Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Manual

CPL: Introduction

The term “credit for prior learning” (CPL) refers to the academic process that offers students the opportunity to earn college credit for demonstrated college-level learning acquired from experiences outside of the traditional classroom setting.  Reynolds Community College strives to provide students with opportunities to receive credit for prior learning while still maintaining the academic integrity of the College’s academic programs. Credit for Prior Learning policies are consistent with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) principles and with Virginia Community College System (VCCS) policy.  Reynolds Community College Credit for Prior Learning Manual describes the mechanisms for obtaining credit for prior learning and provides procedures for granting the various types of credit available.

Other CPL credits outside of those listed in this manual may be evaluated by qualified discipline faculty, please see your program advisor for assistance.  

Before considering CPL, students who are interested in transferring to four-year institutions are advised to review the transfer institution’s policies and guidelines on the acceptance and awarding of CPL credits from Reynolds Community College. Please note that the manner in which credit is accepted and/or applied varies by institution. 

The CPL Manual is updated annually and is effective as of the first day of the Fall semester of each academic year.  Prior learning submitted for credit will be evaluated according to the most current CPL Manual at the time documentation is submitted. 

The College reserves the right to make changes to any provision or requirement within these sources, as well as changes to any method of credit for prior learning, whether during a student’s enrollment or otherwise. 

Links or references to other materials or websites provided in the above-referenced sources are also for information purposes only and do not constitute the College’s endorsement of the products or services referenced.  The College does not guarantee that the information contained within the manual, including; but not limited to; any page that resides under the Domain Name System (DNS) registration of https://www.reynolds.edu, is up-to-date, complete, and accurate. Individuals assume any risks associated with relying upon information without checking other credible sources, (e.g., a student’s academic advisor). In addition, a student or prospective student’s reliance upon information contained within these sources, individual program catalogs, or handbooks, when making academic decisions does not constitute, and should not be construed as, a contract with the College.

Credits2Career - Credit for Prior Learning

Military service, industry certifications, professional licensure, or other academic learning may be eligible for college credit; visit the Credits2Careers website and review the opportunities to turn your prior learning experiences into college credits.   

CPL: General Procedures

CPL Eligibility

There are four general categories/types of credit for prior learning: (A) Credits from Post-Secondary Institutions (e.g., Transfer Credit); (B) Credit by Exam (AP, IB, CLEP, or Other Exams); (C) Credits Earned from Non-Traditional Program Completion (e.g., Certifications, Professional Licensure, etc.); (D) Credit for Learning Obtained Through Professional Work and Other Experiences (e.g., via Experiential Learning Portfolio Course).

The general policies listed below apply to students seeking credit for prior learning:

• Students must be admitted to Reynolds Community College to be eligible to apply for credit for prior learning.
• CPL credit applied to a student’s curriculum must adhere to the graduation residency requirement of Reynolds Community College.  Twenty-five percent of the total number of credits for any academic program must be earned through courses offered at the College.  
• Assessments by Local Examination (ABLE) are exams used to allow students to show their mastery of a particular course’s objectives. 
• Nationally standardized exams (e.g., CLEP, AP, and IB) are subject to the graduation residency requirement.  
• College credits are determined and awarded upon the recommendation of appropriately qualified teaching faculty to ensure that CPL experiences fall within the regular applicable outcomes of a course offered by Reynolds Community College.
• A program’s academic dean or designee has final approval of CPL credits applied toward a student’s graduation requirements. 
• All accepted CPL credits will be acknowledged and recorded on the student’s permanent record, with the transferring agency identified. No unsuccessfully attempted CPL applications or examination results will be recorded on the student’s permanent record.
• No grades, scores, or grade points will be recorded on the student’s permanent record for credits earned through CPL.
• Credit awarded for prior learning is applicable only to Reynolds Community College’s curricular requirements. Students are cautioned that CPL credit may not be accepted as transfer credit by other post-secondary institutions. Please consult the transfer institution for more information on their CPL policies.
• No CPL credit shall be awarded that duplicates course credit earned at Reynolds Community College with a passing grade.¹ Students who, after receiving an F, U, or W grade in a course at Reynolds Community College, successfully demonstrate knowledge aligned to that course’s learning objectives through a CPL method² approved by Reynolds’ faculty may use the credit awarded for that course as a repeat of the course taken at Reynolds Community College. Prior grades with quality points will continue to be factored into the student’s cumulative GPA.³  Students are ineligible to re-enroll⁴ into a course for a grade improvement once the CPL has been officially recorded on their academic record.

