Credit for Prior Learning

Students interested in Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) using Standardized External Exams must be eligible to enroll at the college. Each external exam follows distinct policies. Students who take an Advanced Placement (AP) Exam, International Baccalaureate (IB) Exam, or College-Level Examination (CLEP) Program in the same topic area will receive credit for only one exam. (For example, if a student takes both the CLEP exam in Biology and the AP exam in Biology, they will only be awarded credit for one exam because the topics are duplicative). The college will award credit for the exam that most benefits the student. 

Students who have passed their most recent AP exam (score of 3 or higher) since 2018, visit https://www.collegeboard.org/ and submit your request for your Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores to be sent to Los Angeles Valley College (they provide a code). The courses for which AP Exam scores of 3 or higher correspond will appear when you click the Advanced Placement button below. 

Students who passed one or more AP exams (score of 3 or higher) prior to 2018, visit https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/sending-scores/send-or-get-archived-scores and follow the instructions and payment information. 

Courses for which students earned credit through passing AP Exams should appear on their LAVC transcripts within ten business days. If you experience any delays or challenges with this process, please contact admissions@lavc.edu 

Advanced Placement 

International Baccalaureate 

College Level Examination Program 

Students interested in Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) using Joint Service Transcripts shall receive credit as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) Directory and approved by the appropriate discipline faculty of the college under the following circumstances:

1. Student shall schedule an appointment with the Veteran's counselor to evaluate the Joint Service Transcript or the Military Transcript.

 Veteran's Counselor Appointment Link

2. Student shall also complete the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Petition. 

3. Student shall provide verification of U.S. Military service as follows:

• Military Personnel on Active Duty: documentation must verify at least 181 days of active duty.
• Former Military Personnel currently NOT on Active Duty: Active-Duty documentation (DD 214) must indicate the student’s length of service, which must include 181 days of active duty.

4. Official transcripts must be on file in the Admissions and Records Office. These may include

• Joint Services Transcript (JST),
• Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART),
• Army and American Council on Education Registry Transcript Service (AARTS),
• Community College of the Air Force (CCAF),
• Coast Guard Institute (CGI),
• Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES/USAFI),
• Defense Language Institute Foreign Language (DLIFLC),
• Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC),
• Defense Acquisition University (DAU),
• Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT),
• DA Form 330 Language Proficiency Questionnaire,
• DD295 military records.

5. Credit course equivalency shall be determined by the appropriate discipline faculty.

6. Credit for military service will be awarded toward Associate Degree requirements as follows:

• Three units of credit towards LACCD Associate Degree General Education Area

7: Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (Administrative Procedure 4100).

• Additional elective credit may be awarded toward the 60 units requirement for an associate degree.

 Note: There is no LACCD residency requirement. Students may receive military credit upon entrance to any college within the LACCD.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Petition

Students interested in receiving Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) using Industry Certification shall receive credit as recommended by the appropriate department chair or faculty designee under the following circumstances: 

1. Student shall consult the currently approved list (website) of courses for Industry Certification CPL and identify the course for which the student is seeking credit.

2.  Student shall complete the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Petition. 

3. Admissions and Records shall grant credit for Industry Certification that has already been evaluated and approved by the appropriate department chair or faculty designee. 

4. If an Industry Certification has not yet been evaluated or listed in the catalog (CPL website) student shall contact CPL coordinator at @email for information about the next steps. 

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Petition 

Students interested in receiving Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) using a Student Portfolio shall receive credit as recommended by the appropriate department chair or faculty designee under the following circumstances: 

1. Student shall consult the currently approved list (website) of courses for Student Portfolio CPL and identify the course for which the student is seeking credit.

2. Student shall contact CPL coordinator at @email for information about the next steps. 

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Petition 

Credit by Examination is a form of Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) assessment used to award credit for a course. It evaluates the course content and objectives, including any laboratory or activity components of a course. The format, content, and grading criteria of the course examination are determined solely by the appropriate discipline faculty.  

Students interested in Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) using Credit by Examination shall receive credit as recommended by the appropriate department or faculty designee under the following circumstances: 

1. Student shall consult the currently approved list (website) of courses for Credit by Examination CPL and identify the course for which the student is seeking credit. 

2. Student shall complete the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Petition. 

3. Department chair or faculty designee will work with the student to make a mutually agreeable appointment to complete the examination. 

4. If the department chair or faculty designee determines the Credit by Examination assessment completed by the student measures mastery of the course content as outlined in the Course Outline of Record, the appropriate faculty shall sign the petition with the recorded grade and forward it to the Admissions and Records Office to be kept on file and recorded on the student's transcript. Completed exam materials must remain on file with the department for three years. 

For information about the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) petition, contact Krixa Alejo, the CPL Coordinator at ALEJOK@LAVC.EDU.