How to Earn College Credit for Work Experience

Key takeaways

• You can earn college credits for work experience by completing prior learning assessments or applying for prior learning credits through your school and submitting all required materials to document your experience.

• Developing a prior learning portfolio that showcases your achievements may help you earn college credit for your work and life experiences.

• In addition to getting college credit for work experience, you may be able to earn credit for military service that you can put toward your degree.

Another way to use work experience for college credit is by completing the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), which involves taking standardized tests on various topics. Read on to learn more about what kinds of prior learning credits you may qualify for and how to earn college credit for work experiences.

Can you get college credit for work experience?

If you have work or life experience outside traditional education programs, you may qualify to earn college credit for it. This might include time spent in the workforce, military service, or other experiences like internships or professional certifications. You can then use these credits to work toward a degree in less time and, in some cases, for less cost.

Earning credits for your life experiences can not only help you save time and money but also help you stay more engaged in learning by skipping over courses that you’re already competent in. You can use prior learning college credit to jump over foundational classes you don’t need to take and learn at your level.

Another benefit of earning college credit for work experience is that when you take prior learning assessments, you can get a better idea of your strengths and weaknesses academically, which can help you plan your degree or program more effectively.

What are prior learning credits?

Prior learning credits refer to the college credits your school may grant you based on your past learning, work, and life experiences. Every institution will have different policies and procedures for how to qualify for prior learning credits and how many credits you can earn. In some cases, your school may allow you credit for specific courses, which you can then match to degree requirements to build toward a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree.

In other cases, you can earn credits whether they match a specific course or not. Your school may limit how many prior learning credits you qualify for, or you may see a requirement for how many credits you need to earn from the institution for them to grant you a degree.

Research prior learning credit policies at the schools you consider to determine what they offer and what they expect. Look for policies published on each school’s website. These policies may detail how the school assesses prior learning, what types of experience it considers for credit, and the process of getting your work experience approved for credit.

What is a prior learning assessment (PLA)?

A prior learning assessment (PLA) is a method of evaluating your current knowledge and competencies. Your college or university may accept a variety of prior learning assessments, including the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSST), or in-house evaluation methods. The goal of a PLA is to determine what past experiences will count toward college credit and in what subject areas.

How to get college credit for work experience

To earn college credit for work experience, you need to first research your school’s policy about prior learning credits; decide which prior learning assessments, if any, you will take; complete your assessments; submit the materials your school requires; and then apply your earned credit toward a degree. Explore the details of each step:

1. Research your school’s policy: The amount and type of college credit you qualify for, as well as the process you’ll need to take, will vary a lot from institution to institution. The first step is to determine your school’s policy and make a plan.

2. Decide which PLA applies to your experience: Your university may offer many different types of prior learning assessments and prior learning credits. For example, you may be able to take CLEP exams, the DSST, Advanced Placement exams, or in-house assessments; earn credit for professional certification, licenses, or continuing education; or submit a portfolio that demonstrates your prior knowledge.

3. Complete your assessments: If you choose to take a standardized exam or undergo another type of assessment, you will need to schedule and prepare for your exam. You may not have to take an exam for every kind of prior learning credit you qualify for.

4. Submit required materials: You must follow your college or university’s guidelines for what materials you must submit and in what format.

5. Apply earned credit toward a degree: After the college accepts your materials and awards you credits, you can follow your school’s guidelines for applying those credits toward a degree.

What is the College-Level Examination Program?

The CLEP is a series of standardized tests offered by the College Board that represent 34 topic areas. Over 2,900 colleges and universities offer some college credit with a successful score on the CLEP [1]. In some cases, the CLEP exams directly match available courses, while in other cases, schools may have policies that restrict CLEP credits. Each CLEP exam costs $97 plus an online test proctoring fee, and you may take as many CLEP exams as you would like [2].

Can I get college credit for military service?

Many colleges and universities offer options to apply your military service toward college credits. Defense Activity Non-Education Support is an organization that offers testing similar to the CLEP for members of the military. The DANTES Subject Standardized Tests cover 37 subjects, and the organization covers the cost of eligible service members’ first attempts at all the exams.

You can also earn college credit for professional experience and other training you completed in the military. The American Council on Education develops standards for military training and occupations that colleges and universities can use to determine prior learning credit equivalencies.

Can internships count as college credit?

Yes, you can earn college credit through internships. Internships are often a common requirement within many degree programs, with learners usually completing at least one before graduation. In addition to earning college credit, you can earn a wage for your time spent as an intern. Speak to your academic advisor to learn your school’s requirements and to determine what internships will count. Policies will vary from school to school, such as whether you must work with your school to secure placement for your internship or can arrange the terms of your internship yourself.

Read more: Externship vs. Internship: What’s the Difference?

What is a prior learning portfolio?

You may be able to earn college credit through your work and life experiences by creating a portfolio of your professional achievements. You may need to take a course to develop your portfolio to meet your school’s standards, though this is not always the case. The exact items you include in your prior learning portfolio will vary depending on your college’s policies and the program you’re working toward. However, these portfolios often contain documentation or case studies from professional projects or other learning experiences you’ve accomplished in the past.

Do certifications count as college credit?

If you hold a professional license or certification, you may be eligible for college credit. Many colleges and universities offer prior learning credits for professional or industry certification. You should research the exact policy for exchanging certifications for college credit at your school. Potential certifications that may count for college credit include software and information technology, health information technology, early childhood development, and engineering.

Colleges that give credit for work experience

Many colleges across the country offer credit for work experience, but their policies on how to earn college credit may vary. You can learn what colleges and universities offer credit for work experience and other learning that happens outside of classrooms by searching your college’s website, talking to your academic advisor, or exploring websites for organizations like the College Board, which offer equivalency exams.

Find free resources for college and your career

Visit our Career Resource Hub, where you can explore career paths, assess your skills, or take quizzes. You can also check out these free resources as you consider your academic and professional path:

• Read our Career Chat issue: What Should You Earn: A Certificate or a Degree?

• Watch on YouTube: Do College Credits Expire? Understanding the Lifespan of Your Academic Credits

• Take a quiz: Career Test: What Career Is Right for Me Quiz?

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