¹Grades of “A,” “B,” “C,” “D,” “P,” and “S” are passing grades at Reynolds Community College. A grade of C or above is required for transfer of credit from other institutions. Reynolds courses with a grade of “X” for ‘Audit’ are ineligible for CPL.

²CPL opportunities approved by Reynolds faculty are in the CPL Manual for the current academic year. CPL methods include but are not limited to transfer courses, nationally recognized credit by examination programs, industry certifications, and military/employer training.

³CPL does not have quality points assigned, so the cumulative GPA will not be affected. Students are awarded grades of “T” or “P” for CPL.

⁴After credit is recorded for an approved CPL method to replace a course taken at Reynolds Community College, re-enrollment for a grade improvement is not permitted.  

Evaluation Process

The faculty role in assessing student learning outcomes for the purpose of awarding credit for prior learning is clearly defined in the Virginia Community College System Policy 5.6.5.1. To ensure that course work and learning outcomes are at the collegiate level and comparable to Reynolds Community College’s courses, discipline faculty make the decision to award credit for any type of non-traditional learning after careful review. Reynolds Community College does not award credit based on another institution’s or agency’s evaluations; all sources of credit will be evaluated based on Reynolds Community College’s policies and guidelines. Post-secondary collegiate transcripts must have at least an 80 percent match to a course taught at Reynolds Community College. In situations where the discipline faculty evaluates a transcript that does not have at least an 80 percent course match students may be awarded elective (EEE) credit (ex. MTH EEE).

Recording CPL Credit

All accepted CPL credits will be recorded on the student’s permanent record, with the transferring agency or other source of credit identified. Reynolds will not record any unsuccessful CPL applications or examination results (grades, scores, or grade points) on the student’s permanent record. No grades, scores, or grade points will be recorded on the student’s permanent record for credits earned through CPL procedures. Except for Experiential Learning portfolios and ABLE exams, for which students receive a “P” grade, the student record will show a “T” instead of a letter (A-F) grade. Students are advised to check with their transfer institution regarding the implications of CPL credit reflected on a transcript.

Limits on the Amount of CPL Credit

There is no formal limit on the number of credits that may be awarded for CPL; however, the amount of CPL credit awarded is regulated by discipline faculty and must abide by state law as prescribed by the state legislature, VCCS policies, and SCHEV policies.  CPL credits may not be used to fulfill the residency requirements for graduation; twenty-five percent of the total number of credits for any academic program must be earned through courses offered at the College.

CPL Evaluation Responsibilities

The responsibility for effective evaluation of CPL is shared among many faculty and staff at Reynolds Community College. Reynolds Community College Curriculum Committee formally represents the different disciplines and is responsible for consistent college-wide development, management, and implementation of CPL procedures.  

Curriculum Committee Duties and Role Related to CPL

The Curriculum Committee reviews all requests for CPL and develops recommendations for acceptance and course credit equivalencies in conjunction with the faculty and in accordance with college policy. The Curriculum Committee also hears requests for new or revised policies and procedures for credit for prior learning.

Procedure for Submitting Requests to Curriculum Committee

Faculty, administrators, and students can submit CPL proposals for the following reasons:

• New CPL opportunity
• Update to existing CPL
• Change a CPL procedure

These proposals should be submitted to the Curriculum Coordinator at curriculum@reynolds.edu. The Curriculum Coordinator will lodge proposals with the Curriculum Committee. Proposals should include the essential information below: 

• The level of need for the CPL opportunity, usually supported by labor market data
• Effectiveness towards the college’s mission
• Responsible offices for implementation
• Information on the period in which the credit is valid
• Sample documentation that students should submit for the awarding of credit
• Proposals for new CPL and updates to existing CPL must include documentation showing how a course’s learning objectives are met through non-traditional learning.

If approved, the Office of the Registrar is informed of the changes and the CPL Manual is updated to reflect the change for the upcoming academic year.

CPL Evaluation Contacts

Office of the Registrar: The Registrar’s Office is responsible for ensuring that appropriate records relating to credit for prior learning are received and processed. In cases where there are faculty-approved routine procedures for awarding credit for prior learning transcript evaluators are empowered to record these credits on the student’s transcript. Students can submit CPL documentation via email to registrar@reynolds.edu.  

