Unlock College Credit with Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

Are you a non-traditional student with valuable work and life experience? The University offers a way to turn that experience into academic credit through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). Here's how it works:

What is PLA?

PLA allows you to earn college credit for learning gained outside the classroom. By creating a portfolio that documents your experiences, you can have your knowledge evaluated by a subject matter expert.

Student Success Story: James Beda

James Beda, a bachelor’s student in homeland security, utilized PLA to earn credit. With seven years in the U.S. Army and 11 years in law enforcement, James realized his experiences could count towards his degree. After consulting with an advisor, he enrolled in the PLA workshop. Access to the full story PLA: Leveraging Your Life Experience for Academic Credit.

James shared, “The PLA class guided me step-by-step in building a successful portfolio. With helpful feedback from the instructor, I earned credit for one of my required courses based on my life experience. This process saved me time and money, and I highly recommend it.”

Benefits of PLA

• Save on tuition
• Accelerate graduation
• Validate your professional experience

PLA is a valuable option for adult learners to leverage their knowledge and skills. For more information, visit our Prior Learning Assessment page or email [email protected]. You can also chat with the PLA Experiential Learning Specialist, Marsha Metzer - Book time with Metzer, Marsha: PLA Office Hours.