Students may demonstrate proficiency in a course eligible for Credit for Prior Learning and receive college credit through the approved alternative methods for awarding credit listed below:
A student shall be referred to the college's appropriate authority for assessment of prior learning if the student:
Advance Placement Policy Chart
A student who earns a score of 3 or higher on a College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exam in a subject area that is similar to a subject area required for the Cuesta local General Education (GE) pattern may use the AP exam in lieu of a college course to satisfy the local GE area. In addition, for purposes of attaining 60 degree applicable units needed to earn an Associate’s degree, Cuesta will award the same amount of unit credit for each AP exam as is awarded by the California State University system. (e.g. AP U.S. History is awarded 6 semester credits towards an Associate’s degree).
The acceptance of an AP exam in satisfaction of a major-specific course work is a decision made by the faculty at the college or university that will be awarding the degree. The determination about whether an individual AP exam is accepted in lieu of major specific course work for a particular major varies significantly from campus to campus. On a case-by-case basis, decisions about the applicability of an AP exam towards a major specific course required for a local Cuesta College degree (non-transfer) may be made by Cuesta discipline faculty.
For any AP examination that the District does not offer a course similar in content, the District will award credit in the General Education area shown on the California Community College General Education AP List. If there is no General Education area that fits the AP Examination, the District may award elective credit.
Students requesting Credit for Prior Learning using International Baccalaureate (IB) shall receive credit for completing a satisfactory score on a District approved Higher level (HL) International Baccalaureate (IB) examination under the following circumstances:
Students requesting Credit for Prior Learning using the College Level Examination Program shall receive credit for completing a satisfactory score on a District-approved College Level Examination Program (CLEP) under the following circumstances:
Students interested in Credit for Prior Learning using Joint Service Transcripts shall receive credit as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) Directory and approved by the appropriate discipline faculty of the college under the following circumstances:
Students interested in Credit for Prior Learning using industry-recognized credential(s) shall receive credit as recommended by the appropriate division chair or faculty designee:
Students interested in Credit for Prior Learning using a student-created portfolio shall receive credit as recommended by the appropriate division chair or faculty designee under the following circumstances: