10 Ways To Get College Credit for Life & Work Experience

Life experience credits let you earn college credits for prior learning experiences. You can receive credits for:

• Previous classes
• Professional development
• Work experience

Suppose you want to earn a bachelor's degree in computer science. If you already have programming work experience, you could earn academic credits and avoid taking introductory college courses. The more credits for life experience you earn, the faster you'll finish your degree program. Fortunately, there are many ways for you to earn college credit for life and work experiences.

10 Ways To Get College Credit for Life & Work Experience

Here are some ways to get college credit for life and work experience.

1. College Level Examination Program (CLEP)

The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) can help you earn college credits for what you already know. You can choose from 34 tests covering various college course subjects. A passing score on a CLEP exam grants at least three college credits. More than 2,900 colleges and universities accept CLEP credits.

2. DSST Exams

DSST exams are college subject area tests for military personnel. Active service members earn academic credits for knowledge gained outside the classroom. These exams are funded by the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). More than 30 subject exams are available.

3. Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

High School Advanced Placement (AP) exams are great ways to make progress in your college studies before starting school. You could receive college credits for your AP exam scores. Or you can use your AP scores for advanced placement. This lets you save money and time by skipping some of your introductory or core courses.

4. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP)

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) helps students ages 16 to 19 prove they've mastered advanced academic skills. Some colleges offer academic credits for students who have taken higher-level IB exams. You might receive three or more credits per passing score.

5. Challenge Exams

Challenge exams let students test out of university courses by examination. If you pass the challenge exam, you'll earn college credit at the school you attend. Common eligibility requirements for challenge exams include:

• Filling out a challenge application
• Meeting a minimum GPA
• Having a challenge criteria evaluation

6. Internships

Internships are great ways to gain work experience and earn college credits. You'll need to work closely with your school to make sure the credit hours you earn are applied to your degree. Some schools ask students to enroll in a specific internship course to earn credit.

7. Institutional Credits

Colleges and universities often offer special programs that give college credits for prior learning. However, these credits might count toward total transfer credits. For instance, if your school allows students to transfer up to 90 credits, professional experience credits could be included in this total.

8. Law Enforcement Training

Some schools offer college credits for state or local law enforcement training. For example, Purdue Global offers credits you can apply toward major course requirements or electives, depending on your major. To qualify, you must be a certified U.S. law enforcement officer � or be certified within 24 months of enrollment.

9. National Fire Academy Courses

The National Fire Academy (NFA) offers training program courses that could qualify for college credit. These courses focus on:

• Fire investigation
• Fire inspection principles
• Service area risk reduction

The NFA course you choose could earn one to three credits.

10. College Credits for IT Certification

While earning an IT certification, you could also earn college credits. For instance, you can earn one to three credits for certification exams associated with Microsoft. Other certifications you can turn into credits come from:

• CISCO
• CompTIA
• Google
• Linux

What Is Credit for Life Experiences?

Credit for life experiences lets students earn college credits for knowledge gained outside the classroom. This is great news since, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), 74% of part-time undergraduates were employed in 2020.

By earning credits for your experiential learning � or hands-on work experience � you can avoid taking courses for subjects you already know. The same goes for your:

• Volunteer work
• Certifications
• Military service
• Training

A major perk of life experience credits is the money you save. You can skip introductory or core courses that might cost hundreds of dollars per credit hour. Learning credits also help you complete your undergraduate degree at a faster pace.

How Does Life Experience Convert into College Credit?

Your life experience can convert into college credit in several ways. The Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and the American Council on Education (ACE) are among the most common options.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

The term Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) describes the process of earning life experience academic credits. It might be associated with:

• CLEP
• DSST
• AP
• Other forms of credit by examination

PLA may also be used to describe the process of earning credits through:

• Volunteering
• Training
• Work experiences

Creating a PLA Portfolio is another way to earn college-level credit hours through your life experiences. You can use this written presentation to explain how your experiences should translate into credits. Including your resume and work samples with your PLA Portfolio is common.

American Council on Education (ACE)

The American Council on Education (ACE) evaluates students' academic records to see if their prior learning experiences qualify for college credits. ACE Learning Evaluations recommend college-course equivalencies for:

• Workplace or military training
• Apprenticeship
• Standardized exams

After you complete an ACE-evaluated program, you can have one of two official transcripts shared with your schools of choice. The Joint Services Transcript (JST) is for military personnel and the ACE Transcript is for all others.

What Type of Colleges Give Credit for Life Experiences?

All types of colleges offer credit for life experience. Whether you want to attend any of these institutions, you can get credit for prior learning:

• A community college
• A state university
• Private institution

Community Colleges

A community college offers two-year degree programs that lead to associate degrees. Some community colleges offer credit for prior learning through:

• AP courses
• Apprenticeships
• Volunteer courses
• CLEP
• Community service
• IB

State Universities

A state university is a school that a U.S. state manages and helps fund. You can earn life experience credits at accredited state universities for:

• Military service
• Standardized tests
• Professional development
• Personal learning

Private Institutions

A private college or university typically functions as a nonprofit organization. It doesn't receive primary funds from a state government. You can find private colleges that offer credit for prior learning.

How Many Years of Experience is Equivalent to a College Degree?

You might be surprised to discover that you can sometimes use your work experience as a substitute for a college degree. Here are examples of how work experience can equate to a degree.

• An associate degree equals two years of related work experience.
• A bachelor's degree equals an associate degree plus two years of related work experience � or four years of related work experience.
• A master's degree equals a bachelor's degree plus two years of related work experience.

The number of credits equaling two years of relevant professional experience is 60 credits. Four years of relevant professional experience equals 120 credits. Suppose you've worked in public relations for four years. Your competency or professional-level experience would equal a bachelor's degree or 120 credits.

Who Is Eligible for Prior Learning Credit?

Any student with prior work, military, college, training, or other experience can earn life experience credits. With Learn.org's robust library of resources, you can search for colleges and universities ready to give you credit for what you already know.