This study evaluates the implementation of policies and practices related to prior learning assessment (PLA) for military training and experience in Colorado community colleges. Through conducting interviews and a document analysis, this case study aimed to provide policy and practice recommendations for states, systems, and institutions to…

Some states have attempted to streamline the process of providing prior learning assessment (PLA), also referred to as credit for prior learning (CPL), for work and life experiences. In terms of enrollment management, colleges nationwide look to increase student enrollment and positively impact attrition. Credit for work experience could have a…

The Utah Board of Higher Education has implemented a strategic plan to increase access to higher education and facilitate students' pathways to meaningful careers. A key initiative of the plan allows students to earn college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside traditional college settings, such as through rigorous academic study…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand how students at a large, suburban community college have utilized credit for prior learning (CPL). This case study included semi-structured interviews with 17 students regarding how they learned about CPL, experiences receiving their credits, and their perceptions of how CPL contributed…

Today's learners demand a new, agile model for education. They need options that are more accessible, flexible, and clearly aligned to careers. And to deliver on that, higher education has to break out of time-bound programs--15-credit hour semesters, two-year and four-year degrees--and concepts of learning that are strictly tied to traditional…

Beginning the path to a bachelor's degree in community college has the potential to be a more cost-effective higher education option. Previous research on transfer students has focused broadly on curriculum alignment, articulation policies, and academic advising in efforts to reduce credit loss. Credit loss can significantly impact transfer…

This report explores policies and practices on validation of non-formal and informal learning in the ETF's partner countries and presents the results of studies carried out in 16 countries in the period 2021-23. Countries increasingly invest in validation schemes (also known as recognition of prior learning) in an effort to give visibility to all…

Earning a college degree offers many benefits but requires time and money. Prior learning assessment (PLA) saves time and money by translating prior learning into college credit. This systematic literature review examined peer reviewed journal articles about PLA from the last decade. The research design used systematic literature review procedures…

In Delaware, Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares students for life beyond high school by providing practical labor skills, workforce credentials, and early post secondary credits. Some CTE students graduate with the distinction as a concentrator, meaning they complete required coursework in a specific career pathway, such as engineering…

The Higher Education Standards Framework 2021 and the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) set out requirements for recognition of prior learning (RPL) and granting credit in the higher education sector. Credit is a recognition of equivalence in content and learning outcomes between different types of learning and/or qualifications. Credit can…

This article looks at the opportunities and barriers paraprofessionals face on their journey to becoming teachers and makes some recommendations for ways that colleges and universities, districts, and accrediting bodies may better serve, retain, and promote this unique population of educators. The article identifies shifts in higher education like…

In the fall of 2019, the University of Arkansas--Fort Smith enrolled an initial cohort of students in an adult degree completion program designed to combine previous college hours and current work experience that could be applied to additional college credit. The students were enrolled in a portfolio class in which they documented their prior…

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) refers to the various processes for recognizing and awarding credit for college-level learning gained outside the classroom. In December 2021, Advance CTE and Education Strategy Group convened the Credit for Prior Learning Shared Solutions Workgroup, whose members represented state postsecondary education agencies…

Undergraduate credit for prior learning (CPL) is an important aspect of today's higher-education landscape. This report presents an in-depth look at the current state of undergraduate CPL in the United States and Canada. The primary objective of the report is to foment dialogue and action toward a more inclusive, effective higher-education system…

Previous research has shown that when adult students receive credit for their prior learning (CPL), they are more likely to complete credentials while saving time and money doing so. In addition, colleges and universities can also benefit from CPL: adult students who earn credit through CPL are more likely to persist toward completion, and so they…