Prior Learning Assessment

1 | P a g e

Prior Learning Assessment

Request for Credit

Procedure Manual

Spring 2019

Prior Learning Assessment

2 | P a g e

Prior Learning Assessment

Table of Contents

Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1

Policies, Principles, and Practices………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….1

Types of Prior Learning Assessment..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….1-9

Prior Learning Assessment Contacts……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9

Process for Requesting Credit……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………….9

Transcription of Approved Credit…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………..…………..9

Financial Aid Implications……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………..……………..10

Residency Requirements………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………..10

Transferring Credit Earned through PLA……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………….…..10

Prior Learning Assessment

3 | P a g e

Prior Learning Assessment

Prior Learning Assessment is the process of earning college level credit through knowledge and experience acquired

outside of the standard classroom learning environment.

Northeast State Community College follows TBR policy 2:01:00:04 Awarding of Credits Earned through Extra-Institutional Learning to Community Colleges. Request for credit through Prior Learning will be assessed by the faculty subject matter expert, and approved by the Academic Dean, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and finally, the college Registrar. Students may request PLA credit through the Northeast State Community College Application for Credit of Work or Life Experience which may be found in appendix A of this document. Inquiries, questions, and concerns should be directed to the Registrar.

Students may request credit for experiential learning such as occupational training, recognized certifications, national

courses/exams, portfolio or resume review, and institutional challenge exam. Additional credit may be awarded

through experiential learning not listed above but will be at the discretion and approval of the subject matter experts

and campus administrators.

Currently, prior learning assessment credit has been established for:

1. Advanced Placement (AP)

2. American Council of Education (ACE) assessed trainings

3. College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP)

4. Credit by Exam

5. Local and Statewide Dual Credit Coursework

6. Military Service/Experience

7. Portfolio and Resume Review

8. Professional Credentials and Certifications

Advanced Placement (AP)

Northeast State currently awards credit for the following AP Exams and Minimum Scores. If an exam of interest is not

listed, please contact the Registrar for assessment of the exam for credit. Students will receive a “Pass” grade. Pass/Fail

grades do not impact grade point averages.

