Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) have long helped institutions recognize learning that happens outside the classroom. But in a labor market increasingly defined by skills—and with learners demanding faster, clearer pathways to credentials and careers—traditional CPL approaches often fall short in scale, consistency, and impact.
Credit for Competency offers a stronger, more sustainable path forward; scalable, collaborative CPL models can build the foundation for this path.
In this webinar, the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) brings together national and regional leaders to explore collaborative, innovative approaches to scaling CPL that are paving the way for the integration of competency-based education (CBE) and the operationalization of Credit for Competency. Panelists will share how strengthened CPL frameworks provide the structure, rigor, and transparency needed to translate learning gained through work, military service, employer training, community experience, and prior education into high-quality academic credit that is both trusted and scalable.
Through real-world examples, the panel will highlight multiple institutional and system-level approaches to CPL—demonstrating that while there is no single “right” model, there are proven paths forward. Speakers will discuss how cross-institutional collaboration, centralized validation, and employer-aligned competency frameworks have improved efficiency, expanded access, and accelerated progress for adult learners, while aligning academic credit with workforce needs and skills-based hiring.
This session is designed for leaders ready to move beyond CPL as a compliance exercise and toward scalable, trusted models where all learning counts - and counts toward credentials, careers, and economic mobility.