Columbia Basin College acknowledges opportunities for mastering specific skills and competencies that can be gained outside of a formal classroom experience. Prior learning can be achieved through education, work, or life experiences, and students may earn credit and/or advanced placement.
Currently enrolled students may earn college credit when they demonstrate by examination or evaluation that their professional experience or substantial prior learning meets the specific outcomes of a CBC course. Not all courses at CBC are designated appropriate for credit by examination or evaluation and each department determines the evaluation method required for students to demonstrate mastery of the course content. Prior learning credits can be awarded through one of the following options:
The following restrictions apply to awarding of prior learning credits:
- Students must be currently enrolled at CBC and have an academic record before credits will be awarded. (Regardless the type of PLC, students must have transcripted courses before we post to their transcript).
- For course challenge and experiential learning, students must be currently enrolled at CBC and have an academic record of 15 or more credits with a 2.0 or better GPA before credits will be awarded.
- Credits may be awarded only if the learning experiences fall within the regular curriculum of the College.
- Prior learning credits cannot duplicate credits that have already been awarded.
- One-fourth of the total credits required for a CBC Associate in Arts and Sciences degree, Associate in Science-Transfer degree, Associate in Applied Science degree, or certificate may be earned through the prior learning process.
- Prior learning credits do not count toward the minimum residency requirement.
- With the exception of course challenge, for which a decimal grade is awarded, credits for prior learning will be recorded with a “P” grade.
- With the exception of a College Board Advanced Placement course, a "P" graded course is limited to use within the restricted electives of the Associate in Arts and Sciences degree.
- A non-refundable fee per each credit must be paid for the experiential learning and course challenge assessment.
For further information about process and fees for prior learning credits, contact the Records office.