Nashua Community College awards credit for students who may have acquired learning outside of the traditional academic learning environment. This learning may have been obtained through industry certifications, work experience, employer training programs, independent study, non-credit courses, volunteer or community service, or non-college courses or seminars.
Credit for Prior Learning Assessment (CPLA) is the term used to describe the process by which a student’s experiential learning is evaluated to grant college credit toward continuing education or training. There are four broadly applied approaches to CPLA to ensure academic rigor and quality: (1) National Standardized exams in specific disciplines, e.g. Advanced Placement Exams (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests;
(2) credit by exam (CBE); (3) individualized assessments, particularly portfolio-based assessments; (4) evaluated non-college programs, e.g., American Council on Education’s ACE credit service and evaluations of corporate and military training; industry recognized credentials.
Adapted from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) definition of Prior Learning Assessment (www.CAEL.org)