Turning Experience into Credit
Turning Experience into Credit: UNC Charlotte Expands Credit for Prior Learning
If you’ve spent years mastering project management in the workplace or completing coding bootcamps in your spare time, UNC Charlotte has a message: you’ve already done the work – now it’s time to get the credit.
UNC Charlotte is expanding its Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) initiative to help students turn professional experience, certifications, and industry credentials into academic credit. The updated framework, led by the School of Professional Studies, aims to reduce both the time and cost required to earn a degree.
For many adult learners, returning to college has meant repeating coursework that covers skills they already use in their careers. CPL helps eliminate that duplication by recognizing learning that happens outside the traditional classroom.
Through CPL, students may be able to earn credit for:
- Professional Certifications – Credentials from providers such as Coursera Career Academy, Sophia Learning, and other recognized programs.
- Industry Licenses – Credentials like SHRM-CP for HR professionals, PMP or CAPM for project managers, and various IT or healthcare licenses.
- Portfolio Assessment – Students with significant professional experience can demonstrate how their expertise aligns with course learning outcomes.
This initiative reflects UNC Charlotte’s commitment to serving working professionals and adult learners across the region. With the addition of a dedicated Credit for Prior Learning Manager in spring 2026, the university will continue expanding opportunities for students to earn credit for the knowledge they already bring.