Request Credit for Prior Learning
Prior Learning Assessment is “the evaluation and assessment of learning gained outside a traditional academic environment for college credit, certification, or advanced standing toward further education or training (Klein-Collins, 2015).”
UND has options for prior learning assessment that include both specialized exams and portfolio reviews.
How to Request Credit
To request credit for prior learning, students will submit their interest in a prior learning assessment and pay a non-refundable upfront cost of 20% of the base residential tuition cost for 3 credit hours:
- Undergraduate = $240.17
- Graduate = $311.03
About Credits
- If students earn more than the 3 credits, there is no additional charge.
- Students can earn up to 12 credits through PLA.
- Students are limited to one request per program.
- A request does not guarantee that any credit will be earned.
Requirements
To be eligible to request prior learning assessment, students must have been working in a setting or organization relevant to their degree program or courses for at least 2 years (documentation required) and/or have earned formal workplace certificate(s) through training. Students must also be admitted to UND in order to submit a request.
Steps For Making a Prior Learning Assessment Request
- Submit initial request
- Our PLA team will be in touch to learn more about the request and to ensure that the department is able to conduct the review or offer the exam.
- After initial consultation, if the request is eligible for review, students will be sent a link to register for the process and pay the non-refundable fee for the assessment process.
- Once paid, students will work with the PLA team to either arrange the examination with the department or to develop the portfolio based on the experience and learning goals of the program and/or courses.
- The results of the exam or the evaluation of the submitted portfolio will be provided to students following the assessment by the program.
- If credit is approved, it will be added to the student’s transcript as earned credit.