Credit by Portfolio Assessment

Earn credit by developing an electronic learning portfolio and submitting it for evaluation by a trained faculty member.

What is a Learning Portfolio?

Learning portfolios are used to assess a student's level of knowledge when all other methods of CPL have been exhausted. A learning portfolio consists of:

  1. a learning narrative (see example) that documents an individual has met the student learning objectives for a single course,
  2. supporting materials that provide an example of the stated learning, and
  3. an updated resume.

The contents of a learning portfolio have been accrued through the student's non-credit learning experiences such as community service, work experience, military experience, volunteering, independent-study, and extensive travel, for example.

How does it work?

If you wish to pursue credit through portfolio assessment, go to CNM ePortfolio website and sign in using your CNM credentials. Once your profile is set up, you can review all courses eligible for portfolio assessment, review the learning outcomes that must be addressed in your learning portfolio, and submit your request.

  • Note: Some courses may require prior approval from the faculty assessor, which may include development of learning outcomes for a practicum course. This will also be noted with the course learning outcomes document attached to the course listing.

If your request is approved, you will be provided with a link to pay the $25.00 processing fee. Once the fee is paid, the status of your request is updated so you may review helpful materials and begin developing your learning portfolio. The CNM ePortfolio Development Handbook will guide you through the process of creating your ePortfolio.

Your CPL advisor is also available to answer questions and provide with you with feedback to ensure your learning portfolio meets minimum requirements, prior to submitting your final work to a faculty assessor. 

Once the final ePortfolio is submitted, the assigned faculty assessor will evaluate it and determine if credit will be awarded. You are notified of the decision through the CNM ePortfolio Messaging Center and by CNM email. 

Find out more by visiting the CNM ePortfolio website.

Is Portfolio Assessment Right for You?

To help you decide if portfolio assessment is something that you would like to pursue, review the following questions:

  • Have you worked in your field for several years?
  • Are you able to explain and differentiate your learning from your experiences?
  • Have you attended several work-related trainings or professional development workshops? 
  • Have you served in the military and able to identify and discuss additional learning not listed on your Joint Services Transcript (JST)?
  • Do you feel like it would be redundant to take a specific course within your program because of what you have learned from your experiences?
  • Are you comfortable writing papers? (See below for an example portfolio learning narrative.)
  • Do you possess work products, other material evidence, or documentation that supports your level of knowledge for the course?
  • Can you demonstrate that you currently have the knowledge and skills of the course for which you would like to earn credit?

If you answered yes to several of these questions, portfolio assessment may be an appropriate way for you to earn credit for your prior learning experiences. 

Note: If you are still unsure if this is right for you, take the CNM ePortfolio Eligibility Wizard questionnaire to help you decide.

Example ePortfolio Learning Narrative

If you chose to develop a learning portfolio to earn credit for a course, you will be required to write a learning narrative that discusses how you have met the student learning outcomes of the course in which you are creating it. Click on the following link to see an example of a learning narrative.

Portfolio Assessment Fee

The fee for portfolio assessment is $25.00. If your request is approved, you will be provided with the link to pay online at the CPL Store in your approval email. This fee is only for processing your request and the final credit decision. It does not guarantee credit will be awarded and is non-refundable. Financial aid does not cover this fee.

Find Out More

  1. Visit the CNM ePortfolio website.
  2. Click on Get Started to go through the Eligibility Wizard, which will help you determine if portfolio assessment is a good option for you.
  3. Sign in using your CNM credentials to start a profile.
  4. View courses in which portfolio assessment is available, and review the course learning outcomes document attached.
  5. Verify that you are able to show a faculty member your level of knowledge and ability to meet each learning outcome through both a written narrative and documentation obtained through your prior learning experiences.
  6. Submit your request.

Note: Some courses may have additional requirements such as, prior approval, submission of student-developed learning outcomes, or a follow-up interview and/or skills-based demonstration after the portfolio is assessed. If a particular course has an additional requirement, it will be noted on the course learning outcomes document attached to the course listing in CNM ePortfolio. The faculty assessor will contact you to schedule these. 

Portfolio Assessment Deadlines

Requests for portfolio assessment are only allowed up to the second week of each term. However, you are encouraged to submit your request as soon as possible in order to start creating your ePortfolio at the start of the term to maximize the amount of time you have to complete it. Students who complete their ePortfolio before the submission deadline are welcome to submit early.

 Term

 Request Deadline

 Submission Deadline

 Maximum Time to  Complete

 Spring 2024

 January 22, 2024

 April 7, 2024

 12 weeks

 Summer 2024

 May 27, 2024

 July 21, 2024

 10 weeks

* Portfolio assessment is not allowed during your final term to ensure graduation is not delayed.

**Holidays may affect these deadlines.

Request ePortfolio Assessment for a Course Not Listed

Courses that have already been approved for portfolio assessment will be listed in the CNM ePortfolio portal and include an attached list of the course learning outcomes that must be addressed in the final learning portfolio submission. They are also listed below.

