Rather than starting from scratch, you can turn that experience into college credit, accelerating your path to graduation. This is an especially powerful advantage for those pursuing a criminal justice degree. 

At SEMO, we recognize the value of your field experience. Through our Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) assessment, we help students with relevant backgrounds, including military service or law enforcement, convert their real-world expertise into college credit and move closer to earning their degree. 

What Is a Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Assessment? 

A CPL assessment is SEMO’s method of awarding college credit for prior learning, including your professional work experience. If you’ve undergone police academy training, military service, or have obtained certifications relevant to criminal justice, you could qualify for academic credit. This allows you to spend less time in the classroom on familiar topics and focus more on advancing your career. 

Example Paths: 

• Law Enforcement Officers: Prior academy training or field experience may translate into credit for courses in policing or criminal procedure, contributing to your overall criminal justice degree.
• Military Police or Veterans: Your military experience may qualify for academic credit in relevant criminal justice, leadership, or public service courses, further supporting your criminal justice degree. 
• Security and Corrections Professionals: Experience in correctional facilities or private security may be credited toward elective or core criminal justice courses, benefiting your criminal justice degree. 

How to Get Started with CPL 

Starting is simple. Fill out the interest form and a representative will assist you through the process. You’ll collaborate with an advisor to: 

• Identify your prior learning experiences relevant to the criminal justice field. 
• Match them with corresponding course equivalencies for your criminal justice degree. 
• Submit supporting documentation, such as credentials, licenses, training transcripts, or a portfolio. 

At SEMO, we partner with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), a recognized authority in credit evaluation. Research by CAEL indicates that students who earn CPL are more likely to complete their criminal justice degrees than those who do not. 

 Explore a Criminal Justice Degree at SEMO 

Ready to Earn College Credit for Your Experience? 

Your impactful work experience can translate into academic progress towards your criminal justice degree. If you have any questions, reach out to cpl@semo.edu. 

As Chelsea McNeely, Director of Southeast Online, states, “Empowering our students by recognizing their real-world expertise is important, especially for those balancing work with professional commitments.” 

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