Business Articles

Prior Learning Assessment program: Making experience count

UOPX Writer Network

| September 17, 2010

We’ve all heard the old saying that it’s harder to go back to school once you’ve been in the working world for awhile. That sentiment may be true when it comes to getting used to homework and classes again, but it may not be so accurate in every area of academic life. Returning to school after a work or life hiatus can actually net students some serious gains. If they plan wisely, students can save money and graduate sooner by getting academic credit for learning from work experience through a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program.

According to a March 2010 report by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), “PLA is the process by which many colleges evaluate for academic credit the college-level knowledge and skills an individual has gained outside of the classroom (or from non-college instructional programs), including employment, military training/service, travel, hobbies, civic activities[,] and volunteer service. PLA recognizes and legitimizes the often significant learning in which adults have engaged in many parts of their lives” (Klein-Collins, 2010). This means that students have the opportunity to make their case and potentially parlay their work experience into completed academic credits—but doing so requires a little planning.

PLA programs vary from school to school. According to CAEL, PLA credits can be earned via a number of avenues including: Advanced Placement Exams; evaluation of local training; American Council on Education (ACE) guide recommendations; and Experiential Learning Essays, which are used as documentation to support one’s knowledge in a certain area. At University of Phoenix, for example, students can apply for PLA credits by checking the Apollo Quick List™, which identifies professional certificates and licenses that have already been evaluated for college-level equivalency (University of Phoenix, 2010). University of Phoenix students can also submit corporate training, non-transferable academic credits and experiential learning essays for PLA credit evaluation.

Students who apply to the PLA program should know that not all submissions will result in credits. Additionally, work experience alone will not net PLA credits nor will all professional training. Students applying for PLA credit should have at least two years of experience in the topic area and be able to prove that they have a college-level understanding of the material as well as theoretical knowledge. Additionally, PLA submissions should illustrate that students can apply the knowledge they have gained in a practical manner and prove noteworthy personal learning experiences in the topic area. There are also fees associated with applying for and utilizing PLA credits, though oftentimes these fees can be covered by tuition reimbursement programs.

Students benefit from past experiences

The time and financial savings students can see from a successful PLA application are potentially quite substantial. At University of Phoenix and Axia College, PLA credits can be applied to associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs, although there are some undergraduate majors that do not accept them. Certain states also place restrictions on PLA credits, so students should visit the University of Phoenix’s PLA website or their enrollment counselor for more information. Credits are only awarded for electives or general education requirements. The maximum number of PLA credits that can be awarded for a bachelor’s degree at is 60; the limit is 30 credits for an associate’s degree.

“Students that use Prior Learning Assessment feel that they got something out of their training and it can sometimes put them 15 credits ahead of their schedule, which saves them time and money,” says Catrina Roitman, Operations Manager of PLA and Articulation at the University of Phoenix.

Roitman says applying for PLA credits also helps students feel more invested in their academic program because they are proactive in acquiring the extra academic credits, which, in turn, boosts their confidence.

Jason Mulrooney knows first hand how well the PLA process can work for a student. Based on his resume, recommendations and training, he was awarded 15 credits, which saved him about $2,500. He said the credits not only saved him hours of time, but also kept him enthusiastic about school.

“To tell the adult learner who has decided to go back to school that he is not starting at zero has some real value,” says Mulrooney, a manager for EdLink who was formerly on the management team for Verizon Communications’ tuition assistance program. EdLink, a company that offers tuition assistance management services to corporations, was created by CAEL and ACT, Inc.

“For the students that are close to finishing, PLA is still definitely worth the effort and time to go through,” Mulrooney says. “[These students] can already see the light at the end of the tunnel, and PLA can help them stomp on the gas pedal to get there faster. Who knows, they may have something in their portfolio that can help them graduate a semester earlier.”

PLA reaps benefits for employers as well as employees

The PLA program benefits more than just students: Employers also gain a great deal when their staff takes advantage of the PLA program. They save money in tuition reimbursement at the same time that their employees are getting needed training.

"We tell employers that they should allow tuition dollars to be used for PLA because, if employees make it through the process, the payback will be significant in terms of time and cost savings,” says John Zappa, CEO of EdLink.

“Corporations get really excited about PLA because they get to retain their employees, educate them, and make them lifelong learners,” says Roitman. “Education usually makes employees more open to change and creative ideas, which makes them better assets to their companies. The companies also gain a relationship with universities and get publicity from the promotion of PLA programs on websites and other areas.”

Getting corporations on the PLA bandwagon

Oftentimes, corporations offer to pay for the costs associated with applying for PLA credits and educating their staff on the program’s availability. Companies like EdLink work with corporations to help them create tuition benefit programs. While doing so, they also promote the value of PLA and show outcomes from other companies that are already utilizing the program. “We always point out the PLA approach and recommend embedding it in company reimbursement programs; we see it as a best practice,” says Zappa.

Pamela Tate agrees. As president and CEO of CAEL, she says Prior Learning Assessment payment is now considered a best practice for employers looking to offer a comprehensive tuition assistance program.

“We’ll go in and show them what we think their program needs to look like,” Tate says. “We’ll even help promote the program through internal promotional programs, if they would like. For instance, at Verizon, we go in and train some of the unionized employees to be learning advocates. Those Verizon employees get together with their coworkers for brown bag lunches and poster sessions to tell them about their tuition benefits, discuss why they should go to college, and go over other topics of that nature.”

Boosting corporate participation

One of the best ways to increase the number of people pursuing post-secondary education in the U.S. is by showing that it is reasonable and attainable. PLA programs may be one way to do that, but both employers and employees need to know that it exists in order for that to happen.

“I think a lot of what’s important for employers is awareness,” says Zappa. “I can think of many instances in discussions with employers when they weren’t even aware that investments they made in training programs could often be turned into credit. Increasing awareness and pointing out that there are some demonstrable outcomes can help an employer rethink how they can incorporate PLA into their tuition benefit program.”

Another way employers can make their training valuable is to use the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Credit Recommendation Service. This service evaluates corporate and military training for college credit. About 1,800 colleges accept credit recommendations from ACE for PLA, including University of Phoenix.

“Companies like it when they can offer training that is worth college credit,” Tate says. “You’d be surprised how many companies go through an ACE evaluation for their corporate training because they want to be able to say that their training is worth college credit. It’s a big deal—and it saves employees money. There is also prestige associated with it and it helps employers get a more highly-educated workforce with people that are ready for promotion. So I think it’s one of those offerings that is a win-win for both the individual and the employer.”

The future of PLA programs

Education experts who have experience with PLA programs hope to see a growth in awareness and participation across the nation.

“In the last two or three years we have started partnering with even more companies to customize a program that works best for them and that employees can easily understand,” said Roitman.

Tate is hoping a new CAEL initiative will assist in boosting the number of companies that roll PLA into their benefit plans.

“For PLA to get to the right scale in the country, it needs to be done on a national level, which is why we are launching an online center for assessing prior learning,” she says. “We want to help adults find institutions that are adult-friendly and interested in them. I think that will be a real contribution to colleges and universities and workers and employers.”

References

Klein-Collins, Rebecca. (2010). Fueling the Race to Post-Secondary Success: A 48 Institution Study of Prior Learning Assessment and Adult Student Outcomes.

CAEL. (2010). What is Prior Learning Assessment?

University of Phoenix. (2010). Prior Learning Assessment.