Governor Newsom unveils new effort for veterans to turn their military service into a degree

SACRAMENTO – In case you missed it, earlier this week in Redding, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the final framework for the Master Plan for Career Education to strengthen career pathways, prioritize hands-on learning and real-life skills, and advance educational access and affordability. As part of a $100 million budget investment to implement key components of the Master Plan, Governor Newsom proposed the scaling of the state’s Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) effort to fund a new initiative to make it easier for Californians — especially veterans and military members — to turn their real-world experience into college credit.

“California’s veterans have not only served their country, but also gained valuable skills across their training and service. Those skills and experiences should count toward a degree so that our veterans can train for new careers without starting from scratch. This is just another way that my administration can show our gratitude to our veterans not just with words, but more importantly, with action.”

“We take immense pride in recognizing the valuable skills our veterans developed during their service. By translating their experiences into meaningful educational and career opportunities, we are not only investing in their futures but also fostering a sense of appreciation and respect for their contributions. This initiative provides significant economic benefits and ultimately enriches the lives of countless Californians. Our dedication to honoring, supporting, and uplifting veterans remains unwavering.”

College credit for veterans and workers

As part of the CPL initiative, veterans can earn credit for skills learned during military training, or students who volunteered through a service corps could apply their experience toward their education once this effort is implemented.

The economic impact of this investment would be immediate and substantial — veterans would receive an estimated average of $26,115 in immediate savings and $161,115 in lifetime benefits, translating to $3.7 billion in preserved educational funds and $28.8 billion in long-term economic benefits over 20 years, while also closing equity gaps.

While some colleges already award credit for prior experience, this new effort aims to create a statewide system so more people can benefit. The goal is to help Californians translate their skills and knowledge into real progress toward a degree or career. The budget investment is expected to benefit 250,000 Californians, including 30,000 veterans.

The Master Plan for Career Education

The Master Plan for Career Education recognizes the need for a more coherent skill-building infrastructure that is forward-looking, accessible and aligned with California’s diverse workforce needs. The framework paves the way to help ensure that all Californians can navigate toward career-sustaining jobs. It stands as a testament to California’s commitment to equip all students and workers — regardless of background or circumstance — with the tools necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world. The framework will be followed by the final Master Plan for Career Education, which will be published in the new year. The Master Plan will be supported by funding in the upcoming state budget.

How we got here

In August 2023, Governor Newsom launched a new way forward through the Freedom to Succeed Executive Order. The culmination of those efforts, the Master Plan for Career Education provides a strategy for responding to the complex, multifaceted challenges confronting California’s labor market and educational landscape. It acknowledges the shifting demographics of college attendees and the changing nature of work — with automation and artificial intelligence reshaping job categories and skill requirements — and provides flexibility to address new challenges that will emerge in the future. The statewide effort has been led by a public-private partnership with philanthropy.