Apprenticeship units do not transfer to 4-year colleges in California. Consequently, most workers pursuing a four-year degree start from scratch with zero credits earned. The California Construction College meets the zero credit challenge by having counselors assist students identify and document their life, work and educational experience. Together, counselor and student determine which aspects of this experience qualify for college credit.
This assessment of student work and life experience is known as a portfolio process, which the National Labor College successfully employs to help students go directly to relevant and important construction management courses. In many cases, work experience via apprenticeships can add up to about half the college credit needed for a bachelor's degree.
The National Labor College-San José City College collaboration is a model program that could eventually be duplicated across California and throughout the U.S.
