Competency-Based Education (CBE) Accelerate

A competency is a knowledge, skill, or ability that a student can perform to show they have mastered the concepts and skills needed for a discipline and to be successful in the workplace.

Competency-Based Education (CBE) is a program where students work individually with faculty  who observe, assess, and measure a student's performance of a competency to determine that student's progress and to award course and program credit.  CBE students can earn high-quality degrees, certificates, and other credentials that help them in their lives and careers. 

CBE Accelerate means that the program is a skills-based program designed to train students for specific jobs. The term “Accelerate” describes how students show they have learned what they need in the program and can move on to the next part. An “Accelerate” assessment program allows students to work at their own pace and move ahead after a faculty observes they have mastered a skill rather than waiting for the term to complete.

All students can benefit from a CBE Accelerate approach; however, students who might benefit most are those who have spent some time developing their skills by working or through other experiences, such as military service. For example, imagine going back to school for an Accounting degree after spending years running a small daycare center in your home or a landscaping business. The odds are strong that you’ve picked up on some of the basics of bookkeeping and can finish your learning quickly. In a CBE Accelerate program, you have the opportunity to prove your knowledge in these areas and move quickly through those lessons to demonstrate your competency. CBE Accelerate students enjoy working independently, are highly organized, and show strong time management and computer literacy skills.

SWC CBE Accelerate programs include a Certificate of Achievement in Automotive Brake and Suspension Systems (ABS And Four-Wheel Alignment) and an Associate in Science in Automotive Technology.  Complete the Direct Assessment CBE Automotive Technology Interest Form to learn more about these programs. Stay tuned for more CBE Accelerate programs in the future!

In a CBE Accelerate program students do not enroll in classes; instead they apply and are enrolled in a program and are connected with a team of faculty and staff who provide instructional materials and support for students through distance education. There are no scheduled days and times a student must attend class, and the faculty provide individualized instruction and support based on each student's needs. Students demonstrate mastery of competencies relevant to their degree or certificate without attending classes to be awarded their degree or certificate.  

CBE Accelerate programs appear in the list of credit courses, degrees and certificates students choose from when applying to the college. Learn how to find a CBE Accelerate program in CCCApply in this video.  

After you complete the CCCApply application and choose a direct assessment degree or certificate, you will complete a special online orientation for CBE Accelerate students and meet with a counselor to get started by creating a student education plan. 

Students in a CBE Accelerate program pay a subscription fee for their learning at the beginning of each term based on whether they want to attend as a part-time student or a full-time student. Part-time students pay $252 per term and full time students pay $504 per term.

Some forms of California state financial aid can be used with a CBE Accelerate program. Students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Visit our SWC Financial Aid website for more information.