Faculty and Advisors: Discipline faculty can initiate requests for new CPL opportunities to the Curriculum Committee and are asked to review all policy recommendations for discipline-specific CPL credit. Advisors may recommend the use of electives to meet specific discipline requirements through substitution procedures. Advisors may also recommend that elective course credit be changed to specific course credit based on supplemental course descriptions that the student has obtained from his/her previous school. Requests for substitutions must be approved by the appropriate academic dean(s).

Academic Deans: All policies and procedures regarding CPL are approved by the academic deans and program heads responsible for the discipline where CPL credit will be awarded. Specific decisions about the student graduation requirements from a program, including CPL credit, are approved by the responsible academic dean(s) for the required course and the student’s program, and, if there is a conflict, by the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Appeals of CPL Decisions

To initiate an appeal of a CPL decision, based on an existing policy, students should contact their faculty advisor.  The faculty advisor will forward the appeal to the appropriate academic dean who will discuss the appeal with the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs. 

Students who wish to have new or revised credit for prior learning policies established must email their faculty advisor. The faculty advisor will forward the request to the Discipline Program Head for review by faculty and, if the faculty supports the request, then the request will be lodged with the Curriculum Committee for final determination.  Students should be told that this process may take several months due to the rigor of Reynolds Community College’s credit for prior learning policy revision process.

CPL: Section 1 - Credit from Post-secondary Institutions Procedures and Policies

Transfer Credits from Accredited Colleges or Universities

Reynolds Community College accepts transfer credit for college-level courses completed at an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and verified through receipt of an official transcript. 

Post-secondary Credits from Non-Accredited Colleges or Universities

Credits earned at post-secondary institutions without accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education do not transfer to Reynolds Community College even if the institution is accredited through a different commission such as a national accrediting organization or specialized and professional accreditors. However, in some cases where a post-secondary institution offers specialized educational opportunities (culinary institutes, etc.) and the institution is empowered by a state to award associate degrees or above, Reynolds Community College faculty may pre-approve the recommendation to award equivalent transfer credit for courses within a specific discipline. 

Transcript Evaluation Process

Reynolds Community College accepts credits from other accredited U.S. colleges and universities for which a student has earned a grade of “C” or better. To have such credit evaluated, students must submit an official transcript from their previous institution. An official transcript is one that has the seal of the institution or testing organization, the signature of an official of that institution or organization, and must be received in a sealed envelope from the originating institution that has no overt sign of having been opened or otherwise disturbed. Official transcripts may be mailed directly from the transferring institution to the Office of the Registrar at P.O. Box 85622 Richmond, VA 23285-5622 or sent electronically to registrar@reynolds.edu. The evaluation of transcripts is intended as a service to students who are pursuing academic programs at Reynolds Community College, the evaluation process is not intended as a means for credentialing students or providing documentation for job promotions, etc.

Prior to submitting transcripts, the student must ensure they are placed in the degree plan of their choice. Transfer courses are posted only if applicable to the student’s degree plan on record in the Student Information System (SIS) at the time of the request.  Applicable credits will be transferred in with consideration given to elective courses requiring faculty review to be substituted for a direct course equivalency. Transferred courses are available to view in students’ MyReynolds accounts within 2 weeks of the Registrar’s Office receiving the transcript(s).

Students should send their transcripts before or during their first semester at the College so that the transcript is evaluated in a timely manner. Reynolds Community College does not award credit based on another institution’s evaluations; all sources of credit will be evaluated based on Reynolds Community College’s policies and guidelines.  

Required Grades

Generally, only courses earning a grade of “C” (not “C-“) or better will be accepted for transfer credit. Courses earning a grade of “P” (for a Pass/Fail course) and with the designation “CR” (for credit), may be accepted for transfer if the transcript indicates that credit hours have been awarded and if the transcript states that the P grade is the equivalent of an A-C (not D) grade. Courses graded with a “Pass” may be placed on the transcript for later use; they will be applied to the student’s program within 2 weeks of the Registrar’s Office receiving the transcript(s). Students interested in transferring to four-year institutions are advised to review the transfer institution’s policies and guidelines on the acceptance and awarding of Pass/Fail credits from Reynolds Community College. Please note that the manner in which credit is accepted and/or applied varies by institution. 

