Prior Learning Assessment

(previously called Competency-Based Evaluation)

Through a Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), students can earn college credit for knowledge that was obtained after completing high school (undergraduate) or post-baccalaureate (graduate) through work experience (military or civilian), in-service/corporate training programs, volunteer activities, workshops, and/or personal study. To earn PLA credit, students must prepare a portfolio which will be reviewed by a qualified faculty member.

How it works:

• You list all your learning experiences.

• You and an advisor determine which experiences match to college courses.

• You assemble a portfolio that includes examples of your work, training certificates, licenses, results of evaluations, and any other documents that support your experiences.
• The portfolio must include evidence relevant to the area in which credit is sought and demonstrate clear achievement and thorough understanding of the subject matter.

• A trained faculty member will review and assess your portfolio.

• You receive the outcome of this assessment, which may be an award of academic credit for your prior learning.

Students who are interested in the PLA process for academic credit should contact an academic advisor for further information and refer to the Mount Sinai College Prior Learning Assessment Guide for Students (see below).

What it can do for you:

• The portfolio process is a convenient and flexible way to earn credit for courses without participating in an online or traditional class.
• Portfolio credits are cost-effective
• The portfolio adapts to your schedule and time constraints. Once you have successfully completed our portfolio preparation course (IDS102), you are free to work when time is available, and additional portfolios can be written and submitted at any time of the year.
• Portfolio credits provide proof of your experiential learning.

Research has shown that constructing a prior learning portfolio has educational benefits, including enhancing your understanding of your own learning.

What it isn't:

• Portfolio Assessment isn't a fast or easy way to get credits without a lot of work.
• Portfolio Assessment is NOT a way to submit your personal resume or other documents to be evaluated for college credits. It's important to realize that the portfolio process requires your active participation by writing a narrative and compiling supporting evidence that is clearly linked to each course requested. We can't award course credits just on the basis of documents, even the very best of references.
• Portfolio Assessment is NOT a way to get credit for experience alone. Experience is what happens to you. Learning is the result of thinking about what happened, analyzing and interpreting it, and using your interpretation to make decisions that affect how you perceive and deal with the world around you. You must be able to show that you have learned from your experience.
• Portfolio Assessment cannot be substituted for existing CLEP, DANTES or other tests. You may not write a portfolio to obtain credit in a subject for which a test exists.
• Portfolio Assessment cannot be used for courses such as practical, internships and field schools whose intent is to apply knowledge learned in other courses.

View the PLA Guide for Students here

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