Credit for Prior Learning

Credit for Prior Learning at NOVA

Did you know your learning experience outside of NOVA could help you graduate faster and save on tuition? NOVA's Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) program lets you earn up to 45 college credits for skills and knowledge gained through prior college coursework, work, military service, exams, certifications, and more.

Important Notes:

  • The grade awarded for Credit for Prior Learning is “T” or “P.”
  • Credit for Prior Learning does not replace an earned grade or affect your GPA at NOVA.
  • Credit for Prior Learning does not typically transfer to another institution.
Students walking on campus

Monthly Credit for Prior Learning Webinar

First Friday of Every Month (Except for January 2, 2026)
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Register for the Webinar

Ways to Earn Credit for Prior Learning

  1. Apply for admission and select a program of study (declare a major).
  2. Enroll in a credit course.
  3. Submit Form 125-049E (log-in required) and request your U.S. college or university to send your official transcript to NOVA’s College Records Office. If you attended another Virginia community college, no official transcript is required. International transcripts must be evaluated by an approved third-party evaluator first.

Visit the TES (Transfer Evaluation System) database to see how courses from other colleges and universities have previously transferred to NOVA.

For more information, please visit the CPL Manual.

ABLE exams are developed by NOVA faculty. Students passing an ABLE exam will receive a grade of P, and only successful attempts are recorded on the student's transcript. The ABLE exams NOVA currently offers are SDV 100, HLT 141, MUS 111, MUS 141, and MUS 142.

For more information, please visit the CPL Manual.

  1. Apply for admission and choose a program of study (declare a major).
  2. Enroll in a credit course.
  3. Request your testing service to send your test results to NOVA’s College Records Office. If needed, the mailing address is: NVCC College Records Office, FX-P3, 3924 Pender Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030. Test scores are automatically processed upon receipt. Students do not need to submit the Transfer Credit Evaluation Form (125-049E).

More information:

  1. Apply for admission and select a program of study (declare a major).
  2. Enroll in a credit course.
  3. Submit Form 125-049E (log-in required) and attach a PDF copy of your certificate/credential to be sent to NOVA’s College Records Office.

For more information, please visit the CPL Manual.

  1. Apply for admission and select a program of study (declare a major).
  2. Enroll in a credit course.
  3. Submit Form 125-349E (log-in required).
  4. Request that your Army/Navy/Marine Corps/Coast Guard transcript be sent to NOVA’s Office of Military and Veteran Benefits through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) website. Community College of the Air Force transcripts and CLEP/DANTES/DSST test scores must be sent to the College Records Office.

For more information, please visit the CPL Manual.

NOVA recognizes work/life experience for college credits through a portfolio development process. This portfolio must demonstrate how the competencies you gained through work and life experience align with the objectives and student learning outcomes of your chosen course, as outlined in NOVA’s Official Course Content Summary. You must also provide supporting documentation to validate your claims of prior learning.

  1. To get started, email the following information to cpl@nvcc.edu:
    • NOVA student ID number
    • Program of study (major)
    • Resume detailing your work experience, education, and any professional certifications
  2. Next steps

    The Credit for Prior Learning staff will review your information and follow up with you accordingly.

Credit for Prior Learning Manual by Year

The Credit for Prior Learning Manual is updated annually and has an effective implementation date on the first day of the Fall semester of each academic year. If documentation is received by the College Records Office (CRO) after the start of the Fall semester, then all CPL requests will be subject to the recommendations of the new academic year’s CPL Manual.

VCCS Credit for Prior Learning Predictor Tool

See how your experience translates into college credit.

Use your military service, job certifications, or exam results to estimate how many college credits you may already have.

Create an Account at Credits2Careers

Contact Us

College Records Office
Inquiries: Credit for college courses, standardized tests, industry certifications 
AsktheCRO@nvcc.edu

Military Transcript Evaluations
Inquiries: Credit for military training and courses
MilitaryServices@nvcc.edu 

Academic Affairs Office
Inquiries: Credit for work/life experience; transfer course equivalencies
CPL@nvcc.edu