotely or at another testing site. Official score reports must be sent to Trevecca in order to receive credit.

If you have life experience or extensive professional training in a subject area that does not meet requirements for academic credit approval, you may still be able to obtain credit by taking ITD 3000, Describing and Documenting Learning, through which you will write one or more papers to demonstrate college level knowledge. Each paper is reviewed by a professor for evaluation and determination of credit. Learn more about this option by speaking with an enrollment counselor! You can email us at GRAEAdmissions@trevecca.edu.
Active Service members and Military Veterans can qualify for prior learning course credit. To take advantage of this opportunity after you’ve applied to a Trevecca program, you can request for your official Joint Services transcript to be sent to Trevecca. If you are eligible, credit will be awarded towards your degree directly from this transcript. Learn more about military benefits at Trevecca.
Students who have completed the Church of the Nazarene ordination modules are potentially eligible to earn one credit per module. Credit awarded will vary by academic program. If you have questions about this option, please email us at GRAEAdmissions@trevecca.edu.

Previously Evaluated Experiences are trainings that have been assessed by Trevecca and qualify for credit. If a student has completed any of these trainings, they may receive credit towards their bachelor's degree on a case by case basis.

Previously Evaluated Experience is only available for students in degree completion programs and not traditional undergraduate programs.

A list of accepted trainings can be found here.

Other options recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) may also be considered.

Want to get an estimate to see what credit you’re eligible for, and determine how quickly you could complete your degree?

Try our Credit Predictor

If you have questions or need more information about PLA credit, please reach out directly to your enrollment counselor or email us at GRAEadmissions@trevecca.edu.

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