Natural Science Course with Separate Laboratory

For courses with separate lecture and laboratory grades, a “C” (not “C-“) average or better must be earned in order for credit to be awarded. Failing grades are not accepted for averaging. If a student has received a grade of “F” in either the lecture or the laboratory, the course will not be accepted. Grades are averaged using the course’s credit hour value. However, the portion of the course that received a passing grade may be accepted for elective credit and combined with the missing portion if taken from Reynolds Community College or another college.

Information Technology and Computer Science Transfer Credit Limits

Transfer credit for Information Technology and Computer Science courses that are more than ten years old is not routinely accepted; the Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics must approve exceptions. Transfer credit for science courses more than seven years old is not awarded in Nursing, Practical Nursing, or other Health Science programs. 

SDV Transfer Credit for Students with Previous Degrees

Students who have graduated with an associate, baccalaureate, or higher degree from an accredited US institution of higher education are considered to have fulfilled Reynolds Community College’s SDV requirement and should submit an official transcript for evaluation to be awarded credit.  

Evaluation of International Transcripts

Students who have earned college credit from universities outside of the United States must have their credit evaluated by an international credit evaluation agency before submitting it to the College. Reynolds Community College accepts international transcript evaluations from any member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).   www.naces.org

Students may only submit one evaluation during their academic career at Reynolds Community College.

Students must submit their original transcripts to one of these organizations and pay for the course-by-course evaluation.

Reynolds Community College cannot guarantee the quality or outcome of the evaluations.

Once the College receives a copy of the evaluation, appropriate transfer credit will be awarded and posted to the student’s record unless Reynolds Community College needs additional information. In certain instances, a student may be given elective “EEE” credit and will be responsible for providing coursework, syllabus, reading lists, and/or any other necessary documents from courses taken outside of the US, if required by the appropriate discipline’s Academic Dean or Program Head at Reynolds Community College.

Students who apply with previous coursework completed at an accredited college or university in a foreign nation whose language of instruction is English (ex. Canada, England, Australia, etc.) will receive full transfer credit for coursework with an equivalency to ENG 111 and/or ENG 112 where applicable. The student is responsible for providing Reynolds with a transcript that has been evaluated by an international credentialing service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).  www.naces.org

Students who apply with previous coursework completed at an accredited college or university in a foreign nation whose language of instruction is not English will receive transfer credit dependent upon the student’s ability to pass the VPT or other equivalent placement testing used by Reynolds.  If the student is placed into ENG 111 after successfully completing the placement test, the student will be given ENG 111 and/or 112 based on the evaluation.   The student is responsible for providing Reynolds with a transcript that has been evaluated by an international credentialing service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).  www.naces.org

CPL: Section 2 - Credit from Certification or Credentials

General Information (Certifications or Credentials)

Reynolds Community College awards credit for industry-standard certifications, credentials, and/or professional courses.  Licenses, credentials, and/or certifications must be current and valid for consideration. For more information regarding the status of a certification and its eligibility for credit, see an advisor or faculty member in the discipline area that awards CPL credit. Students may be awarded credit based on recommendations from the American Council on Education (ACE) or from the National College Credit Recommendation Services (NCCRS). Courses or programs offered by employers, professional organizations, and other agencies may be eligible for CPL credit if those courses or programs have been approved by Reynolds Community College faculty. New credit for prior learning opportunities not represented in this manual should be submitted to the discipline Program Head and/or School Dean.

School of Business and Industrial Trades Credentials and Certifications

School of Humanities and Social Sciences Credentials and Certifications

School of Health Professions Credentials and Certifications

Computer Science and Information Technology Credentials and Certifications

CPL: Section 3 - Credit by Examination, Advanced Placement (AP)

General Information (AP Exam)

Administered by the College Board, the Advanced Placement (AP) program offers an opportunity for students to complete college-level coursework in high school. Reynolds Community College students who achieved an appropriate score on certain AP exams are eligible to earn college credit based on policies in this manual. Please see the tables that designate the name of the AP Exam, the required score(s) needed to earn college credit, and the corresponding course code and credit hours awarded. The accepted equivalency for credit and the needed passing score(s) may be different depending on the year a student completed AP testing and the year a student requests CPL credit for AP scores. Test equivalencies are reviewed annually by faculty and updated accordingly. 

