Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)
Prior Learning Assessment allows you to use what you already know through relevant learning, work, or life experience and apply it towards a degree. You can bring in as many as 90 credits towards a bachelors degree. Learn how you can maximize your life experience for a degree.
Save Money
Count your prior life experiences toward graduation requirements for a certificate or degree program, saving money.
Save Time
Reduce the number of required classes you need while applying your skills and knowledge to advance your dreams.
Learn Efficiently
Focus on what you need to learn, not what you've already done, and take higher level courses sooner.
You did the work. Now earn the degree.
We want to hear your story and help you get where you want to be. Our goal is to meet you where you are and help you build the path to your success. Whatever age, demands or challenges you face, and whatever your career path, we want to work with you to find your opportunity.
We recognize a number of formal and non-formal experiences and activities as prior learning.
- Credit from an any two or four year college, no matter when you earned it
- CLEP and other standardized exams
- Workshops, certificates, trainings, & licenses
- Self-taught knowledge or skills
- Military training and experience
- Volunteer work and community service
- Work experience in businesses and organizations
University College has created a smooth, easy to navigate process for Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). Our process is done online, and turn around for most assessments is under 14 days. We are excited to work with you to identify what experience you have that can be translated into college credit. It costs nothing to go through the Prior Learning Assessment process, and we are here to guide and support you. This PLA site will provide you with the process, up-do-date information and a place to get all your questions answered to get you on the path you choose.
Areas of Prior Learning Available
We offer over 100 Assessed & Approved credit opportunities for a variety of different disciplines including health fields, law-enforcement, emergency services, and many others.
Students may request that their workplace training, certificate training, job experience be assessed for college credit.
RWU | UC also offers Challenge Exams for those students who have English as a second language or any level of previous language experience. Students may ear as many as 12 credits based on their language mastery. We offer exams in the following languages:
- French
- Spanish
- German
- Portuguese
- Italian
- Chinese
- Latin
Exams are offered in our testing center on the last Wednesday of the month (adjustments will be made for holidays and university closures).
Challenge Exams may not be repeated and may not be taken for a grade replacement for previously completed courses or taken if any course in that subject is granted credit through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) - this also includes CLEP, DSST, RWU's PLA, etc.
After registering for an exam, you will receive confirmation and additional directions for taking the exam.
RWU | UC also offers Challenge Exams for Math. We offer exams for the following:
- College Algebra
- Math In the Modern World
- Statistics
Exams are offered in our testing center on the last Wednesday of the month (adjustments will be made for holidays and university closures).
Challenge Exams may not be repeated and may not be taken for a grade replacement for previously completed courses or taken if any course in that subject is granted credit through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) - this also includes CLEP, DSST, RWU's PLA, etc.
After registering for an exam, you will receive confirmation and additional directions for taking the exam.
The college accepts the results of multiple standardized exams for college credit, and makes use of the guide prepared by the American Council on Education (ACE) and other sources that contain evaluations of a wide variety of training opportunities sponsored by the armed services, business, industry, and labor communities. Students need to achieve the scores recommended and published by the American Council on Education. Scores at or above the minimum will lead to equivalent credit for the associated RWU course, but no letter grade will be awarded.
- College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- Advanced Placement Exams (AP)
- Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
- The Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES)
As much as three years of college credit (90 credits) may be granted for military training and/or experience. University College awards credit for educational experiences during military service according to the recommendations of the American Council on Education as published in “The Guide to the Evaluation of Military Experiences in the Armed Services."
Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps: Submit an official Joint Services Transcript.
- Air Force: Request an official transcript from the Community College of the Air Force for work taken as an undergraduate, or from the Air University for work taken as a graduate student.
We also accept previous versions of military documents such as the SMART transcript and AARTS. Other versions of service member accolades may qualify. Please share with us your past experience if applicable so that we may acknowledge them if possible.
You may transfer up to ninety (90) credits of military credit as applicable. You may combine transfer credit options in other ways, but you may only transfer a combined total of 90 credits towards your bachelor’s degree.
We also accept previous versions of military documents such as the SMART transcript and AARTS. Other versions of service member accolades may qualify. Please share with us your past experience if applicable so that we may acknowledge them if possible.
Apply to RWU | UC Find My Credit Connect with PLA Director
"UC will look at who you are, where you are, and what you’ve done. In partnership with an advisor, you go through a course catalog and find out which courses match your experience. It is a tremendous resource.”