What is Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)?
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), is a valuable process for recognizing and validating knowledge acquired outside of formal academic settings. This can be particularly beneficial for adult learners, non-traditional students, or individuals with work, military, or volunteer experience that is relevant to their academic goals.
Incorporating Lake-Sumter State College’s Mission of transforming lives and futures throughout our community, PLA allows students to earn college credit for learning gained through various non-college experiences. These experiences might include:
- Military training
- Competency Based Credit which includes Credit for Licensure, Certification or Work experience
- Credit for coursework at non-regionally accredited institutions
- Other life experiences that have led to significant knowledge acquisition
How Does PLA Work?
Faculty experts evaluate whether the student’s prior learning aligns with the knowledge and skills expected in specific college-level courses. If it does, the student may be awarded college credit. This evaluation process can involve:
- Standardized exams, such as Advanced Placement (AP), CLEP (College-Level Examination Program), DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests), Excelsior College Examinations, International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge Advanced Certificate of Education (AICE), Dual Enrollment, that assess college-level knowledge in various subjects.
- Career Pathways Articulation is a partnership between Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) and school districts in Lake, Marion, and Sumter Counties as well as the Florida Virtual School and the Villages High School. Graduates who have completed a partner school district Career and Technical Education (CTE) program may be eligible to receive articulated college credits through a credit-by-exam process aligned to LSSC Workforce programs such as an Associate in Science degree or College Credit Certificate. Students will be required to take a credit-by-exam test offered by the college. Please contact the Workforce Development office at 352-365-3552 or Careerpathways@lssc.edu for any questions.
- Course equivalency evaluations, which compare the learning outcomes from prior experiences with those in college courses.
- Portfolio assessments, where students submit a portfolio demonstrating their skills and knowledge.
Benefits of PLA
Time Savings
Students may not need to take courses for material they already know, allowing them to accelerate their degree completion.
Cost Savings
By earning credits through PLA, students may save money on tuition and fees for courses they don’t need.
Recognition of Experience
PLA provides a way for institutions to recognize the value of learning outside the classroom, which can be especially beneficial for adult learners with diverse backgrounds.
Example Scenario
For instance, someone with significant work experience in IT might be able to earn credit for courses like Introduction to Networking or Database Management based on their hands-on knowledge, even though they haven’t taken the formal college course.
In sum, PLA is a way to bridge the gap between real-world experience and academic credentials, offering a more flexible and efficient pathway to earning a degree. Does this sound like what you’re looking for?
Contact
Lake-Sumter State College
Office of Prior Learning Assessment
9501 US Hwy 441
Leesburg, FL 34788
P: 352-365-3564
Email: PLA@lssc.edu