CPL: Section 4 - Credit by Examination, College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

General Information (CLEP)

Administered by the College Board, the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) offers an opportunity for students to earn college credit based on their performance on certain exams that cover introductory-level college course material.  CLEP exams are, generally, computer-based and contain multiple choice questions about the subject area. CLEP exams take 90-120 minutes to complete. Students are given their score immediately. Reynolds Community College students who earned an appropriate score on certain CLEP exams are eligible to earn college credit.  Please see the table below that designates the name of the CLEP Exam, the required score needed to earn college credit, and the corresponding Reynolds course and credits. The accepted equivalency for credit and the required passing score(s) may be different depending on the year a student completed CLEP testing. Test equivalencies are reviewed annually by faculty and updated accordingly.  

CPL: Section 5 - Credit by Examination, International Baccalaureate (IB)

General Information (IB)

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program provides high school students with an opportunity to earn college credit. IB courses, syllabi, and exams can offer two different levels of accomplishment. The Higher Level (HL) syllabus and exam include material that requires two years of coursework in the chosen subject area. The Standard/Subsidiary Level (SL) syllabus and exam include material that requires one year of coursework in the chosen subject area. Reynolds Community College students who earned the appropriate score on IB exams are eligible to earn college-level credit. Please see the table below that denotes the name of the IB Exam, the required score, and the corresponding Reynolds Community College course and credits. The accepted Reynolds Community College equivalency and the required score for credit may be different depending on which year the student completed an IB exam and when a student submits a request for credit. Test equivalencies are reviewed annually by faculty and are updated accordingly.  

CPL: Section 6 - Credit Earned from Other Exams

General Information

Reynolds Community College awards college credit for faculty-approved national exams listed in this section. The instructional content of these standardized examinations is evaluated by Reynolds faculty who determine course equivalency.  If you do not see an exam listed here or in other sections of the CPL Manual, please consult your program faculty.

Certified Manager (CM) Program Exam

The Certified Manager (CM) Program is sponsored by the Institute of Certified Professional Managers and founded by the National Management Association. The Institute is a business center of the College of Business at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. CPL is available, effective Spring 2006, for students who take the exam and meet the conditions reflected in the chart.

DANTES Subject Standardized Tests & Exams (DSST)

The DSST Exams (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests), administered by Prometric, were created under the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support program to provide college credit to military service members.  In 2006, these exams were made available to military and civilian examinees. Reynolds awards specific course credit to students who pass DSST exams with a minimum score of 400, as recommended by the American Council on Education.  Reynolds students who earn the appropriate score on DSST Exams may be awarded college-level credit.  The table below lists the name of the DSST exam, the required score, and the corresponding Reynolds Community College course and credits.  A complete listing of current and prior tests can be found at http://getcollegecredit.com.  Requests for additional CPL credit for DSST Exams not shown here should be sent to your faculty advisor who will submit the request to Reynolds’ Curriculum Committee.   

Excelsior College and UExcel Examinations

Reynolds recognizes the Excelsior College and UExcel Examinations (formerly ACT Proficiency Exam Program (PEP)). Credit is awarded in accordance with the recommendations of the American Council on Education’s national guide at http://www2.acenet.edu/credit.

Certification of Computing Professionals: ACP & CCP Exams

Reynolds awards credit for students who provide an ACE transcript showing successful completion of the Associate Computing Professional (ACP) Exam or the Certified Computing Professional (CCP) Exam within the past 10 years.  Students who pass both exams will be awarded no more than 9 credits of IT Electives overall.

New York University (NYU) Foreign Language Proficiency Exams

Reynolds students who have completed NYU’s Foreign Language Proficiency Exams may be eligible for CPL credit.  This CPL credit option is intended for students educated in a language other than English and are interested in earning college credit for their native language. Reynolds will accept the 12-point exam for World Language 201 and 202. Scoring of this test can take up to eight weeks and the scores are valid for five years. Students must take the exam at a designated location in the United States, if not taking it at NYU. Credit is awarded based on the ACTFL efficiency scale. Students are given two hours to complete the 12-point exam that evaluates listening, reading, and writing skills.

Students receiving credit for a 201-level and/or 202-level language course should discuss meeting degree requirements with an academic advisor or program head.  

Assessment by Local Exam (ABLE)

Assessment by Local Exam (ABLE), exams prepared by Reynolds faculty, provides an opportunity for students to receive course credit by demonstrating that they have acquired the course competencies through prior education or other experiences. These exams may have background requirements, students must contact the department offering the exam to determine eligibility.    

