Members of the armed forces receive significant training and experience through their service. Through this prior learning, they can demonstrate mastery of a variety of college-level learning outcomes — and earn credits for colleges courses in specific programs of study.

All North Carolina community colleges and universities grant college credit to veterans that reflects the knowledge and skills they gained through active service. Providing these credits is mandated by law.

Faculty panels have conducted extensive reviews of military occupations to determine how many credits should be awarded for specific types of documented military training. The information is contained in the online Courage to Credits database created and maintained by the UNC System Office.