Accelerate Your Degree with Prior Learning Assessment

The Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is a valuable opportunity for non-traditional and adult learners returning to college, allowing them to earn academic credits for real-world experiences such as work, military service, volunteering, and personal pursuits. This approach helps students save time and money by recognizing the knowledge they already possess.

Paili Bloom, a retail professional with 15 years of experience, used the PLA to accelerate her bachelor’s degree in retail management at AMU. She oversees business strategies and operations as a store manager for the Army Air Force Exchange Service. With her extensive background in retail management, Paili pursued PLAs for courses related to her daily work, such as managing operations, retail trends, and relationships with stakeholders.

Her PLA portfolios, which included performance reviews, training, awards, and work samples, were assessed by faculty members, who recommended her for academic credits. A PLA workshop also guided her in creating effective portfolios. Through eight successful PLAs, Paili reduced the time needed to complete her degree while working full-time.

Paili highly recommends the PLA option to other working students, emphasizing its ability to leverage real-world experience for academic credit. She says, “The PLA allowed me to complete my degree faster and manage my time better. It’s a great option for anyone looking to use their professional experience to fulfill degree requirements.”

Note: A similar version of this article was originally published on AMUEdge.com and APUEdge.com.  Also in CAEL The Transformative Impact of the Prior Learning Assessment on Adult Learners (cael.org). The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is a national nonprofit that supports creating education-to-career pathways, promoting economic mobility, and community prosperity.

For more information, visit our Prior Learning Assessment page or email [email protected]. You can also chat with the PLA Experiential Learning Specialist, Marsha Metzer - Book time with Metzer, Marsha: PLA Office Hours.