Life Credit

Some students often bring a great deal of knowledge with them when they decide to get a college degree. Admissions offices at some colleges may award credit to students for their past life experiences and past formal education through prior learning assessment.

Prior learning assessment is a method that colleges and universities use to evaluate the knowledge a student has gained through life experience. Prior learning assessment enables college instructors to evaluate life experiences as potentially equivalent to courses taught at the college level.

Prior Learning Portfolio

A prior learning portfolio is a written record presented by the student requesting college credit for learning outside the classroom. Credit is given only for college-level learning, and the portfolio must be well documented and organized. Portfolio requirements may vary from college to college, but most of them require the following elements:

• Identification and definition of specific prior learning for which
  college credit is being requested.
• An essay or narrative explaining how this prior learning related
  to the student's desired degree program, from what experiencesit was gained and how it fits into his overall education and career plans.
• Documentation that the student has actually acquired the
  learning he is claiming.
• A credit request listing exactly how much credit the student
  expects in each subject area.

Some colleges offer guidelines or courses to assist students who are preparing a prior learning portfolio. Some classes are required as part of preparing a prior learning portfolio.

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