Credit for Prior Learning
Get Credit for What You Already Know
You can earn college credit for college-level learning that you’ve done outside of school. This is called Credit for Prior Learning (CPL). It helps you use your past experience to move closer to earning your degree.
At µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø, CPL can save you time and money. If you’ve had job training, served in the military, learned on your own, or earned certificates, you may be able to get credit for those skills.
If you have questions, contact µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø by calling or texting (302) 857-1000, or email e-advising@dtcc.edu. If you reach out after business hours, provide your contact information, and you will receive a response the next business day.
9,058 Credits
earned by 1,018 students through CPL in 2024.
Why Consider Credit for Prior Learning?
CPL is not just about recognizing your experience, it's about maximizing your future. Here’s how:
Finish Faster
Skip courses you already know and move closer to graduation.
Save Money
Reduce costs by earning credit for prior learning.
Stay on Track
Students who earn CPL credit are more likely to complete their degrees successfully.
Types of Credit for Prior Learning
If you’ve taken college classes at another approved school, you might be able to use those credits at µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø. A grade of "C" ("70" is accepted) or better must be earned for a course to be evaluated for transfer credit. You can check which courses are accepted on our Transfer Course Equivalencies page.
To transfer your credits, send your official transcript by:
- Email: admissions@dtcc.edu
- Mail: Send them to a µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø campus
- In Person: Bring them to a µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø Admissions office
µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø gives college credit for many job-related activities. You can check out the full list of Industry-Recognized Credentials below.
Industry-Recognized Credentials
Some credentials count as college credit. Talk to your program advisor or department chair to see if your credentials qualify – even if they aren’t on the list.
| Department/Program | Certification/License title | Course Credit Awarded |
| Business | Completion of Workforce Development Sales Training Academy | MKT 219 - Sales & Sales Management |
| Business | Microsoft Office Suite Certification (Excel) | OAT 152 - Excel |
| Business | Microsoft Office Suite Certification (Word) | OAT 157 - Word Level I |
| Business | Microsoft Office Suite Certification (PPT) | OAT 159 - PowerPoint |
| Business | Bookkeeping Certification | ACC 162 - Computerized Accounting |
| Construction Management Technology | OSHA Outreach 30-Hour Construction Course Certification | CMT 224 - OSHA Construction Industry Training |
| Criminal Justice | Delaware Corrections Academy Certificate | CRJ 101 - Intro to Criminal Justice and CRJ 118 - Corrections in America |
| Criminal Justice | Delaware Constable Academy Certificate | CRJ 101 - Intro to Criminal Justice |
| Culinary Arts | ServSafe Food Protection Manager | CUL 119 - Food Safety and Sanitation |
| Early Childhood Education (BTS / ECD) | Child Development Associate Credential | ECE 111 - Childhood Nutrition and Safety ECE 120 - Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood ECE 127 - Childhood Classroom Management EDC 125 - Child Development |
| Environmental Engineering Technology | 40-Hour OSHA HAZWOP Certification | ENV 215 - OSHA Hazardous Waste Operation |
| Information Technology and Networking | CompTIA ITF+ | ITN 101 - Introduction to Information Technology |
| Information Technology and Networking | CompTIA Project+ | ITN 103 - Project Dynamics |
| Information Technology and Networking | CompTIA A+ | ITN 110 - IT Support & Troubleshooting |
| Information Technology and Networking | CompTIA Network+ | ITN 150 - IT Networking I |
| Information Technology and Networking | Cisco Cisco Certification Technician (CCT) | ITN 150 - IT Networking I |
| Information Technology and Networking | CCENT1 (retired) | ITN 150 - IT Networking I |
| Information Technology and Networking | Cisco CCNA | ITN 150 - IT Networking I ITN 251 - IT Networking II and ITN 252 - IT Networking III |
| Information Technology and Networking | Python Institute PCAP Exam | ITN 160 - Programming I |
| Information Technology and Networking | Oracle OCA Java SE 8 Programmer - 1Z0-808 | ITN 160 - Programming I |
| Information Technology and Networking | CompTIA Security+ | ITN 170 - Information Security |
| Information Technology and Networking | Oracle OCA Oracle Database 12c SQL 1Z0-071 | ITN 180 - Database Technology I |
