Prior Learning Assessments

Prior work experience, military service, and other training may be eligible for credit

A Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Portfolio is a collection of résumé, narrative essay, and supporting evidence which documents how your prior job, volunteer work, military service, corporate training, or other relevant experience aligns to the learning objectives of specific academic courses or programs. Reviewed by trained faculty member assessors and/or subject matter experts, these portfolios provide an accepted basis for awarding you credit for prior college-level learning gained outside the traditional classroom—reducing the time and cost to complete your degree. At Walden, you may earn up to 75% of the credits required for your undergraduate degree through PLA Portfolios and other transfer of credit options.

To begin the Prior Learning Assessment Portfolio process, you must first consult with a member of the Student Success Advising Team, who can help you decide if portfolio development and submission is right for you.

Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) Portfolio Assessment

Students who would like learning assessed by portfolio for a discipline that is not supported for review through Walden’s Center for Degree Acceleration may work with the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) via the LearningCounts.org program. Through this affiliation, students will be able to speak with a CAEL advisor regarding the best avenues for pursuing prior learning credit, register for a course that will assist in the creation of their portfolios, and have those portfolios assessed for credit. Once credit is assessed by LearningCounts.org, the student should obtain a National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS)/Learning Counts transcript to submit to Walden’s Office of Admissions for review of transfer of credit toward the specified Walden program.