Credit for Prior Learning

TMCC Students

Have you learned skills and knowledge through work experience, certifications, or training programs outside of a traditional classroom setting? TMCC students can earn course credit for what they already know via Credit for Prior Learning.

Through this academic process, expert faculty review students' prior learning and evaluate whether it shows mastery of TMCC course learning outcomes.

See Also: Catalog: Credit for Prior Learning Policy

TMCC Awards Credit for Prior Learning in 3 Ways

  1. Transfer Credit and Training
    • From accredited colleges and universities: Students who have earned credits at other accredited colleges and universities, including those outside of the United States, may transfer some or all of their credits to TMCC. Domestic transcripts are evaluated by Admissions and Records, while foreign transcripts are referred to a third-party service for evaluation.
    • From military service: Students can have their military transcripts sent directly to TMCC for review by Admissions and Records.
    • From POST Training (Peace Officer Standards and Training): Students in the Criminal Justice Program may satisfy a portion of their learning through prior POST training.
    • From workforce certifications and training: Students who have earned certificates in areas like computer coding and programming, or who have completed equivalent training courses, such as in Paramedic or a union trade program, can have their training assessed by the appropriate program faculty. Contact TMCC's Academic Advising team to learn more.
  2. Credit by Examination
    Students who have gained skills and knowledge without formal instruction and who wish to earn college credit may challenge some courses through an exam set by the department or program. Some learning may be examined via demonstration (i.e., Welding) or performance (i.e., Music).
  3. Credit by Portfolio
    Credit by Portfolio enables students to demonstrate their learning through building and submitting a portfolio that provides evidence of their skills and knowledge gained outside of formal coursework. Portfolios are evaluated by qualified, expert faculty who assess students’ experiential learning and, if they determine that it shows mastery of college course learning outcomes, they will recommend that students be awarded course credit. Recommendations must be approved by the division Dean and the VPAA.

Credit by Portfolio

Availability of Credit by Portfolio

Seeking Credit by Portfolio may be an option for students with skills or experience earned through non-credit coursework, career experience, or job training in occupations such as business, computing, project management, hospitality, art and design, early childhood education, and so on. However, Credit by Portfolio is not available in all subject areas. For example, students in Nursing and Allied Health fields must complete their training under the supervision of expert faculty, so these types of programs cannot offer Credit by Portfolio. Contact TMCC's Academic Advising team to learn more.

Student Eligibility for Credit by Portfolio

To be eligible, one must be an admitted TMCC student in good standing, and Credit by Portfolio must be available in the desired subject area (see Availability, above). Veterans will also consult with TMCC's Veteran Services Office to verify eligibility.

Credit by Portfolio Process

  • Student completes the online Credit by Portfolio Inquiry Form.
  • Student contacts Academic Advising for an Advisor to verify student eligibility and discuss program goals.
  • Veteran students meet with the Veteran Services Office to verify eligibility.
  • Advisor refers the student to the relevant Department Chair or Program Director.
  • Chair or Director assigns the student to a faculty member to evaluate portfolio.
  • Student is enrolled in the Credit by Portfolio course and pays registration fee.
  • Student produces their portfolio and consults with assigned faculty member as needed.
  • Student submits their portfolio by the assigned deadline.
  • Faculty member evaluates student’s portfolio and provides their recommendation.
  • Recommendation is routed to the division Dean and the VPAA for approval.
  • If approved, a matched course is added to the student’s transcript.

Student Portfolios Will Include

  • A resumé: a current resumé that highlights relevant work experience and skills.
  • Training records: other records or documentation of training or study completed.
  • A written summary: a summary of relevant career experience or training that explains how learning satisfies specific TMCC course learning outcomes.
  • Supporting materials: additional materials that support claims of prior learning, such as letters of reference, work samples, exhibits, articles, samples, awards, and so on.

Further instructions will be provided. Required portfolio contents may vary by subject area, additional items may be required. In some cases, the faculty evaluator may need to interview the student to learn more, and/or see a demonstration of their earned skills.

Cost

The cost for Credit by Portfolio is based on the college’s current registration fee. Eligible students will be enrolled in a Credit by Portfolio course, in which they will build and submit their portfolio. Students seeking credit for up to three courses will enroll in a 1-credit Credit by Portfolio course and pay the current registration fee for a 1-credit course. The division Dean will require students who are seeking credit for more than three courses to register for additional credits of the Credit by Portfolio course. This requirement will be based on the estimated time necessary to produce and evaluate the portfolio, in consultation with the faculty reviewer.

How To Get Started

If you have questions, contact TMCC's Academic Advising team, or complete our Credit by Portfolio Inquiry Form. An Advisor will contact you with further information about your eligibility and whether this option is available in your area of interest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Those seeking Credit by Portfolio must be admitted TMCC students in good academic and financial standing with the college. Students who are Veterans must also verify their eligibility with the TMCC Veteran Services Office, so that there are no program or VA benefits conflicts.

Student eligibility is verified by TMCC Academic Advising.

Available courses include those with learning outcomes that may be mastered through career experience, job training, or other experiential learning. Students may contact TMCC Academic Advising to discuss their interests. Some courses, such as those in medical and related programs, are not available via Credit by Portfolio. Other courses, such as languages, computer programming, and mathematics, are better suited to Credit by Examination. An Advisor can guide you.

The portfolio course is a 1-credit, independent study course lasting 5 weeks. Eligible students who seek Credit by Portfolio for up to three courses are enrolled in this 1-credit course, for which they pay registration fees at the current rate for a single credit. This course is available during the Fall and Spring semesters, with a new section starting every five weeks. During the course, students will build their portfolio. Student enrollment in the Credit by Portfolio course enables access to campus support services.

Student portfolios must show evidence of mastery of course learning outcomes sufficient to earn a grade of C or better.

The decision to award course credit, and for which course or courses, begins with the recommendation of the faculty member who evaluates the student's portfolio. This recommendation then requires review and approval by the division Dean and the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

  • If the faculty evaluator recommends that matching course credit be awarded, the student will earn a Satisfactory (S) grade in the portfolio course.
  • If the faculty evaluator does not recommend that credit be awarded, the student will receive a grade of Withdrawn (W) for the portfolio course and cannot receive a refund.
  • If the student does not submit their portfolio by the assigned deadline, they will not receive credit, they will earn an Unsatisfactory (U) grade in the portfolio course, and they cannot receive a refund.

All students must satisfy the residency requirement in their chosen program; this means that a minimum of 25% of the program credits must be completed while enrolled at TMCC.