There is no charge for ABLE exams or for recording credit on the student’s permanent record. Credits earned through ABLE exams do not count towards the College residency requirement and may or may not transfer to other institutions of higher education. The ABLE exams and instructions are listed below.   

Student Development (SDV) ABLE Exam Instructions

Reynolds’ School of Humanities and Social Sciences is offering the SDV ABLE exam to students remotely. Students should send a message to humanities@reynolds.edu, including the following:

Full Name:
Reynolds Student ID Number: 
Expected graduation date:  
Do you require accommodations?*  
*If yes, please include a copy of your current Memorandum of Accommodation (MOA).  

Students who enter Reynolds with advanced study skills and knowledge of college processes may be eligible to take the SDV ABLE exam. This exam can only be taken once and is made available through Canvas. First time to college students, below the age of 24, are ineligible to take the exam in their first year. If a student’s program requires SDV 101, please check with the appropriate academic department to determine if the SDV ABLE exam will fulfill the requirement. Students who have earned a grade in SDV are ineligible to take the exam. Students will receive an email confirming their eligibility with the instructions and password to access the test in Canvas.

NOTE: If a student takes the ABLE exam while enrolled in the SDV course and wishes to use the exam results to fulfill the course requirement, it is the student’s responsibility to drop the course before the Census Date for a full tuition refund, or no later than the last day to withdraw without grade penalty.  Students are encouraged to review the Academic Calendar and consult a faculty advisor or counselor before deciding to drop a course.

The exam is free.  The exam may be taken once. Students will receive a score at the end of their exam. Credit will be recorded, if appropriate, on the student’s permanent record.

This assessment adheres to the rules and principles outlined in our Reynolds Student Handbook: Academic Integrity. Reynolds expects students to complete work on their own and not utilize any resources outside of the test itself. These guidelines will provide the best results for determining a student’s abilities in college-level coursework. 

Information Technology Essentials (ITE) 152-Introduction to Digital Literacy

Students in programs that require ITE 152 can satisfy this course requirement by passing Reynolds’ computer competency exam.  Students need to purchase an access code from a Reynolds bookstore or online. Contact the Testing Center for more information: 804-523-5470 or 804-523-5411.

NOTE: Students not passing the computer competency exam may retake the exam once.  If a student takes the exam while enrolled in the ITE 152 course and wishes to use the exam results to fulfill the course requirement, it is the student’s responsibility to drop the course before the Census Date for a full tuition refund, or no later than the last day to withdraw without grade penalty. Students are encouraged to review the Academic Calendar and consult a faculty advisor or counselor before deciding to drop a course.

This assessment adheres to the rules and principles outlined in our Reynolds Student Handbook: Academic Integrity. Reynolds expects students to complete work on their own and not utilize any resources outside of the test itself. These guidelines will provide the best results for determining a student’s abilities in college-level coursework. 

CPL: Section 7 - Credit Earned from Military Training and Courses

General Information (Military)

Reynolds Community College will review a student’s military training, courses, and occupational specialty for college credit. Military-affiliated students, who are current or former Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy personnel can submit their Joint Services Transcript (JST) for evaluation of credit.

The Office of the Registrar evaluates the JST and credits may be awarded for military training and skills that are 1) applicable to the student’s degree program as recommended, 2) eligible for academic credit for a course taught at Reynolds, and 3) recommended by the following entities:

• American Council on Education (ACE) Military Guide,
• Virginia Community College System (VCCS) Credits2Careers portal,
• Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services,
• Approved military transcript evaluators.

Note: Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) is accredited and credit may be awarded for courses on a CCAF transcript.

Military Course Equivalencies

Military training and skills should be equivalent to Reynolds Community College courses. If a service member has questions regarding training-related credits versus their degree requirement applicability, he or she should contact their program faculty for more information about possible course substitutions. The appropriate academic dean must approve the application of CPL credit toward a graduation requirement for military training in a career-technical area that is 10 or more years old.  In cases of conflict, course requirements as stated in the Reynolds Community College Catalog supersede any other requirements.

Credits 2 Careers (C2C) Veterans Portal

C2C is a personalized virtual counseling tool that provides military-connected users with a real-time estimate of credits that may be awarded from military education, experience, and training. This estimate is not a guarantee; Reynolds Community College military transcript evaluators will review potential course credits once all required documents are submitted.  Access the Credits2Careers Veterans portal at: https://www.credits2careers.org.

