Credit for Life Experience

At Clark State, we recognize that learning happens everywhere! If your life experiences — like work, volunteering, military service or even hobbies — match our courses, you may earn credit toward your degree!

The Prior Learning Assessment and Prior Learning Portfolio Program help turn your knowledge and experiences into college credit! With PLA, you can reduce your time to degree, save money and even earn up to 50 percent of your degree!

The Prior Learning Portfolio Program guides you in creating a portfolio that documents your experiences and maps them to specific courses in the college curriculum. A portfolio can include:

• Work experience
• Military training
• Civic engagement
• Hobbies
• Individual study, reading or noncredit classes
• Training from businesses, professional organizations or government agencies

1. Apply to Clark State and declare your major
   
   
2. Complete the Prior Learning Assessment Interest Form
   
   
3. Work with an advisor to identify possible credits
   
   
4. Submit exams, portfolios or transcripts for evaluation

1. Credit by Exam -- Earn credit by taking exams that measure your knowledge of college-level material. Learn more about credit by exam.
   
   
2. Advanced Placement Credit -  High school students can earn college credit for AP exams with a score of 3 or higher. Learn more about AP credit.
   
   
3. Military Credit - If you have military training or experience, you may qualify for college credit. Learn more about military credit.
   
   
4. Articulated & Industry Credit - Earn credit for industry experience, certifications or credentials by submitting documentation of training, including licenses, certifications or other credentials. Complete the Prior Learning Assessment Interest Form to see if the credential has an academic credit equivalent.