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Academic Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL)

Credit for Life Experience

At Walla Walla Community College, we recognize that learning isn’t confined to classrooms. It happens in the workplace, through life experiences, and during military service. That’s why we offer Academic Credit for Prior Learning (ACPL) – a way to turn your knowledge and skills into college credits.

How It Works

Before we award you ACPL, we carefully assess if the knowledge, skills, and abilities you’ve gained align with what you’d learn in one of our courses. If they match, you can earn credit for your non-traditional learning.

Guidelines and Categories

Walla Walla Community College follows the guidelines set by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. There are four categories of credit for non-traditional learning, listed below.

Standardized Testing

Walla Walla Community College offers college credit opportunities to students who have completed a standardized test. Score and test requirements are listed below in each category along with the corresponding college credit that is granted.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Walla Walla Community College will award unrestricted elective credit for an Advanced Placement (AP) score of 3 or higher. Credit will be awarded on the basis of official AP results, not transcript notation. For a full list of available credit through AP, click on the following link.

AP Test Scores at Washington Community and Technical Colleges

Cambridge International

Walla Walla Community College will award unrestricted elective credit for a Cambridge (CI) score of E on A and AS level exams. Credit will be awarded on the basis of official CI results, not transcript notation. Credits granted for general education or major requirements are evaluated on a case by case basis in collaboration between the Instruction Office and the Office of Admissions and Records otherwise, elective credit will be granted.

Cambridge Scores at Washington Community and Technical Colleges

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

Walla Walla Community College will award credit for CLEP exams with scores of 50 or higher. Students can schedule CLEP exams on campus through our Testing Center. Click here for more information taking the CLEP exam. For a full list of available credit through CLEP, click on the following link.

CLEP Crosswalk

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Walla Walla Community College will award unrestricted elective credit for an International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 4 on standard-level or higher-level IB exams. Credit will be awarded on the basis of official IB results, not transcript notation. For a full list of available credit through IB, click on the following link.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Scores at Washington Community and Technical Colleges

Course Challenge

Challenge exams are sufficiently comprehensive to determine that the student has the same knowledge and skills as those students who enroll in, and successfully complete, the course. A student should have previous training, private study, work experience or other bona fide qualifications indicating she/he has the knowledge or abilities equivalent to course completers. Ordinarily, students will not be allowed to challenge more than one course per quarter.

Extra-Institutional Learning

Knowledge and skills acquired outside the institution and objectively verified through industry certifications, such as the NCLEX-RN; industry recognized testing/training, such as that addressed by the American Council on Education (ACE), particularly for the military; and occupational crosswalks, such as those for police, firefighters, and AmeriCorps.

Prior Experiential Learning

Knowledge and skills acquired through experience alone, evaluated by qualified faculty via evaluation of a compilation of work. All prior learning assessment credits in this category are awarded through a prior experiential learning portfolio review, as in the HS+ Program. For college-level students, a maximum of 25% of the credits needed for degree or certificate completion may be earned through prior experiential learning assessment. Students planning to transfer should check with the receiving institution on the number of credits earned through PLA that they will accept.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re interested in Academic Credit for Prior Learning, start the process by filling out our ACPL Request Form. The form can be found under Important Academic Forms on the Academic Resources page.