Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)

FacebookTwitterInstagramSnapchat icon

Students enter BMCC from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, some of which may involve the equivalent of college-level learning.  BMCC offers students the opportunity to have their knowledge and skills recognized and validated.

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL), also known as Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), is an academic process that offers students the opportunity to earn credits for college-level learning acquired outside the traditional classroom.  CPL can be awarded for a variety of college equivalent learning experiences.  Students who are interested in earning CPL need to provide documentation of their prior learning, which is then evaluated to determine its equivalency to BMCC course requirements.* Student who have questions regarding CPL should email cpl@bmcc.cuny.edu.

*It is important to note that the awarding of CPL is dependent on the degree program and BMCC residency requirements.  Not all experiences are equivalent to college level learning. 

Standardized Examinations

Students who wish to receive credit for exams including Advanced Placement (AP), CLEP, and International Baccalaureate (IB), among others, should submit their scores to the Admissions Office by emailing an official transcript to transcripts@bmcc.cuny.edu. When students meet with their advisor to plan their coursework, they may place out of certain required courses, in their program, saving time and money.

Students must score a minimum of three (3) to receive course credit.

AP TestScore of 3Score of 4Score of 5
AP Art HistoryART 1ART 102 or ART 104ART 102 or ART 104
AP BiologyBIO 210BIO 210BIO 210
AP Calculus ABMAT 301MAT 301MAT 301
AP Calculus BCMAT 302MAT 302MAT 302
AP ChemistryCHE 201CHE 201CHE 201
AP Chinese Language & CultureCHI 200CHI 210CHI 1
AP Comparative Government & PoliciesPOL 1POL 110POL 110
AP Computer Science ACSC 110CSC 110CSC 110
AP English Language & CompositionENG 101ENG 121ENG 121
AP Environmental ScienceSCI 1SCI 1SCI 1
AP European HistoryGEN 1GEN 1GEN 1
AP French Language & CultureFRN 200FRN 210FRN 1
AP German Language & CultureLAN 4LAN 4LAN 4
AP Human GeographyGEO 2GEO 100GEO 100
AP Italian Language & CultureITL 200ITL 210ITL 1
AP Japanese Language & CultureLAN 4LAN 4LAN 4
AP MacroeconomicsECO 100ECO 201ECO 201
AP MicroeconomicsECO 100ECO 202ECO 202
AP Music TheoryMUS 105MUS 117MUS 117
AP Physics 1: Algebra-basedPHY 210PHY 210PHY 210
AP Physics 2: Algebra-basedPHY 220PHY 220PHY 220
AP Physics C: Electricity & MagnetismPHY 225PHY 225PHY 225
AP Physics C: MechanicsPHY 215PHY 215PHY 215
AP PsychologyGEN 1PSY 100PSY 100
AP Spanish Literature & CultureSPN 200SPN 210SPN 1
AP StatisticsMAT 209MAT 209MAT 209
AP U.S. Government & PoliticsPOL 100POL 100POL 100
AP U.S. HistoryHIS 120HIS 120HIS 120
AP World HistoryHIS 115HIS 115HIS 115

Credits will be awarded for grades of E or better (US equivalent of C or better).

BMCC CourseCredit Granted
AS Level - English General PapeENG 1013
AS Level - Engl Language & LitENG 1013
A Level - EnglishENG 201
ENG 333
3
AS Level - EnglishENG 3333
A Level - Further MathematicsMAT 206
MAT 301
MAT 302
12
AS Level - Further MathematicsMAT 206
MAT 301
8
A Level - HistoryHIS 1013
AS Level - HistoryHIS 1013
A Level - Thinking SkillsCRT 1003
AS Level - Thinking SkillsCRT 1003
A Level - LiteratureENG 1213
AS Level - LiteratureENG 2013
A Level - GeographyGEO 1003
A Level - SociologySOC 1003
AS Level - SociologySOC 1003
A Level - EconomicsECO 1003
AS Level - EconomicsECO 1003
A Level - MathematicsMAT 206
MAT 301
8
AS Level - MathematicsMAT 2064

Credits will be awarded for a minimum score of 50.

CLEP ExaminationEquivalent BMCC CourseCredit Granted
Principles of AccountingACC 1224
Principles of ManagementBUS 1043
Introduction to Business LawBUS 1103
Principles of MarketingMAR 1003
Principles of MacroECO 2013
Principles of MicroECO 2023
Western Civilization IHIS 1013
Western Civilization IIHIS 1023
Introduction to PsychologyPSY 1003
Human Growth & DevelopmentPSY 4003
Introduction to SociologySOC 1003
CalculusMAT 3014
College AlgebraMAT 1563
College MathematicsMAT 1103
PrecalculusMAT 2064

Credits will be awarded for a minimum score of 400 on the Criterion Referenced Test or 45 on the Norm Reference Test.

DSST ExaminationEquivalent BMCC CourseCredit Granted
Business MathematicsBUS 13
Ethics in AmericaPHI 1203
Math for Liberal ArtsMAT 1103
Principles of Adv English CompENG 1013
Fundamentals of College AlgebraMAT 1563
Principles of StatisticsMAT 1503
Criminal JusticeCRJ 1013
General AnthropologyANT 1003
Human/Cultural GeographyGEO 1003
Intro to Law EnforcementCRJ 2013
Lifespan Developmental PsychPSY 2403

Credits will be awarded for students who have completed an IB diploma with a score of 30 or higher, or students who received a score of 29 or less with IB exam scores of 5 or better.

IB ExaminationEquivalent BMCC CourseCredit Granted
Economics (Higher Level)ECO 1003
Economics (Standard Level)ECO 1003
Extended Essay (Higher Level)ENG 3143
Extended Essay (Standard Level)ENG 3143
Further Mathematics (Higher Level)MAT 301
MAT 302
MAT 315
11
Global Politics (Higher Level)POL 1103
Global Politics (Standard Level)POL 1103
History (Higher Level)HIS 1153
History (Standard Level)HIS 1153
Lang A: Lang & Lit English (Higher Level)ENG 1216
Lang A: Lang & Lit English (Standard Level)ENG 3333
Lang A: Literature English (Higher Level)ENG 3333
Lang A: Literature English (Standard Level)ENG 3333
Lit and Performance English (Standard Level)ENG 3843
Math (Higher Level)MAT 206
MAT 301
8
Math (Standard Level)MAT 2068
Mathematical Studies (Standard Level)MAT 1504
Philosophy (Higher Level)PHI 1003
Philosophy (Standard Level)PHI 1003
Psychology (Higher Level)PSY 1003
Psychology (Standard Level)PSY 1003
Social & Cultural Anthropology (Higher Level)ANT 1003
Social & Cultural Anthropology (Standard Level) ANT 1003

Industry Credentials and Professional Experience Credit

BMCC offers credit for professional experience and courses along with industry credentials such as computer networking or paramedic certification that may shorten your time to degree completion.

Please visit CUNY Transfer Explorer for the Industry Credentials and professional experience that is currently accepted by BMCC: CUNY Transfer Explorer. These can be found under “Training and Exams”.


Military Service Credit Information

BMCC accepts credit earned through military service and experience.* The Joint Services transcripts (JST) can be requested online to be sent to BMCC: JST Transcript Request.

*Subject to departmental review