How Colleges Award Credits for Work Experience
Key Takeaways
- Many colleges offer prior learning assessments that award credits or course requirements for work experience, reducing costs and time to graduation.
- Students earn credits by submitting a portfolio, passing exams like CLEP or DSST, or documenting military service and professional training.
By the time you’re in college, there’s a good chance you’ll have at least some work or life experience — especially if you’re an older student. Fortunately, you can turn that work experience into college credit.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the average cost of a single college credit is around $490, meaning you could save hundreds or even thousands on tuition by maximizing college credits for work experience. Getting credits for work experience also allows you to graduate sooner.
You’ll typically need to provide evidence of your learning to receive college credit. But it can be worth the extra work to protect your time and money. The guide below will help you identify colleges that award credits for prior learning (CPL) and give you the opportunity to maximize your credits.
How Do Students Earn Work/Life Credit?
Schools award academic credits for work and life experiences according to their own internal policies. Details differ among institutions, so begin by reviewing your school’s transfer credit guidelines. They may support one or more of the following credit transfer methods:
Prior Learning Assessments
Prior learning assessments (PLAs) evaluate nonacademic training and workplace experiences. If the details align with your program’s course content, the school may waive those courses from your requirements or award you credits for them.
PLAs typically involve portfolio submissions or other types of documentation that connect your prior learning to course content. Your school may request:
- A resume or CV
- Autobiography or personal statement
- Detailed descriptions of your prior learning experiences
- Written explanations of how your prior learning relates to course content
You may also need to supply academic transcripts, certificates of training completion, verification letters, and any other documentation that supports your claim.
Challenge Examinations
Many schools allow students to sit for specialized exams covering specific course content. You can then obtain credit by passing the exam.
In addition to their own internally developed exams, schools may use:
- DANTES Subject Standardizes Tests (DSST)
- College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests
DSST tests more commonly apply to technical, subject-specific material, while CLEP exams most readily lead to credits for general education components.
Credits for Military Experience
You can earn credits for your military experience through the DANTES Military Training Evaluation Program (MTEP), which involves a comprehensive American Council on Education review of your training and qualifications. You may need to sit for DSST and/or CLEP examinations as part of the MTEP process.
Additional Resources for Transfer Students
For additional insights, explore a list of the best online colleges for working adults and this resource hub for military students.
Resources
Council for Adult and Experiential Learning
Founded in 1974, CAEL helps prospective college students research online colleges with work experience credit. The organization promotes workforce economic development by partnering with employers nationwide. CAEL’s training programs help educators provide nontraditional learners with the best educational experience.American Council on Education
Founded in 1918, ACE advocates for about 1,700 member colleges, universities, and other education providers. ACE develops policies for online colleges with work experience credit. Programs promote expanding the number of schools with CPL and standardizing requirements among them. Special sections on the ACE website provide resources for military and veteran degree-seekers.Excelsior College
Excelsior’s UExcel Credit By Exam program offers new students an affordable CPL experience. Degree-seekers may take exams at home with an online proctor. Exams include anatomy and physiology, business information systems, and contemporary mathematics. Each exam offers a detailed content guide breaking down covered topics. Learners receive a MyExcelsior transcript. Some credits transfer to other colleges.Western Governors University
WGU offers students a unique CPL policy. Learners sign up for courses like their peers without work experience. However, they may skip lessons by taking assessments when they’re ready. This feature allows some degree-seekers to finish courses quickly and start their next course. WGU’s per-semester credit policy means accelerated students save money.
Frequently Asked Questions About Work Experience for College Credit
Colleges that give credit for work experience typically allow the transfer of up to 30 credits through a portfolio review process. Some schools may award additional credits through credit-by-exam programs.
You usually can’t earn a degree based only on prior learning or work experience. For example, after earning 30 credits for work experience, you’ll still need 90 more credits for a bachelor’s degree.
However, each college treats work experience credits differently, so check your school’s policies. Some schools don’t offer any credit for work experience.
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