Get College Credit For What You Already Know
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), offered by EPCE’s education partners, is a process of identifying and measuring previous learning for the potential to receive academic credit. This process can save you time and money – reducing the number of courses needed to complete a degree. Not all methods apply equally to all programs, so be sure to ask an academic advisor about PLA as you enter an EPCE-sponsored program.
Options to Assess your Previous Learning
- Challenge Exams (Credit by Examination)
- You may be able to obtain credit by passing a “challenge examination”
- Military Training
- College credit for certain successfully completed military training programs is outlined in the “Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces,” prepared by the American Council on Education
- Transfer Credit
- Official transcripts from high school and colleges you attended can be evaluated for the potential of transfer into your EPCE program. Check out Bismark State College Transfer Equivalency Site.
- Industry Training
- Accredited training programs can be assessed towards some college credit
Prior Learning Assessment Resources
- Predict Your College Credit
- Predict your college credit with the Credit Predictor
- Articles and Publications
- Check out Prior Learning Assessment publications
- Military Training
- For more information about military training transcripts, visit the American Council on Education
- EPCE’s Education Partners Resources
- Your Learning Counts
- Why take – and pay for – classes in subjects you have already mastered? Check out LearningCounts.org