Military Basic Training

Students who submit a military transcript or DD214 showing completion of basic training may be awarded CPL credit toward a Physical Education Elective (PED EEE) if required in the student’s program.  Students may request a military transcript from https://jst.doded.mil.  If a student needs their records corrected, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the JST regarding corrections to their service records at https://jst.doded.mil/correction.html.

CPL: Section 8 - Credit Earned from Professional Training and Online Courses

General Information (Professional Training and Online)

Professional training programs may be eligible for CPL credit.  Such programs may include courses offered through the workplace (e.g., corporations, government agencies, professional associations, or unions) or specialized training programs evaluated and approved for college credit by Reynolds Community College faculty and the Curriculum Committee. Reynolds Community College faculty may recommend that CPL credit be awarded based on the evaluation of professional training programs by the American Council on Education (ACE) or the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS). Review of the services for applicable training programs and courses are reviewed annually and updated accordingly.  New CPL opportunities not listed in this manual should be submitted to the Discipline Program Head and/or Academic Dean.  

CPL: Section 9 - Experiential Learning to Academic Credit Portfolio Development

General Information

The design of Reynolds Community College’s Experiential Learning to Academic Credit Portfolio Development course is dedicated to providing college credit to students who have acquired significant knowledge outside of a traditional classroom setting.

Sources of prior learning can include, but are not limited to: 

• Formal workplace training as part of the student’s employment and/or other skills learned on the job
• Extensive volunteer and/or civic duties completed
• Completion of non-credit courses
• Certificates or licenses required for professionals in the student’s occupation
• Other major life experiences.

A student may be eligible to earn college credit if the student’s educational background, occupational background and/or life experiences parallels the completion of objectives required by a given Reynolds Community College course.  To assess the extent of alignment between a student’s major life experiences and the requirements of a given Reynolds Community College course, the student must complete and submit an experiential learning portfolio (one portfolio for each course for which the student is requesting credit).

Components of Experiential Learning Portfolio

The process of preparing an experiential learning portfolio requires an extensive amount of writing.

Each portfolio consists of seven parts:

1. Cover Letter, a formal request from the student to challenge a specific course with a brief description of their career history.
2. Chronological record, a short synopsis of year-by-year major events in the student’s adult life.
3. Life history paper, an introduction of the student to the faculty evaluator, including a summary of lifetime accomplishments.
4. Goals paper, a document that helps the student focus and shows the faculty evaluator where the student plans to go in the short- and long-term future.
5. Narrative of competencies, a description of where learning took place, and a very detailed description of that learning based on the course content summary.
6. Copy of the course content summary for which credit is requested.
7. Documentation of each statement made of major accomplishments and learning experiences (job descriptions, transcripts, letters of verification, performance evaluations, pictures, audio and video, samples of work produced, computer programs written, etc.).

To be eligible to receive CPL credit, students must complete this process and provide data in the portfolio for each course for which the student is seeking credit.  

Evaluation Process

The associate dean or other responsible college administrator will assign each portfolio to an appropriate faculty member. Credit is awarded based on the recommendation of the faculty member. If credit is awarded the student will receive a “P” grade for the course. The experiential learning portfolio method is subject to the College’s graduation residency requirement and students will be awarded no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of their graduation requirements through this method. 

The faculty portfolio evaluator will review the submission and may recommend that credit be awarded for the course requested, OR recommend that credit be awarded with additional development and/or verification requested, OR recommend the denial of credit. In addition, the faculty evaluator may recommend changing the department and/or course title on the submission if the faculty feels another department or course is more appropriate and better aligns with the evidence provided in the experiential learning portfolio. If revisions are needed, students will have an opportunity to revise their submission and resubmit. Once a portfolio is assigned to an evaluator, review and recommendation is completed within two weeks.  

Appeals Process

Students will be allowed two weeks to appeal an experiential learning portfolio decision. Students are granted one appeal per portfolio submission.  Appeals must be made to the assigned faculty evaluator’s Dean. All appeals will be reviewed by the Dean of the faculty member, the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the faculty evaluator within 90 days. Students will be informed through their VCCS e-mail of the final decision. 

Posting of Credit

If credit is awarded, the Registrar’s Office will post credits to the student’s record within four to six weeks. The credit will appear as a “P” grade for passing next to the course associated with the experiential learning portfolio and approved recommendation from the faculty evaluator. The “P” grade is equivalent to a “C” or better. 

