Prior Learning Assessment

At Thomas Edison State College, we understand that you may have acquired college-level knowledge—without attending college. That’s why we pioneered our Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program, a national model of excellence in assessing college-level knowledge acquired outside the classroom.

Our Prior Learning Assessment program is a course-based process where students demonstrate that they possess college-level knowledge of a subject that has been acquired outside of a traditional classroom setting, such as at work, through volunteer service or other experiences. Students work with a mentor, who is an expert in the subject, to develop an electronic portfolio that documents a student's mastery of the subject. What is important to remember about our PLA program is that students do not get credit for experience; they earn credit by demonstrating that they possess college-level knowledge of a subject. Learn more about PLA.

Your past work, training, volunteering, adult education courses, hobbies, in-service work or other experiences may be how you developed college-level knowledge and the PLA program enables you to demonstrate that you possess this knowledge and earn credit for it. Browse prior learning courses.