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Prior Learning Assessment

EARN COLLEGE CREDIT FOR WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW

Did you know that Clarke University provides students an opportunity to earn college credit for learning that has taken place through life experiences, such as:

  • Full- or part-time jobs
  • In-house training sessions
  • Professional licenses and certificates
  • CareerPLUS badges
  • Military and government job training
  • Volunteer work and/or hobbies

This process of awarding college credit for documented college-level learning outside the classroom is referred to as Prior Learning Assessment (PLA).

Learn more about the cost savings of earning credit through prior learning experiences. Instead of paying tuition for a credit-bearing course, you will simply have to pay the PLA fee if approved for PLA credit.

WAYS TO EARN CREDIT THROUGH PLA

  1. Examination: Take a subject-specific examination from CLEP, DSST, or through the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate programs.
  2. ACE Credit Recommendation: View the ACE National Guide available through the American Council on Education (ACE) to discover corporate training, certifications, exams, and alternative educational programs with ACE recommendations and validated competencies.
  3. Joint Services Transcript (Military/Veterans Only): The Joint Services Transcript (JST) includes consolidated information for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. Military experience and training may be evaluated for transfer credit by submitting a DD-214 and military transcript.
  4. CareerPLUS badge(s): CareerPLUS badge outcomes are aligned with those of credit-bearing Clarke courses, allowing badges to easily be converted to academic credit.
  5. Google Certificates: Clarke University awards PLA credit (as elective credit) for the following Google Career Certificates based on ACE credit recommendations (9-12 credits per certificate): Data Analytics, IT Support, Project Management, and UX Design.
  6. Portfolio Assessment: Submit a portfolio that demonstrates credit-worthy mastery of a subject that aligns with a Clarke credit-bearing course.

More Information

PLA Credit by Examination

Note: Students who plan to take CLEP or DSST examinations must seek pre-approval via email from the Dean for the College of Professional and Graduate Studies. Once you receive your CLEP or DSST exam scores, the official score report should be sent to Clarke’s Registrar’s Office directly from CollegeBoard or Prometric.  Score reports received directly from students are not accepted.

CLEP Exam

Currently, more than 30 CLEP examinations are available across a variety of subject areas, including:

  • History and Social Sciences
  • Composition and Literature
  • Science and Mathematics
  • Business
  • World Languages

Clarke’s School Code for CLEP is: 6099

CLEP Exam fee: View Here

Posting Fee at Clarke: View Here

Click here for tips on preparing for a CLEP Exam.

Click here for Clarke University’s CLEP policy.

Click here for more information on CLEP.

DSST Exam

Currently, more than 30 exams are available on college subject areas such as:

  • Social Sciences
  • Math
  • Applied Technology
  • Business
  • Physical Sciences
  • Humanities

Clarke’s School Code for DSST is: 8010

DSST Exam fee: View Here

Posting Fee at Clarke: View Here

Click here for tips on preparing for a DSST Exam.

Click here to locate a DSST test center near you.

Click here for additional information on the DSST Exam.

ACE Recommendations

The American Council on Education (ACE), an umbrella organization that reviews courses for their educational standard, has reviewed and provided academic credit recommendations for more than 35,000 courses, examinations, and certifications offered by more than 600 organizations. View the ACE National Guide to discover corporate training, certifications, exams, and alternative educational programs with ACE recommendations and validated competencies.

ACE Learning Evaluations for the Military recommendations are valid for 10 years, unless the course is changed and the service submits it again for a re-review. Recommendations from ACE Learning Evaluations for workplace and alternative educational experiences are valid for 3 years before courses must be submitted for re-review.

Joint Services Transcript (Military Transcript)

Military experience and training may be evaluated for PLA credit by submitting a DD-214 and military transcript. Students who have military training or experience would simply need to request their Joint Services Transcript (military transcript) and/or submit their DD-214 to Clarke to have them evaluated for credit. The Joint Services Transcript (JST) includes consolidated information for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. For those serving in the Air Force, please click here.

CareerPLUS Badges

Clarke’s CareerPLUS digital badge program offers a flexible, affordable way for adult learners to earn credit towards their degree. CareerPLUS badge outcomes are aligned with those of credit-bearing Clarke courses, allowing badges to easily be converted to academic credit.

EARN A BADGE

CareerPLUS badge outcomes are aligned with those of credit-bearing Clarke courses, allowing badges to easily be converted to academic credit.

HOW IT WORKS

  1. Take three CareerPLUS micro courses to earn a CareerPLUS badge(s).*
  2. If you have earned a CareerPLUS badge(s), check out to which Clarke for-credit courses these badges count towards for the Bachelor of Applied Studies Degree.
  3. Submit your application to become a degree-seeking student.
  4. After you have been admitted as a degree-seeking student at Clarke, fill out a simple form to request that your CareerPLUS badge be converted to course credit toward your degree program at Clarke at no additional charge other than the initial cost of the badge.
    • Those who would like to count the Diversity & Inclusion badge toward the Global Awareness and Social Responsibility requirement must also submit documentation of five hours of diversity training/experiences.

*Badges may be earned before or after enrolling as a degree-seeking student at Clarke University.

Google Certificates

Clarke University awards PLA credit (as elective credit) for the following Google Career Certificates based on ACE credit recommendations (up to 12 credits per certificate): Data Analytics, IT Support, Project Management, and UX Design.

More information about the ACE credit recommendations for Google Certificates can be found at the links below:

·  Data Analytics ACE Recommendation             

·  IT Support ACE Recommendation

·  Project Management ACE Recommendation

·  UX Design ACE Recommendation

Portfolio Assessment

It will be important for you to exhaust all other PLA options prior to beginning the portfolio process. Students are not allowed to complete portfolios for PLA that can be evidenced through the exam or badge process. If your learning experiences outside the classroom correspond to credit courses offered at Clarke (but are not courses for which you’ve already earned credit at Clarke or another institution), then PLA portfolio assessment may help you receive college credit. Instead of paying tuition for a credit-bearing course, you will simply have to pay the PLA fee if approved for PLA credit.

View the Clarke University catalog to explore which courses for which you might be able to earn credit based on your prior learning.

Contact us at careerplus@clarke.edu to inquire about the PLA portfolio process.

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