Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a process by which you can earn college credit for learning that you have achieved through life and work experience (such as owning your own business or managing a business, training courses offered through work or the military, extended volunteerism, or independent study). Through one of the many forms of PLA described below, you have the opportunity to demonstrate that your prior learning integrates theory and practice and demonstrates your achievement of the learning outcomes of certain LCSC courses. Prior Learning is assessed by faculty with expertise in the subject matter, and is only awarded for learning and not for experience alone.
Your participation in one or more of the PLA options described below can benefit you in several significant ways. Here are just a few of those potential benefits:
Read this for more information on Lewis-Clark State College’s policy on Credit by Prior Learning Assessment:
http://www.lcsc.edu/media/646277/2118-credit-by-prior-learning-assessment.pdf
The Advanced Placement Program (AP) is a testing program of the College Entrance Examination Board. High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who have participated in an AP program during high school, or who have developed an equivalent background through self initiative, may take tests in any or all of the following areas: biology, calculus, chemistry, economics, English, US government, US history, music theory, studio art (drawing and general), physics, and psychology. AP examinations are given in AP approved high schools during the third week of May. Further information on this program is contained in:
Guide to the Advanced Placement Program
College Board Publication Orders
Box 2815
Princeton, NJ 08540
Read this for more information: Advanced Placement LCSC Equivalent Courses
Step 1: Request that an official AP transcript be sent to the Registrar for evaluation of any LCSC equivalent courses.
Credit for military training and experience is available to degree seeking LCSC students or post baccalaureate students currently enrolled at LCSC. The assessment and transcription of credit for military training and experience is consistent with the established standards for credit evaluation and award based on standards such as the American Council on Education (ACE) Guide.
Read this for more information: LCSC Policy 2.120
Step 1: Contact the Registrar's Office to request an evaluation of your military training and experience.
A Challenge Exam assesses your mastery of college-level learning outcomes designated for specific LCSC courses. Under guidelines approved by each division, currently enrolled, degree-seeking students may challenge courses in which they believe there has been substantial prior learning. Exams may include a variety of formats, such as multiple choice questions, short answer, essay questions, oral interviews, or skills demonstrations.
Read this for more information: Challenge-Exams
Step 1: Contact Sarah Willmore at skwillmore@lcsc.edu.
Many areas of learning have vertical content in which higher levels are dependent upon skill and knowledge acquired at lower levels. Students may complete a “Competency Credit” form to receive credit for sequential courses. If lower level learning can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of faculty who offer these courses, such as mathematics and foreign languages, students may request to enroll in the higher level or advanced course. Students who earn a grade of “C” or better in the higher level advanced course may be awarded competency credit for the bypassed lower level course by securing faculty and Division Chair signatures on a Competency Credit form and then submitting the Competency Credit form to the Registrar & Records Office for processing. Competency credits will be posted to students’ transcripts in the term in which they completed the higher level course and will be designated with a “CC” prior to the course title. There is no fee for filing this form.
Read this for more information: Competency Credit Form
Step 1: Contact the Chair of the Division that offers the course for which you hope to receive Competency Credit.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) offers high-quality programs of international education to a worldwide community of schools. The Programme helps develop the intellectual, personal, emotional, and social skills to live, learn, and work in a rapidly globalizing world. The IB Diploma Programme is a comprehensive, internationally recognized curriculum and assessment system for students in their last two years of secondary school.
Read this for more information: Minimum Required Scores and LCSC Equivalent Courses
Step 1: Ask a Diploma Programme coordinator to submit a transcript request to the IB on your behalf. Transcripts should be sent to the Registrar for evaluation of any LCSC equivalent courses. Contact the LCSC Registrar if you have any questions.
Placement exams are used to determine what Math and English classes a student can start their college career in. Students over the age of 21 without SAT or ACT scores, students under the age of 21 that want to attempt to place into a higher class than their SAT or ACT scores put them into, or students going into a Career and Technical Education Program can take the placement exam(s).
Read this for more information: Math Placement Exam-ALEKS
Step 1: Speak with someone in Admissions or your advisor for more information on what test you need to take.
CLEP, DSST/DANTES enable students to earn college credit by examination. Students interested in earning credit through the respective program should contact the Registrar & Records Office .
Read this for more information: Minimum Required Scores and LCSC Equivalent Courses
Step 1 if you plan to take a CLEP Exam:
Step 1 if you have already completed CLEP exams and wish to have your scores evaluated: Request that your scores be sent to the Registrar directly from:
CLEP
Educational Testing Service
Princeton, New Jersey, 08541
A Portfolio is a formal means of requesting assessment of your prior work/life experience from which you have developed sufficient college-level learning to earn credit for a specific class. Portfolio Assessments are particularly appropriate for learning that occurred through work experience, such as owning your own business, or managing a significant project, or long-term volunteering for an agency. Portfolio Assessments will only be available for courses for which there is not another means of earning credit through Prior Learning Assessment, such as CLEP or Challenge Exam.
Read this for more information: Portfolio Assessments
Step 1: Contact Sarah Willmore at skwillmore@lcsc.edu.
