CPL (also known as Prior Learning Assessment or PLA) provides students the opportunity to earn college credit for college-level learning they've gained through personal and/or professional experiences. There are four main pathways to earn CPL at NLU: Credit by Portfolio, Credit by Credential, Credit by Exam, and via ACE credits. 

Admitted students should check with their Academic Advisor or Success Coach to review their experiences, see which aligned CPL options are available, and whether those options will fit into their degree plan. 

You can use our Master CPL List to see all of the options available for specific programs. Use the Filter function under the "Program" column to see only options available for your specific NLU program.

*For those in a Bachelor's program, we recommend selecting all of the options noted as "Various - Bachelor's Degree" as part of your filter too!

To view your unofficial transcript in the NLU Portal using this path: Student Services > Students > Academic Transcript.  

To request an official paper or e-transcripts online, please visit the Registrar’s Office webpage.

Email the CPL Office at cpl@nl.edu with details about if you have a credential or professional experience that isn't listed in one of our options below to determine whether one can be developed.

NLU prides itself on making CPL options as affordable as possible for our students. Check out our fees page for more info! 

Here is the list of NLU's current Credit by Credential offerings.  If you have an active (i.e. not expired) credential on this list, be sure to confirm with your Advisor or Coach to ensure that you would not be duplicating credit by submitting a credential. Be sure to also confirm with Student Finance for any financial aid implications by doing Credit by Credentials. 

Fill out this application and upload the required documentation.  Once that form is submitted, the NLU CPL Office will review and inform you whether the application is approved or denied. 

If approved, all successful Credit by Credential applications will be processed within 30 days. Credit will appear on your degree evaluation plan with a notation of "CPL" either under Electives or next to the specific course requirement. On your transcript, it will appear under "Transfer Credit Accepted". The grade will appear as "CR". 

It is possible that you have an active credential and required documentation, but if you have already met the requirements of that degree requirement elsewhere, it's possible the credit may not count. Be sure to contact with your Advisor or Coach prior to submitting your credential. 

Undergraduate students may complete an experiential learning portfolio (including an essay) by taking our ACL 301 course for elective credit and/or a traditional portfolio to count toward a program course aligned to their major, as applicable* (CPL 400).

Graduate and doctoral students may complete a traditional portfolio for a major course aligned to their program, as applicable* (CPL 500).

Please note: Here is the full list of CPL 400/500 portfolio options and ACL 301 portfolio topics. Not all NLU programs offer or accept portfolios. Some programs have additional CPL restrictions. Check with your Advisor or Coach as well as Student Finance to determine eligibility, financial aid implications, and degree requirements. 

I'd like to complete a Credit by Portfolio - how do I do so? 

Be sure to check with your Advisor or Coach prior to completing this form to ensure that the Portfolio selected fits within your degree plan. Once approved, then submit this form to the CPL Office. 

How do I enroll in ACL 301? 

After confirming with your Advisor or Coach that ACL 301 is the right fit for your experience and degree plan, you will be enrolled in an upcoming ACL 301 course section. This is a six-week, online, asynchronous course that includes modules and assignments to help you develop the final essay(s) for your portfolio(s).  Be sure to read through the specifics of this course here. 

I successfully completed ACL 301 and earned additional credit for my experiential learning portfolio(s). Can I take the class again/submit additional portfolios as part of ACL 301?

Effective September 11, 2023, we will no longer be accepting additional portfolio submissions for credit for students who have previously taken ACL 301.  Instead, you are welcome to take the course again and have the opportunity to submit up to two more portfolios for tuition amounting to 2QH, if needed.  

Please allow up to 10 calendar days from the last day of class for faculty to finish evaluating your portfolio (either ACL 301 or CPL 400/500).

For ACL 301, students that Pass the course will see the 2 QHs from their course within 10 days of the course ending.

For the additional credit earned in each ACL 301 experiential learning portfolio, students who earn a Proficient or higher will receive a Smartsheet notification when the final assessment has been completed (within 10 days of the last day of class). Students will then receive a separate notification when the Registrar team updates the transcript (within 30 days of the last day of class). 

For traditional Credit by Portfolio options, students who successfully complete their portfolio* within the allotted timeframe (typically 10 weeks) will receive a Smartsheet notification when the final assessment has been completed (within 10 days of the submission deadline). Students will then receive a separate notification when the Registrar team has updated the transcript with any credit awarded (within 30 calendar days of the final assessment). 

*Successful: evaluation of portfolio that has met the criteria for credit to be awarded.

