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Portfolio for Work and/or Learning Experience

Learn more about receiving credit for prior work or learning experience

Colorado Mountain College (CMC) offers alternative pathways for students to earn academic credit based on prior learning and professional experience. Portfolio development is designed for individuals whose knowledge, skills, or competencies—gained through work or life experience—cannot be measured through national standardized exams or CMC challenge exams. To receive credit, students must document and/or demonstrate their learning and align it with the student learning outcomes of a specific course by submitting a portfolio for institutional review.

In addition, CMC recognizes that students may have acquired valuable professional experience through paid employment in uncredentialed or developmental roles prior to completing a degree or obtaining full licensure.

There are certain pre-approved work experience courses for which the student can seek credit:

Allied Health, Public Safety, Wellness and Outdoor Studies Work Experience Courses
Accounting/Business Work Experience Courses

Portfolio Process

The process for portfolio review is initiated with a discussion between the student and academic advisor. All portfolio reviews must be requested and completed in the semester prior to graduation.

  1. The student requests a portfolio review via the Request Form.
  2. A unique registration and payment link is emailed to the student’s CMC email address.
  3. The student registers and pays with their unique registration code. The non-refundable portfolio review fee is half of the in-district tuition rate for a course.
  4. Instructions are emailed to the student’s CMC email address for access to a Canvas course.
    • Time in Profession: Resume and proof of employment (hours equivalent or more to credit-based 45 hours per credit)
    • Scope of Work: Job description
    • Verification of Skills: Onboarding description and completion documentation from the employer or employer sign-off of the skills checklist.
    • Endorsement of student: Supervisor and/or trainer letter of recommendation
  1. Successful portfolios (C- or higher) will result in the awarding of an equivalent course with a grade of P and identified as “Awarded Credit” on the student’s transcript.

Additional Portfolio Information and Considerations

A separate portfolio must be submitted for each course in which a student is seeking credit. Submitting a portfolio does not guarantee that credit will be awarded.