Credit for Prior Learning

The Credit for Prior Learning Program is designed to award you credit for what you already know. In this program, you will be asked to list your experiences and document them with letters or other means of verification. But most importantly, you will be asked to identify what it is you know and can do as a result of these experiences. This information is assembled into a portfolio through which you make your presentation to college officials. The program is coordinated through Academic Support/Student Services at the District Office. Credit evaluations are made by faculty with expertise in the subject areas being assessed.

You Know More Than You Think!!
You might not realize how much you know. Your work or professional life, your community interests, your hobbies and travels, your family interests, your personal reading or courses you may have taken at a non-collegiate institution all may have potential for college credit. You must discuss your learning experiences with an advisor in this office before entering this program.

Requirements and procedures

• You must be enrolled or intend to enroll by next semester, at City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) to request an assessment of your prior learning.
• Credits awarded must be course-equivalent and applicable to your program. It is advisable to obtain a catalog from the City Colleges of Chicago campus you wish to attend in order for you to familiarize yourself with the college and its general requirements and degree programs.
• Make an appointment with an advisor by calling 312.553.3363. Be prepared to discuss the learning experiences for which you wish torequest credit. The purpose of this meeting will be to advise you whether your experiences do, in fact, warrant assessment. It is beneficial to bring with you transcripts from other schools you attended, including a transcript of courses you may have completed at CCC. The Advisor is also available at this time to help you identify your educational goal and choose a degree program if you have not already done so.
• Upon receipt of your application, you will receive the "Student Guide to Portfolio Development." After reading it through, start assembling your portfolio. Additional help is always available by making an appointment with the Advisor, 312.553.3361.
• There is a $75.00 initial application fee, non-refundable, plus 50% of the current tuition rate at CCC for each credit hour requested through portfolio evaluation.
• Assessment by portfolio cannot be initiated or submitted for credit the same semester or term you intend to graduate.
• Credit by Portfolio cannot be requested of courses taken previously for which a passing grade was not received.
• Submitting a portfolio does not guarantee that credits will be awarded. If warranted, one review evaluation may be granted. In this procedure, another member will be assigned to review the portfolio. A consensus of opinion must be reached by the first and second reviewers.
• Every receiving institution has its own policy regarding the acceptance of transfer credits. It is the student's responsibility to determine whether credit by assessment or credit by examination is accepted at another school if he or she intends to transfer at a later date.
• There are other methods available for earning Credit for Prior Learning. You may wish to explore these before applying for a portfolio assessment, or you may wish to participate in the Credit by Examination Program in addition to the portfolio assessment.
• If it is determined that your learning experiences are college credit eligible, an Advisor will give you an application for the program. Complete the application and return with the required fees to: Office of Student Development City Colleges of Chicago 226 West Jackson Blvd. 9th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60606
• Download Credit for Prior Learning Application Form