Transfer credit & credit for prior learning
Learn the value of your knowledge and experience.
Transfer credit
Many Capella students save substantial time and money by transferring previous academic course work into their Capella degree program. Credits from regionally accredited or internationally recognized institutions may transfer into Capella's degree programs.
Military transcripts
Your military training and experience may apply toward your Capella degree. Contact us to learn more about submitting military transcripts.
Credit for prior learning
Through our Prior Learning Assessment, you can demonstrate college-level knowledge and skills that you bring to your Business or Information Technology program at the BS, MS, or MBA level.* After faculty review, hundreds of learners are able to apply these credits to reduce both the cost and time to complete their degree. The Prior Learning Assessment fee is substantially less than tuition for the equivalent courses.
Certifications
Our curriculum aligns with leading certifications—CCNP®, MCSE, CISSP®, PMP, PHR-SPHR, and more. Some certifications qualify for immediate transfer credit. Other certifications may position you to use Capella’s Prior Learning Assessment to demonstrate skills and knowledge that match the competencies of specific courses in your degree program.* Your enrollment counselor can provide details.
Example: SkillSoft training and related HR experience brought Suzanne 18 credits closer to her bachelor’s degree in Business. See Suzanne’s BS example
Example: Extensive knowledge gained on the job, plus SPHR certification and ACE credit earned while in the military, put Louis 8 courses away from his BS. See Louis’s BS example
Credit through Capella education alliances
Currently, Capella's alliances with AICPCU, IIA, LOMA and Campus MBA (Mortgage Bankers Association) streamline the process for requesting transfer credit for your certification course work with these organizations.
Work experience and training
Using the Prior Learning Assessment, you may be able to earn credit by documenting the relevant, college-level knowledge you have gained through formal and informal work training, continuing education programs, self-instruction, and other sources.*
Example: By demonstrating what he learned through independent study and work accomplishments, Victor finished his MBA 6 months early. See Victor’s MBA example
Example: By gaining transfer credit for CPCU courses and demonstrating course-related competencies through her consulting work, Delia completed her MS in just 1 year. See Delia’s MS example
National testing exams
Approved national testing programs such as the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), Defense Activity for Non-traditional Education Support (DANTES), Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) may allow you to earn credit by examination for knowledge you have gained through independent study, or professional development. A maximum of 45 examination credits may be applied toward a Capella bachelor's degree.
Example: Anthony jump-started his bachelor’s program in IT with more than a year’s worth of credit from CLEP exams, CCNP certification, and SkillSoft training. See Anthony’s IT example
Find important details about Credit for Prior Learning or ask a question.
*Residents of Washington may receive credit for prior learning only in the bachelor's and MBA programs.
**Examples are realistic composites of actual Capella student experiences.
18 credits closer to her degree
SkillSoft courses combined with relevant work accomplishments saved Suzanne 3 academic quarters and $4,000.
In 12 years, Suzanne’s HR expertise has grown in many areas of HR. She has become a recruiter, primarily for upper-level management positions in her company. In the past few years she has taken several SkillSoft courses on negotiation skills, behavioral interviewing, recruiting and retention, business law, and team building.
She was able to combine these training courses with her work experience to earn credit for 3 core courses in her BS program. These 18 credits, earned through a Prior Learning Assessment, shortened her degree program by 3 quarters and saved her nearly $4,000 in tuition and book costs. In addition to the time and money saved, Suzanne appreciated the recognition of the substantial knowledge and skills she brought to her education.
Composite story based on real Capella student experiences.
College credit, SPHR, and by ACE credit
Since leaving the armed forces 14 years ago, Louis has steadily advanced in human resources—starting in compensation and benefits and moving into retention, training, and development 5 years ago. Now he is the HR development manager for his company.
Louis wants to accelerate his career by finishing his bachelor’s degree and moving on to his MBA. By demonstrating his extensive learning on the job, combined with the SPHR certification he has maintained for 6 years, he earned Credit for Prior Learning to cover 3 bachelor’s courses.
With these 18 credits, plus his college transfer credit and the ACE credit he earned while in the military, Louis needs only 8 courses at Capella to finish his BS. In a year, he will apply to the MBA program.
*Composite story based on real Capella student experiences.
Work experience plus self-study saves 6 months
By documenting the knowledge and skills he gained before attending Capella, Victor trimmed his MBA timeline by 25%, finishing 6 months earlier than planned.
Victor is a senior project manager for a large retail company. His bachelor’s degree was in history, not management, so he took the initiative to study management theories and concepts, and then applied what he learned to his professional work. Already an accomplished IT project leader in his company, he knew that an MBA credential was critical to his career.
Victor believed he could demonstrate relevant knowledge equivalent to 2 required courses in Capella’s MBA program—one in operations and process management and the other in managing information assets. After he started his Capella program, he completed a Prior Learning Assessment and was awarded credit for those 2 courses, plus 2 more elective courses on leading teams and negotiation.
*Composite story based on real Capella student experiences.
1 CPCU transfer course and 3 work-experience courses
By earning credit for CPCU course work and documenting her prior work experience and independent study, Delia moved 4 courses ahead in her program and finished her MS in 1 year.
Working in the insurance field for 17 years, Delia has pursued learning wherever she could. She took advantage of her employer’s tuition benefits to earn her CPCU designation. She also did substantial volunteer consulting work at a small business development center, and read extensively in the field of leadership development.
Through Capella’s CPCU transfer agreement, Delia received credit for one of the core courses in her Organization and Management program. Another 3 courses in her Leadership specialization were covered by a Prior Learning Assessment, in which she documented the skills and knowledge gained through her volunteer consulting and independent reading.
*Composite story based on real Capella student experiences.
Little formal education, but plenty of workplace learning
Anthony accomplished an entire year of bachelor’s course work—the equivalent of 7 courses—by translating his prior learning accomplishments into college credit.
A network administrator with more real-world knowledge than formal academic background, Anthony had little college credit to transfer into his Capella bachelor’s program.
However, with Capella’s help, Anthony identified CLEP examinations that he successfully completed to satisfy 2 general education courses in his program.
In addition, using the Credit for Prior Learning Assessment, he turned his extensive experience in managing network and security-related projects, his CCNP certification, and his SkillSoft Network and Security Certification into credit for 3 required courses and 2 elective courses in his bachelor’s program.
Anthony is already thinking about how the Prior Learning Assessment could translate more of his advanced workplace training into a master’s program at Capella.
*Composite story based on real Capella student experiences.
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