Credit for Prior Learning
Colorado Mountain College recognizes that learning can take place in environments outside the traditional classroom. To recognize the learning and equate it with traditional classroom learning, we award credit for equivalent CMC courses by assessing Credit for Prior Learning using the following methods:
- Standardized National Exams
- Industry/Professional Certifications
- CMC Challenge Exams
- Portfolio of Professional Work Experience and/or Demonstration of Prior Learning
Students can explore with their counselor/academic advisor the appropriate method for seeking awarded credit, referencing the following priority order:
#1
STANDARDIZED NATIONAL EXAMS
CMC awards credit for certain AP, CLEP, IB and DSST exams and scores where a CMC course equivalent exists.
#2
Industry Certifications
Local, State, or National certifications may be deemed to be the equivalent of specific CMC courses.
#3
CHALLENGE EXAMS
If a student has existing knowledge of course content they can choose to take a challenge exam for awarded credit.
#4
Portfolio
Students may earn academic credit based on prior work and/or life experience.
More Information about Credit for Prior Learning
In general, students seeking credit for prior learning must complete the standardized test, institutional challenge exam, and/or portfolio prior to completing 18 credits at CMC.
Up to 75% of coursework toward a degree or certificate can be awarded credit. However, awarded credit cannot be used toward meeting the minimum number of earned credits required to be taken at CMC:
Associate’s degree (15 credits)
Bachelor’s degree (30 credits)
Certificates (9 credits)
For those certificates requiring a total of 9 credits or less, then 50% of credits must be taken at Colorado Mountain College.