Residency Stipulation

Credit earned through the experiential learning portfolio method may not be used to meet the residency requirement for graduation.  Reynolds’ residency requirement for graduation states that twenty-five percent (25%) of the total program requirements must be completed at Reynolds. 

CPL: Definitions

Credit for Prior Learning is a practice institutions use to award college credit for demonstrated competency and mastery through learning that has taken place outside their institution. Students may be assessed using various methods to determine the degree to which the learning outcomes of a particular course or courses have been met; this could be through an industry standardized certification test, written assessments, oral interview, a project, performance, or other methods by which an appropriately qualified faculty member determines. At Reynolds Community College there are four broad categories where students earn credit for prior learning: (A) Credits from Post-Secondary Institutions (e.g., Transfer Credit); (B) Credit by Exam (AP, IB, CLEP, or Other Exams); (C) Credits Earned from Non-Traditional Program Completion (e.g., Certifications, Professional Licensure, etc.); (D) Credit for Learning Obtained Through Professional Work and Other Experiences (e.g., via Experiential Learning Portfolio Course).

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams - Administered by the College Board, AP Exams are the culmination of year-long, university-level academic learning through courses offered in high school. Exams are scored on a scale of 1-5, with a 5 on the exam representing extremely well qualified and 1 representing no recommendation for college credit. According to VCCS policy 5.6.5.1, Virginia community colleges are required to accept AP scores of 3 or higher.

Assessment by Local Exam (ABLE) - Institutionally administered, these are customized subject exams developed by an institution’s faculty in the content area to verify learning achievement. ABLE is also known as a challenge exam.  

College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Exams - Administered by the College Board, CLEP Exams offer an opportunity for students to earn college credit based on assessments of introductory level college course material.  Generally, CLEP exams are computer-based and contain multiple choice questions about the subject area. CLEP exams take 90-120 minutes to complete.

Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) - CCAF was established to meet the educational needs of airmen. CCAF is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Since it is accredited, credits come in as college transfer credits.

Competency-Based Education (CBE) - Instruction designed to demonstrate proficiency in a subject through mastery of specific competencies rather than learning through a time-based system. This is not offered at Reynolds Community College; however, students who have taken credits from another school should refer to a different method of eligibility for credit for prior learning.

Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) - Produced by the Defense Language Institute and used by the United States Department of Defense (DOD), this is a battery of foreign language tests.

DSST (formerly, DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) - Originated by the United States Department of Defense’s Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES) program, these are credit-by-examination tests.

Experiential Learning to Academic Credit Portfolio Development - the credit for prior learning portfolio method may award college credit to a student who has acquired significant knowledge outside of a traditional classroom setting.  A student may be eligible to earn college credit if the student’s educational background, occupational background, and/or life experience parallels the completion of objectives required by a given Reynolds course.  

International Baccalaureate (IB) Exams - IB Diploma Program offers students opportunities to enhance learning in subjects through three core components: theory of knowledge, extended essay, and CAS (creativity, activity, and services). IB courses, syllabi, and exams can offer two different levels of accomplishment. The Higher Level (HL), generally 240 hours of instruction, requires two years of coursework in the chosen subject area and includes a syllabus and exam material. The Standard/Subsidiary Level (SL), typically 150 hours of instruction, requires one year of coursework in the chosen subject area and includes a syllabus and exam material.  

Military Joint Services Transcript (JST) - Military training, coursework, and education usually found in a Joint Services Transcript (JST) is translated into civilian language to describe work history. The JST covers the following military branches: Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Air Force training and coursework are documented through Community College of the Air Force transcripts.  

Military Occupation Code (MOC) - MOC is a set of characters to identify a military service member’s occupational specialty.

On-the-Job Training/Cooperative Education - A structured method of synthesizing academic and career/technical instruction to produce documented learning of knowledge, skills, and competencies from hands-on work experience for academic credit.  The experiential learning portfolio method may fulfill this requirement for some programs.  

Professional Licenses/Certification - Industry-recognized credentials include: all occupational licenses and registries provided by state or national professional boards and industry certifications from a valid third party. At Reynolds Community College faculty evaluate these professional licenses or certifications and align them with a Reynolds Community College course’s learning objectives to determine which course(s) if any is equivalent to the certification.