Earn College Credit For What You Already Know

You may already have experience that can count toward your Northeast degree. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) gives you the opportunity to earn college credit for knowledge and skills you already have, including work experience, military service, industry certifications, professional licenses or other training.

Save Time and Money with Credit for Prior Learning

Whether you are returning to school, advancing in your career, or shifting paths, earning credit for prior learning can help you.

Save Time

Earn your degree or diploma faster by applying real-world experience directly toward curriculum requirements.

Save Money

Earn credit for some requirements without paying full course tuition.

Higher Completion Rates

Students who utilize prior learning credits are significantly more likely to finish.

Ways to Earn Credit for Prior Learning

Northeast Community College offers several ways to earn college credit for work experience, training or education.

Credit by Waiver allows students to earn CPL through verified training records, competency evaluations, or industry documentation. Applying for Credit by Waiver is free of charge.

  • Verifiable Job Experience: Documented work activities and special non-academic training directly aligned with the learning outcomes of specific Northeast courses.
  • Industry Certifications & Professional Licensure: Credit awarded for passing professional state licensure exams or earning recognized industry certifications.
  • Military Experience & Training: Assessment of military educational experiences and service. Active-duty service members and veterans can submit a Joint Services Transcript (JST) or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript for evaluation.
  • Non-Credit Coursework / Articulated Credit: Articulation options for students who completed non-credit continuing education or customized training courses seeking to apply those competencies toward a credit certificate or associate degree.

Credit by Examination measures proficiency through standardized national assessments or institutional testing.

Nationally Recognized Examinations:

  • CLEP (College-Level Examination Program): Earn college credit by passing subject-area exams offered through College Board.
  • AP (Advanced Placement): Credit granted for qualifying high school AP exam scores.
  • DSST (Dantes Standardized Subject Tests): Subject-based exams covering business, humanities, technical, and social science topics.

Challenge Exams:

  • Examinations developed, administered, and evaluated by Northeast faculty to assess mastery of specific course content. Formats may include written tests, oral assessments, or hands-on skill demonstrations.

Eligibility & Policies

To qualify for Credit for Prior Learning at Northeast, students must adhere to the following standards:

  • To receive CPL credit, you must be accepted to Northeast and enrolled in an eligible certificate, diploma or degree program.
  • Prior learning must match the graduation requirements and learning outcomes of a Northeast course.
  • CPL can make up no more than 75% of the credits required for your credential.
  • CPL is recorded as passed/earned credit and does not affect your GPA.
  • Another college or university may have different policies for accepting CPL credits when transferring.
  • CPL credits cannot be used to establish Nebraska residency for tuition purposes.
  • CPL credits may count toward maximum timeframe completion rates for financial aid evaluations.

How to Apply for Credit for Prior Learning

Ready to see how your real-world experience translates into college credit? We are here to guide you through every step of the process.

Complete the CPL Inquiry Form

You can also contact your academic advisor, an instructional dean, the Registrar’s Office, or the Director of Work-based Learning, Dr. Wade Herley.