On your degree evaluation plan, CPL credit earned will appear next to the specific degree required course with a notation of "CPL" or "Credit by Portfolio". On your transcript, it will appear under the "Transfer Credit" section. The "grade" will show as "CR". 

NLU awards credit by examination for eligible students who have achieved acceptable scores on approved standardized exams, which include but are not limited to the following: 

• CLEP (College Level Examination Program)
• DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs)
• NYU Language Proficiency Exams

See here for the full list of exams NLU can accept. 

Yes!

• CLEP Exams: DANTES provides funding for CLEP exams, making them free for eligible military personnel, civilians, and spouses. For more details on funding and eligibility criteria, visit the DANTES Funding page.
• DSST Exams: Since 2006, DANTES has also authorized upfront funding for DSST exams for eligible military members at authorized National Test Centers.  For details, visit the DSST funding webpage.

Each testing organization has their own processing times to send official transcripts to NLU. Generally speaking, you can expect up to 30 days for NLU to receive the transcripts and process credit for successfully passed exams*.

*Exams with open-ended prompts (e.g. CLEP Spanish with Writing) may take up to 6 weeks for the testing organization to grade and then release your transcript to NLU.

NLU's Registrar team will email you once they have received the final scores and added the credits earned to your transcript. 

All successful Credit by Examination earned will appear on your degree evaluation plan with a notation of "CPL" either under Electives or next to the specific course requirement. On your transcript, it will appear under "Transfer Credit Accepted". The grade will appear as "CR". 

CLEP exams are timed, but there is no penalty for wrong or skipped answers. Credit awards for successfully passing the exam vary from 5QH to 14QH.

CLEP tests measure knowledge of academic topics through five subject areas (Composition and Literature, Foreign Languages, History and Social Sciences, Science and Mathematics, Business). Here are the links to CLEP’s Test Exam Topics: https://clep.collegeboard.org/clep-exams

Computer-based CLEP exams can be taken in person on the Lisle, Wheeling or Chicago NLU campuses by appointment only.  CLEP exams may also be taken remotely from home.  To learn more about scheduling an at-home/remote CLEP exam, please go to the following link: CLEP Exams at-Home   

To participate in remote proctoring for a virtual CLEP exam, you must have a computer (PC only no Macs), webcam, speaker, microphone, a white board or one sheet of paper in a transparent sheet protector and a dry erase marker for note taking, and a quiet, secure testing environment. For more information, please go to the CLEP website; http://clep.collegeboard.org

Once you have decided on which exam to take, you may begin the test registration process!

1. Visit College Board's CLEP registration website to select, register, and pay for your exam: http://clep.collegeboard.org/register/exam (you may need create an account or sign in to your existing account first).
2. Select "National Louis University" as your testing site (any campus) to ensure your final scores are sent to our Registrar team. 
3. If you want to take the test at an NLU campus, be sure to select "At a Testing Center". 
4. Review your order and pay the CLEP exam fee to College Board

For more details, please visit CLEP’s Step-by-Step help page for more information.

Financial aid is not currently available to cover examination fees. However, the organization Modern States offers a CLEP voucher to students who complete its free course and then register for a CLEP exam. 

NLU also offers a limited number of vouchers for undergraduate students. Please contact your Coach with questions. 

Please visit the NLU CLEP Testing Sign-Up Page to find a date/time that works for you after you have registered for an exam with CLEP.  As part of the sign-up process, you will need to provide your CLEP Testing Ticket # (which was provided to you after registering through College Board). 

Day of the exam: 

• Arrive at NLU campus you signed up for at least 30 minutes prior to your assigned time. Students arriving late will not be allowed to sit for exams, no exceptions.
• Bring a valid government-issued ID that has both a photo and signature.

Note also the following: 

• Students are charged a $35 non-refundable proctoring fee. Please be aware that federal and state financial aid does not cover the costs associated with CLEP exams. You are responsible for any fees related to these assessments. 
• Instructions and testing time take 2 hours and you may only take one exam per test time offered.
• No digital devices, bags, books, food, or drinks are allowed at your testing desk (the proctor is happy to have you place your bag near their location).  
• Scores are printed immediately following the exam, except for those requiring any written portions (CLEP will return that information within 3 weeks of the test date). 
• CLEP study guides can be found in the following book: The CLEP Official Study Guide. 

DANTES exams measure learning in some Business and academic areas, including Humanities, Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences, Social Sciences and Technical Writing. There is no penalty for incorrect or skipped answers. Credit awards for all DANTES are 5QH. 

DSST exams are taken at other institutions offering proctoring services. Your score reports must be sent to NLU for awarding of transfer credit. For more information,  please contact https://getcollegecredit.com/dsst-exams/