This brief is part of a broad landscape analysis focused on policy and practice issues related to the recognition of prior learning. The landscape analysis focuses on issues arising in the practice of the recognition of prior learning, policies that encourage or limit its adoption, and key research needs and future directions for the field. This…

The history of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) can be traced back to World War II when the American Council on Education (ACE) began conducting credit evaluations of military training. However, it wasn't until the 1970s with the inception of adult-serving colleges such as Charter Oak State College (COSC) and others, the altering of ACE to expand…

Prior learning assessment (PLA) is the process of evaluating learning, regardless of when or where the learning occurred, and, if the learning is at the college level, awarding college credit to the possessor of that learning. This article provides an overview of the PLA program at a large public U.S. institution and presents the findings of the…

The Higher Education Opportunity Act (E2SHB 1795), passed by the Legislature in 2011, identified prior learning assessment (PLA) as an innovative means for improving degree and certificate attainment and improving cost effectiveness and efficiency within Washington's higher education system. The Act defines prior learning as "the knowledge…

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) provides two types of examinations to evaluate the nontraditional educational background of adults wishing to pursue college level studies. Five multiple-choice tests (the General Examinations) are designed to assess general or liberal arts background as compared to two years of undergraduate education.…

The Bachelor of General Studies degree, a special degree program at the University of Nebraska, was established in 1950, as an academic division for the exclusive benefit of adult part-time students. The program has three distinctive features: (1) any useful combination of liberal arts and professional courses is acceptable; (2) the able student…

This handbook provides the practicing educational and career counselor with basic information about a college's policy regarding credit by examination, particularly the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). CLEP is a national program that is readily available to the general public. It is designed to measure knowledge acquired outside the…

Using the General Examinations of the College Level Examination Program to recognize prior learning can increase institutional income while reducing student costs. Recent studies at the University of Toledo are described. (MLW)

The 1976 edition of the handbook provides the most up-to-date accumulation of credit-by-examination policy data available. It is the result of several independent surveys conducted over the past few years. The survey for this edition resulted in about half of the institutions listed filing updated information. The College Level Examination Program…

In the 1960s, credit-by-examination was promoted as a way to broaden access to college. In 1971, Ewald Nyquist, Commissioner of Education in the Regents system of New York, proposed that the Educational Testing Service offer a degree based entirely on performance on examinations. Although a few institutions theoretically offer such degrees, in…

This document contains the agenda for an Administrator's Workshop given by the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) of the College Board. Included are an update on CLEP activities, a section on reaching out to faculty, and a section on reaching out to adult students. Covered in the update on CLEP activities are results of 1984 workshop surveys…