How Colleges Award Credits for Work Experience

By the time you're in college, there's a good chance you 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 and allowing you to graduate sooner.

You'll typically need to provide evidence of your learning to receive college credit. But it's worth the extra work to protect your time and resources. The guide below will help you identify colleges and opportunities to maximize your credits.

5 Colleges That Offer Credit for Work Experience

The following five schools attract nontraditional students by offering college credit for work experience. Many other institutions feature similar policies, helping learners graduate faster and save money on a degree.

How Do Students Earn Work/Life Credit?

Students can earn work/life credit through examinations. Some colleges use privately developed exams to assess learners' competency in different subjects. Other schools ask faculty to create exams. Students contacting their prospective schools may discover other ways to earn credit.

Credit for Prior Learning (CLEP)

CPL features many benefits, including lowering learners' attendance costs and time in school. According to the College Board, students who pass College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams earn a higher undergraduate GPA than their peers. DANTES Standardized Subject Tests (DSSTs) feature similar benefits and appeal to active-duty service members. DSST offers many of the same exams as CLEP.

The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) developed standards many colleges use for CPL. A CAEL-approved portfolio includes relevant documents. Students may take up to six months to submit a final portfolio. A successful portfolio translates into a passing grade.

Standardized Tests

College-developed exams evaluate students' prior knowledge in much the same way as CLEP or DSSTs. Test takers should ask whether their school provides test preparation materials or other resources. An admissions or enrollment advisor can provide this information.

Nontraditional students can also take the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Learners can take an AP exam without completing the course. A typical AP exam features multiple-choice, short-answer, and essay sections. Colleges use different score cutoffs when awarding credit.

The Pros and Cons of Work Experience Degrees

Additional Resources: Work Experience for College Credit

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

How many credits can you typically earn from work experience?

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.

How long does the process take to apply for credits?

Most prior learning assessment (PLA) applications take 2-4 weeks to process. The time frame depends on the college's policies and your experience. You may need to submit relevant documents such as a certification or professional portfolio, or you may need to complete an exam.

Online colleges that offer credit for work experience may not count that credit toward the minimum attendance requirement. Many schools require transfer students to earn at least 30 credits through coursework at the degree-granting college. And some colleges charge a fee for each PLA credit.

If you earned work experience credits at one college, can you transfer them to another?

Whether you can transfer work experience credits depends on your college's policies. Your college's transfer advisor can help you determine if and how credits transfer to another school. Many colleges post their credit transfer agreements online.

Work experience credits may not transfer even if standard coursework transfers. However, you can complete the same PLA process at your new college if it offers credit for work. You can contact your new college to research transfer credit policies and determine the tuition and time needed to graduate.

What are the best ways to get college credit for work experience?

You can get college credit for work experience in many areas, including military service, certifications, and licensure. Creating a portfolio of work experience to showcase your knowledge and expertise is a good starting point.

If your college accepts CLEP exams, you can browse more than 30 available subjects and consider taking these or other PLAs to prove your knowledge. CLEP exams cost $95 each and are free for qualified military service members. Subjects span history, social sciences, arts, math, science, business, and world languages.