Credit for Prior Learning

Policy Statement

Approved by the President: July 1, 2026

At SUNY Morrisville, it has been a tradition to focus on applied learning opportunities for all academic areas. We recognize and encourage Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) opportunities as a way to recognize college-level knowledge and skills that are acquired outside a formal higher education. Demonstrated learning objectives may be derived from various life and work experiences, job training, licenses and/or certifications that match the depth and rigor of our student learning outcomes. Faculty expert evaluations will determine any transfer credit or waiver eligibility as indicated by our academic standards.

The standards for CPL transfer credits are listed below but are not limited to:

Credit will only be granted for courses meeting current degree requirements for the program in which the student is matriculating.
Some degree programs may have more stringent requirements and students should consult with the CPL Faculty Expert prior to submitting an application. The College reserves the right to disallow credit by credential review in any program where to accept such credit may not be in the best interest of the student’s ability to complete a specific degree due to the sequential nature of specific course material embedded in these programs and if the student changes their major.
CPL will be awarded as transfer credit and is not calculated into the GPA.
Credit earned through prior learning assessment does not count toward residency hour requirements.
SUNY Morrisville cannot guarantee that credit offered for prior learning will be acceptable to other colleges or universities, if you should transfer elsewhere. We also cannot guarantee that CPL from another college will be transferrable to our institution.

Student Eligibility:

Students must be matriculated before credit can be formally awarded to the transcript. However, SUNY Morrisville will conduct an initial review of transcripts and discuss options for prior learning assessment as part of the Admissions or Transfer process. All accepted students are eligible to participate in assessment of their prior learning activities.
Students must be in good academic standing.
Students may not apply for CPL if a grade has already been received for the proposed course.
Prior learning must match existing courses at 75% of learning outcomes, using the course description and course outcomes for guidance.
The Portfolio must document the academic equivalence of college-level learning and the outcomes of SUNY Morrisville course(s). *Developmental, remedial, or self-help courses are not comparable to college-level courses.
Students will be charged a non-refundable fee of $176, per course request, and if there is a policy lapse or error in the application. The evaluation fee is based on the services performed, not by the amount of credit awarded. This fee could include, but is not limited to, the supervision of the evaluation activities, assessment preparation or purchase, administration of the assessments, including correction, evaluation, recording, notification of participants, offset contributions, and other costs incurred in providing support services. Payment does not guarantee credit will be awarded.
Appeal Process: If your initial CPL application is denied the awarding of transfer credits or a waiver, students may request a one-time appeal for a secondary review at no additional cost. The secondary review can include additional documentation or evidence.

Challenge Exams

Challenge Exams are administered by designated Faculty Experts. Successful proficiency requirements are a grade of 75% or above. Credit earned is recorded on your permanent transcript as “CPL Challenge Exam.”

Credit by Portfolio Assessment

Credit by Portfolio Assessment is administered by designated Faculty Experts. Credit earned is recorded on your permanent transcript as “CPL Portfolio Assessment.”

Portfolio assessments should include documentation that highlight the nature and outcomes of professional experience that are similar to the applicable course content. Recommended documentation could include the following:

Table of Contents
Letter of support from a direct supervisor
Job description from Human Resources
Certificates of Completion
Artifacts created during the experience (e.g., presentations, reports, case studies, etc.)
Personal statement
Resume