A CPL Guide for Veterans at ANU
Military service can provide years of training, technical knowledge, leadership experience, and specialized skills. When veterans and service members transition to college, an important question is whether some of that learning can count toward a degree. In many cases, it may. Through a process known as credit for prior learning (CPL), colleges and universities can evaluate learning that took place outside a traditional college classroom including learning acquired through military training and experience.
The topic has received renewed attention following a September 2026 report from the American Council on Education (ACE) examining how colleges can better use CPL to support military learners. The report highlights an important idea for veterans considering college: your education may not necessarily have to start from the beginning.
What Is Credit for Prior Learning?
Credit for prior learning is a process colleges use to evaluate knowledge and skills gained outside traditional college coursework to determine whether that learning is equivalent to college-level learning. For veterans and active-duty service members, that can include military courses, occupational training, and other experiences completed during military service. ACE has evaluated military training and occupations for decades and provides college credit recommendations through its Military Guide.
Military experience does not automatically translate into college credit. Ultimately, the college or university determines whether prior learning meets its academic requirements and how any approved credit applies to a student’s particular degree program. That distinction is important. The goal of CPL isn’t simply to award credit for having served. It is to recognize college-level learning that has already occurred.
How Can Military Training Become College Credit?
One of the primary tools used to document military learning is the Joint Services Transcript (JST). The JST provides an official record of military courses, occupations, and other learning experiences and incorporates ACE credit recommendations for evaluated military training. ACE’s Military Guide helps colleges understand those recommendations and determine how military learning may correspond with their own courses and degree requirements.
For example, a service member may have completed extensive training in areas such as information technology, management, leadership, electronics, health care, or other technical fields. If that training demonstrates learning comparable to the requirements of a college course, an institution may determine that applicable academic credit can be awarded. The exact amount and type of credit will vary based on the individual’s military experience, the institution’s policies, and the degree program the student chooses.
Credit for Prior Learning at American National University
American National University recognizes that learning doesn’t happen only in a college classroom. The University considers several forms of prior learning when evaluating undergraduate students for potential credit, including military training and experience in accordance with ACE guidelines. Other forms of prior learning may also be evaluated through methods such as CLEP examinations, test-out examinations, documented work experience, and prior learning assessment portfolios.
For military students, American National University reviews previous education and training to determine whether appropriate credit can be applied toward the student’s chosen program. Credit isn’t automatically awarded simply because training or experience appears on a military record. The learning must be evaluated to determine whether it meets applicable academic and program requirements. That’s why completing the prior credit evaluation process early is important. Veterans and service members should provide their official transcripts and military training records so their previous learning can be reviewed before they progress too far into their program.
Why Does CPL Matter for Veterans?
Receiving college credit for military learning can potentially eliminate the need to repeat material a veteran has already mastered. If applicable military learning satisfies requirements within a degree program, a student may have fewer courses left to complete. Depending on the individual evaluation, that could affect the time and tuition required to earn the degree while allowing the student to move more quickly into new subject areas.
CPL can also acknowledge something veterans already know: military service involves significant education and training. Technical instruction, leadership development, occupational specialties, and other military experiences can produce learning that may be relevant in a college setting. ACE’s September 2026 report emphasizes the role colleges can play in making that transition easier by creating clear processes for evaluating and applying military learning.
What Should Veterans Do Before Enrolling?
If you’re considering college after military service, don’t assume you need to begin with a blank academic record. Gather documentation of your previous education and training and ask for it to be evaluated. At American National University, that means working with your Academic Advisor and completing the required prior credit evaluation process. Be prepared to provide official transcripts and documentation of military training and experience. Depending on your background, it may also be worthwhile to discuss other forms of prior learning, including professional certifications, examinations, and relevant work experience.
Most importantly, ask how approved credit will apply specifically to your degree program. Receiving credit is helpful, but understanding whether that credit fulfills a particular course or degree requirement gives you a clearer picture of the education you still need to complete.
Don’t Start Over Until You Know What You’ve Already Earned
Transitioning from military service to college can represent the beginning of a new chapter, but it doesn’t mean leaving everything you’ve already learned behind. Your military training and experience may represent college-level learning that can be evaluated toward your degree at American National University. Before registering for courses, take the time to have that experience reviewed.
You’ve already invested time in developing valuable skills and knowledge. Finding out whether that learning can count toward your college degree is a smart first step toward determining what comes next.