| Information Technology and Networking | Exam 98-365: Windows Server Administration Fundamentals | ITN 253 - System Admin for Windows |
| Information Technology and Networking | CompTIA Linux+ | ITN 254 - System Admin for Linux |
| Information Technology and Networking | CompTIA Cloud+ | ITN 255 - Cloud Computing |
| Information Technology and Networking | AWS Cloud Foundation | ITN 255 - Cloud Computing |
| Information Technology and Networking | CompTIA Pentest+ | ITN 273 - Ethical Hacking |
| Information Technology and Networking | CompTIA CySA+ | ITN 274 - System Network Defense |
| Information Technology and Networking | Oracle Academy (µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø Workforce Development offering) | ITN 180 - Database Technology I |
| Information Technology and Networking | JAVA Academy (µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø Workforce Development offering) | ITN 160 - Programming I ITN 261 - Programming II and ITN 262 - Programming III |
| Nursing | Certified Nurse Assistant Certificate | HLH 123 - Concepts of Patient Care |
| Nursing | Certified Clinical Medical Assistant | HLH 123 - Concepts of Patient Care |
| Nursing | Patient Care Technician | HLH 123 - Concepts of Patient Care |
| Nursing | Home Healthcare Assistant | HLH 123 - Concepts of Patient Care |
| Paramedic | NREMT National Registered Paramedic Certification | EMT 101 - Paramedic Care I EMT 102 - Paramedic Care II EMT 103 - Paramedic Care III EMT 110 - Paramedic Care Clinical I EMT 104 - Paramedic Care IV EMT 120 - Paramedic Care Clinical EMT 130 - Paramedic Care Field Clinical |
| Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning | OSHA 10-hour Certification | NRG 108 - Safety Basics |
| Refrigeration Heating & Air Conditioning | Section 608 Technician Certification (for air-conditioning and refrigeration technicians) | ACR 114 - EPA Seminar and Exam |
| Visual Communications | Adobe Photoshop Certification | VSC 160 - Raster Graphics |
You can earn credit by showing what you know through these approved tests:
- CLEP Exams (College Level Examination Program by College Board)
- DSST Exams (previously known as DANTES)
- UExcel Exams (previously known as Excelsior College Exams)
- Other exams may also be accepted
To get credit, send your official test scores by:
- Email: admissions@dtcc.edu
- Mail: Send them to a µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø campus
- In Person: Bring them to a µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø Admissions office
µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø also gives credit for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) scores. You can check which scores are accepted on the Credit for AP and IB Exams page.
To have your AP or IB scores reviewed, send them by:
- Email: admissions@dtcc.edu
- Mail: Send them to a µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø campus
- In Person: Bring them to a µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø Admissions office
CLEP Exam Course Equivalencies
Learn more about .
| CLEP Exam | Minimum Score | µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø Course |
| American Government | 50+ | POL 111 Political Science |
| History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877 | 50+ | HIS 111 U. S. History: Pre-Civil War |
| History of the United States II: 1865 to the Present | 50+ | HIS 112 United States History Post-Civil War |
| Human Growth and Development | 50+ | PSY 127 Human Development |
| Introductory Psychology | 50+ | PSY 121 General Psychology |
| Introductory Sociology | 50+ | SOC 111 Sociology |
| Principles of Macroeconomics | 50+ | ECO 111 Macroeconomics |
| Principles of Microeconomics | 50+ | ECO 122 Microeconomics |
| College Composition | 50+ | ENG 101 Composition I |
| English Literature | 50+ | ENG 101 Composition I |
| Biology | 50+ | BIO 140 General Biology |
| Calculus | 50+ | MAT 261 Business Calculus I or 281 Calculus I |
| Chemistry | 50+ | CHM 110 General Chemistry |
| College Algebra | 50+ | MAT 152 Quantitative Reasoning |
| College Mathematics | 50+ | MAT 152 Quantitative Reasoning |
| Precalculus | 50+ | MAT 193 Reasoning with Functions II |
| Financial Accounting | 50+ | ACC 101 Accounting I |
| Principles of Management | 50+ | MGT 212 Principles of Management |
| Principles of Marketing | 50+ | MKT 212 Principles of Marketing |
| Spanish with Writing (Levels 1 & 2) | 50+ | SPA 136 Spanish Communication I |
| Spanish with Writing (Levels 1 & 2) | 63+ | SPA 136 Spanish Communication I & SPA 137 Spanish Communication II |
| Information Systems & Computer Applications | 50+ | ITN 101 Introduction to Information Technology |
DSST Exam Course Equivalencies
Learn more about .