If you would like to request credit by portfolio assessment for a course that has not already been approved, please visit the CNM Course Learning Outcomes Catalog and verify you are able to demonstrate your ability to meet them through a portfolio before submitting your request through CNM ePortfolio. Your request will be reviewed and you will receive notification of the decision within 10 business days.

Note: If your request is accepted, you may have to wait until the following term to begin developing your learning portfolio.

Courses Available for Portfolio Assessment

The following is a list of courses for which portfolio assessment is currently available by the academic school that offers the course. Additional requirements are also noted, if any. Click on the academic school to expand the list.

Business, Hospitality & Technology
  • BFIN 1110 - Personal Finance Planning for College Students (3 Cr)
  • BFIN 2110 - Introduction to Finance (3 Cr)
  • BUSA 1115 - Business English (3 Cr)
  • BUSA 1130 – Business Professionalism (3 Cr)
  • BUSA 2460 - Business Ethics (3 Cr)
  • ENTR 1110 - Entrepreneurship (3 Cr)
  • ENTR 2110 - Small Business Management (3 Cr)
  • MGMT 2110 – Principles of Management (3 Cr)
Health, Wellness & Public Safety
  • CHW 1190 - Community Health Worker (1 Cr)
    • You will meet with the faculty assessor to obtain prior approval and to establish the learning outcomes that will need to be addressed in the learning portfolio. This will be scheduled by the faculty assessor.
  • HIT 1020 – Medical Terminology and Anatomy (3 Cr)
  • PL 1110 - Introduction to Paralegal Studies (3 Cr)
    • You will need to meet with the faculty assessor to obtain prior approval. This will be scheduled by the faculty assessor, after you have submitted your request in CNM ePortfolio.
  • PL 1120 - American Law and Ethics (3 Cr)
    • You will need to meet with the faculty assessor to obtain prior approval. This will be scheduled by the faculty assessor, after you have submitted your request in CNM ePortfolio.
  • PL 2120 - Civil Litigation (3 Cr)
    • You will need to meet with the faculty assessor to obtain prior approval. This will be scheduled by the faculty assessor, after you have submitted your request in CNM ePortfolio.
  • PL 2130 - Criminal Litigation ( 3 Cr)
    • You will need to meet with the faculty assessor to obtain prior approval. This will be scheduled by the faculty assessor, after you have submitted your request in CNM ePortfolio.
  • PT 1011 – Introduction to Pharmacy Technician (3 Cr)
  • PT 1316 – Pharmacy Technician Pharmacology I (3 Cr)
  • PT 1710 – Intermediate Pharmacy Technician (3 Cr)
  • PT 1716 – Pharmacy Technician Pharmacology II (3 Cr)
  • PT 2010 – Pharmacy Technician Professionalism (3 Cr)
  • PT 2016 – Pharmacy Technology Pharmacology III (3 Cr)
  • PT 2090 – Pharmacy Technician Clinical (3 Cr)
  • PT 1316, PT 1716, & 2016 - Pharmacy Technology Pharmacology I, II, and III (9 Cr) 
    • ** Only available to graduates of the CNM Pharmacy Technician Certificate Program
Liberal Arts
  • ANTH 1160 - World Archaeology (3 Cr)
  • ANTH 2290 - Anthropology Practicum (1 - 6 Cr)
    • You will need to write and submit 3 - 5 learning outcomes with your petition to obtain approval from the faculty assessor. These should be based on your learning experience and appropriate for the course.
    • You will also be required to complete an interview with the faculty assessor, in addition to creating and submitting your learning portfolio. This will be scheduled by the faculty assessor once the learning portfolio has been evaluated.
  • COMM 1115 - Introduction to Communication (3 Cr)
  • COMM 2120 - Interpersonal Communication (3 Cr)
  • COMM 2140 - Small Group Communication (3 Cr)
  • COMM 2170 - Intercultural Communication (3 Cr)
    • Only available fall and spring terms.
  • COMM 2180 - Business and Professional Communication (3 Cr)
  • ENGL 1210 – Technical Communications (3 Cr)
  • ENGL 2210 – Professional and Technical Communication (3 Cr)
Math, Science & Engineering
  • BIOL 1140 - Biology for Health Sciences (3 Cr)
  • BIOL 1140L - Biology for Health Sciences (1 Cr)
Skilled Trades & Arts
  • ARTS 1410 - Introduction to Photography (3 Cr)
    • You will need to complete a face-to-face skills-demonstration, which is scheduled with the faculty assessor to include editing in appropriate software and use of appropriate camera and equipment.
  • ELTR 2020 - Industrial Motor Control (3 Cr)
    • You must include an affidavit of work experience from your employer in the learning portfolio.
    • You will be required to perform a skills demonstration, which will be scheduled by the faculty assessor once the portfolio has been evaluated.
  • ELTR 2030 - Industrial Power Distribution (3 Cr)
    • You must include an affidavit of work experience from your employer in the learning portfolio.
    • You will be required to perform a skills demonstration, which will be scheduled by the faculty assessor once the portfolio has been evaluated.