Prior Learning Assessment

Credit for PLA may be awarded for:

CERTIFICATIONS (LOCAL, STATE, NATIONAL)

Students who have completed a professional certification or training program may be eligible for course credit. Customs and Border Protection Homeland Security and Law Enforcement are two examples of professional certifications or training programs that may translate to equivalent coursework in that discipline.

• Student shares interest in PLA with an advisor
• Advisor refers a student to appropriate academic division
• Student contacts division and provides certifications for review
• Faculty review credentials and assign appropriate coursework on PLA Evaluation form
  • in the semester and year the PLA was requested
• Faculty will submit the PLA Evaluation form with recommended equivalencies to the appropriate Associate Dean/Dean 
• If approved, the Associate Dean/Dean will submit the PLA Evaluation form with recommended equivalencies to the Transfer Services Office.
• The Transfer Services Office will notify the student when posting has been completed
  • The review and transcription process will be completed within 30 days of certification submission

CHALLENGING AWC COURSES

Students have the opportunity in some Arizona Western College courses to earn credit by completing a comprehensive examination. Students cannot receive credit for a course that is equivalent to or lower than that in which they are currently enrolled or for which they have already received credit. Students may not apply to challenge a course a second time.

• Student shares interest in PLA with an advisor
• Advisor refers a student to appropriate academic division
• Student contacts division
• If approved, academic division agrees to provide/proctor challenge exam to a student, fills out and signs appropriate form
• Student registers and pays for approved course section (class)
• Student coordinates exam schedule with academic division and completes the challenge exam
• If the challenge exam is graded as a C grade or better the Academic division will record the exam score on the form and submit the document to the Transfer Services Office. The course grade will be denoted as a ‘CR’ on the student transcript
• The Transfer Services Office will notify the student when posting has been completed

MILITARY EXPERIENCE

“A Guide to the Evaluation of Education Experience in the Armed Services,” is the basis for evaluating the training and experiences in military service. When applicable, credit earned may be used for degree credit as equivalent courses in the major or as general electives up to the maximum number of credits prescribed by the specific program requirements. Credit accepted from such sources may not apply for graduation in specific majors or degree programs. These credits may not transfer to another educational institution.

• Students must request their military transcripts from the appropriate branch of service

• After student has registered and the military transcripts are received, the evaluation and posting of credit will transpire

• The process of evaluation may take up to three weeks after the transcripts have been received

PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT

Portfolio Development courses are designed for students who have acquired and applied knowledge in a specific discipline that is equivalent to college coursework and/or have documented evidence of non-traditional learning. Students pursuing a Portfolio Development course should possess an ability to analyze their experiences and demonstrate mastery of college- level writing skills.

• Student shares interest in PLA with advisor
• Advisor refers student to appropriate academic division
• Student contacts division
• If approved, academic division agrees to open portfolio section
• Student registers in portfolio development course. Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:
  • Articulate rationale for college-level experiential learning
  • Use experiential learning models and concepts
  • Synthesize material from assigned readings and relevant material
  • Generate theoretical and conceptual understanding from relevant experience
  • Demonstrate agreed upon course/discipline outcomes
  • Assess quality of independent learning
• After successful completion of the course, instructor assesses the portfolio and approves AWC courses applicable to prior learning
• Instructor emails the PLA Evaluation form and recommended course equivalencies to be transcripted on the student’s record to the appropriate Associate Dean/Dean in the semester the student is registered in the portfolio course
• If approved, the Associate Dean/Dean will submit the PLA Evaluation form with recommended equivalencies to the Transfer Services Office
• The Transfer Services Office will notify the student when posting has been completed

STANDARDIZED EXAMINATIONS (AP/CIE/CLEP/DLPT/DSST/IB)

Standardized Examinations allow students the opportunity to complete an examination and at the same time, earn college credit for equivalent courses.

• Students must register for a minimum of 6 credit hours at AWC and request the credit by examination results be mailed to AWC
• After student has registered and examination transcripts are received, the evaluation and posting of credit will transpire if the exam and score are accepted by AWC
• The process of evaluation may take up to three weeks after the transcripts have been received
• The Transfer Services Office will notify the student when posting has been completed