California community colleges are scaling credit‑for‑prior‑learning programs to accelerate credentialing and reduce time‑to‑degree, part of a broader push to expand alternative pathways into the workforce. State leaders and college systems are testing standardized processes to award credits for workplace learning, military service and prior coursework. The work comes as student mobility rises: nearly 1.2 million students transferred colleges in fall 2024, increasing administrative complexity around transcript portability and articulation agreements. Institutions must invest in transcript evaluation infrastructure, clearer pathway maps, and stronger advising to ensure transfer students retain credits and progress to completion.