Credit for Prior Learning

Credit for Prior Learning at NOVA

Did you know your work, military, or previous learning experience could help you graduate faster and save on tuition? NOVA’s Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) program allows you to earn up to 45 college credits for knowledge and skills gained outside the classroom. This may include prior college coursework, professional experience, military training, standardized exams, industry certifications, and other learning experiences.

By receiving credit for what you already know, you can reduce the number of courses you need to take and move closer to completing your degree.

Important Notes:

  • Credit awarded through CPL will appear as a “T” or “P” grade on your NOVA transcript.
  • CPL credit does not replace an earned grade or affect your GPA at NOVA.
  • CPL credit may not transfer to other institutions, so it is important to review the transfer policies of your intended transfer school.
Students walking on campus

Monthly Credit for Prior Learning Webinar

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

Register for the next CPL Webinar

Ways to Earn Credit for Prior Learning

At NOVA, you may be able to earn credit through several pathways depending on your experience.

  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.

Credit by Exam lets students earn college credit for knowledge they already have, helping them save time and money. NOVA accepts AP, Cambridge, CLEP, IB, and other exam scores, and the process is simple—just apply, enroll, and have your test results sent to the College Records Office for evaluation.

  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).

  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 Summaries. 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.

For more information, please visit the CPL Manual.

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.

Estimate your credit

Contact Us

College Records Office
Inquiries about credit for college courses, standardized exams, or industry certifications
AsktheCRO@nvcc.edu

Military Transcript Evaluations
Inquiries about credit for military training and courses
MilitaryServices@nvcc.edu 

Academic Affairs Office
Inquiries about credit for work or life experience and transfer course equivalencies
CPL@nvcc.edu