| DSST Exam | Minimum Score | µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø Course |
| Business Ethics and Society | 400 | BUS 289 Approved Technical Elective |
| Human Resource Management | 400 | MGT 231 Human Resource Management |
| Introduction to Business | 400 | BUS 101 Introduction to Business |
| Management Information Systems | 400 | MIS 220 Management Information Systems |
| Money and Banking | 400 | FIN 221 Money and Banking |
| Organizational Behavior | 400 | BUS 289 Approved Technical Elective |
| Principles of Finance | 400 | BUS 289 Approved Technical Elective |
| Principles of Supervision | 400 | MGT 212 Principles of Management |
| Computing and Information Technology | 400 | BUS 107 Business Applications Technology |
| Fundamentals of College Algebra | 400 | MAT 183 Reasoning with Functions I |
| Principles of Statistics | 400 | MAT 162 Statistical Reasoning |
| Environmental Science | 400 | SOC 103 Sustainability and Society |
| Ethics in America | 400 | PHL 103 Introduction to Ethics |
| Principles of Advanced English Composition | 400 | ENG 101 Composition I |
| Principles of Public Speaking | 400 | ENG 124 Oral Communications |
| Art of the Western World | 400 | HIS 132 Art History |
| Criminal Justice | 400 | ENG 124 Oral Communications |
| Fundamentals of Counseling | 400 | HMS 121 Introduction to Human Services |
| Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 400 | PSY 127 Human Development |
| Substance Abuse | 400 | DAC 141 Intro Drug & Alcohol Counseling |
| Ethics in Technology | 400 | PHL103 Introduction to Ethics |
| Fundamentals of Cybersecurity | 400 | ITN 170 Information Security |
| Technical Writing | 400 | ENG 122 Technical Writing and Communication |
You can earn credit by creating a portfolio that shows your knowledge, and µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø teachers will review it. To get started, talk to your program advisor or department chair.
There is a fee for each course you try to earn credit for in this way. The fee is the same as the cost of one credit hour of tuition.
You may be able to skip a course by passing an exam at µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø. You can only do this if you haven’t already taken that course at µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø. Talk to your advisor or the Department Chair to learn more and get started.
There is a fee for each course you try to earn credit for in this way. The fee is the same as the cost of one credit hour of tuition.
If you’ve taken training or classes during your military service, you might be able to get college credit for them. To find out, send your Joint Services Transcript (JST) or Air Force transcript for review.
You can send your official transcript by:
- Email: admissions@dtcc.edu
- Mail: Send them to a µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø campus
- In Person: Bring them to a µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø Admissions office
µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø is part of the Delaware Pathways initiative, which helps high school students get ready for college and careers. By joining CTE programs in middle or high school, you can start learning useful skills and earn credits that count toward a college degree.
High school students at partner schools can take college classes through dual enrollment. These classes give you college credit and also count toward your high school diploma.
µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø gives college credit for continuing education courses taken through Workforce Development and Community Education. You can check out the full list of offerings below.
| Program of Study | Course Title | Course Credit Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Professional | Administrative Professional Certificate Program/EYC600 | BUS 107 - Business Technology Applications |
| Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology Level I/PYY512 | AUT 180 - Automotive Level 1 Certificate-Advanced Credit |
| Automotive Technology | Automotive Technology Level II/PYY513 | AUT 280 - Automotive Level 2 Certificate-Advanced Credit |
| Constable Academy | Constable Academy/EYD661 | CRJ 101 - Introduction to Criminal and Social Justice; CRJ 102 - Criminal Law; CRJ 115 - Communications and Cultural Awareness in Criminal Justice |
| JAVA Programming | JAVA Programming/WYF702 | ITN 160 - Programming I; ITN 261 - Programming II |
| Mechanical Technology Pathway: HVAC Technician | Mechanical Technology Pathway: HVAC Technician/CYY 500 | ELC 125 - Electrical Circuits; ELM 108 - Safety Basics; ELM 130 - Industrial Electricity; ACR 104 - Residential Climate Control |
| Oracle Academy | Oracle Academy/WYF001 | ITN 180 - Database Technology |
| Patient Care Technician Pathways | Patient Care Technician Pathways (C.N.A/CYK602; Phlebotomy/CYK503; Patient Care Technician/CYK504) | MEA 150 - Medical Lab Procedures |
| Sales Academy | Sales Academy/EYC245 | MKT 219 - Sales & Sales Management |
Frequently Asked Questions
Some CPL options, like portfolio reviews or special exams, may have a fee. Most other CPL options are free.
Not always. Each college has its own transfer credit policies, so CPL credits might not transfer.
You can earn a certain amount of CPL credits based on your degree or certificate program.
No. CPL credits don’t change your grade point average.
It usually takes 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the type of CPL and what documents are needed.
Yes. You must be accepted into a degree-seeking program at µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø.
µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø teachers or staff who know the subject will review your request.
Yes. CPL credits count toward your degree or certificate just like regular class credits.
No. µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø doesn’t accept credits from these platforms right now.
Talk to your program advisor or department chair. They can explain your options and help you get started.
Disclaimer: µÚÒ»³Ô¹ÏÍø gives credit for learning and skills you gained outside of regular college classes. Your work will be reviewed by teachers and must follow college rules. Sending in your materials does not guarantee you’ll get credit. CPL credits are not guaranteed and may not transfer to other schools.