AP Exam Minimum

Score

Northeast Course Semester

Hours American Government 3 Political Science 1030 3

Introduction

Policies, Principles, & Practices

Types of Prior Learning Assessment

Prior Learning Assessment

4 | P a g e

History of Art 3 ART 2000 3

Biology 3 BIOL 1010 4

4 BIOL 1010 & 1020 or

BIOL 1110 & 1120

8

Chemistry 3 Chemistry 1110 4

4 Chemistry 1110, 1120 8

Chinese

Language & Culture 3 Chinese 1010, 1020 6

4 Chinese 1010, 1020, 2010 9

5 Chinese 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 12

Comparative Government &

Politics

3 Social Science Core Requirement 3

Computer Science 3 Determined by individual community

college

3

Economics

Micro 3 Economics 2200 3

Macro 3 Economics 2100 3

English

Language & Composition 3 English 1010 3

4 English 1010, 1020 6

Literature & Composition 3 English 2210, 2220 6

Environmental Science 3 Physical/Natural Science Core Requirement 4

French

Language & Culture 3 French 1010, 1020 6

4 French 1010, 1020, 2010 9

5 French 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 12

German

Language & Culture 3 German 1010, 1020 6

4 German 1010, 1020, 2010 9

5 German 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 12

History

U.S. 3 History 2010, 2020 6

European 3 History 2310, 2320 6

Prior Learning Assessment

5 | P a g e

World 3 History 2310, 2320 6

Human Geography 3 Social Science Core Requirement 3

Italian

Language & Culture 3 Italian 1010, 1020 6

4 Italian 1010, 1020, 2010 9

5 Italian 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 12

Japanese

Language & Culture 3 Japanese 1010, 1020 6

4 Japanese 1010, 1020, 2010 9

5 Japanese 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 12

Latin 3 Latin 1010, 1020 6

4 Latin 1010, 1020, 2010 9

5 Latin 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 12

Mathematics

Calculus AB 3 MATH 1830 4

4 MATH 1830 or 1910 4

Calculus BC 3 MATH 1910, 1920 8

Music Theory 3 MUS 1057 3

Physics

Physics B 3 Physics 2010 4

4 Physics 2010, 2020 8

Physics C 3 Physics 2110 4

4 Physics 2120 8

Psychology 3 PSYC 1030 3

Spanish

Language 3 Spanish 1010, 1020 6

4 Spanish 1010, 1020, 2010 9

5 Spanish 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020 12

Literature & Culture 3 No equivalent community college course

Statistics 3 MATH 1530 3

Prior Learning Assessment

6 | P a g e

Studio Art Drawing 3 ART 1040 3

Studio Art 2D Design 3 ART 1340 3

Studio Art 3D Design 3 ART 1350 3

College-Level Examination Programs (CLEP)

Northeast State currently awards credit for the following CLEP Exams and Minimum Scores. If an exam of interest is not

listed, please contact the Registrar for assessment of the exam for credit. Students will receive a “Pass” grade. Pass/Fail

grades do not impact grade point averages.

CLEP Examination Score

Accepted

Credit

Granted

Equivalent Course

American Government 50 3 POLS 1030

American Literature 50 6 ENGL 2110, 2120

Analyzing & Interpreting

Literature

50 6 TBRL 9990 (Credit for Literature

Requirement) Biology 50 8 BIOL 1110 & 1120

Calculus 50 4 MATH 1910

Chemistry 50 8 CHEM 1110, 1120

College Algebra 50 3 MATH 1630

College Composition (also

Freshman)

50 6 ENGL 1010, 1020

College Composition Modular 50 3/6 ENGL 1010, 1020

College Mathematics 50 3 MATH 1010

English Literature 50 6 ENGL 2210, 2220

Financial Accounting 50 3 ACCT 1010

French Language, level I 50 6 FREN 1010, 1020

French Language, level II 59 12 FREN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020

German Language, level I 50 6 GERM 1010, 1020

German Language, level II 60 12 GERM 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020

History of the United States I 50 3 HIST 2010

History of the United States II 50 3 HIST 2020

Human Growth and Development 50 3 PSYC 2130

Humanities 50 6 HUM 1010, 1020

Information Systems & Computer

Applications

50 3 INFS 1010

Prior Learning Assessment

7 | P a g e

Introduction to Educational

Psychology

50 3 EDUC 2210

Introductory Business Law 50 3 BUSN 2370

Introductory Psychology 50 3 PSYC 1030

Introductory Sociology 50 3 SOCI 1010

Natural Sciences 50 8 BIOL 1010, PHYS 1030

Precalculus 50 3 MATH 1710

Principles of Macroeconomics 50 3 ECON 2100

Principles of Management 50 3 Elective

Principles of Marketing 50 3 BUSN 2380

Principles of Microeconomics 50 3 ECON 2200

Social Sciences & History 50 6 Elective, HIST 2320

Spanish Language, level I 50 6 SPAN 1010, 1020

Spanish Language, level II 63 12 SPAN 1010, 1020, 2010, 2020

Western Civilization I 50 3 HIST 2310

Western Civilization II 50 3 HIST 2320

Credit by Exam

Under certain conditions a student may be awarded credit by taking departmental proficiency examinations and/or

standardized tests in a particular subject area. Applications for credit by examination should be completed at least two

weeks prior to the test administration. All credit by examination requests must be approved by the appropriate

academic dean. Grades less than “C” are not considered passing and no credit will be awarded. The nonrefundable cost

for the examination is a $25 flat fee.

Local and Statewide Dual Credit

Northeast State currently awards credit for the college coursework completed prior to high school completion. Students

may participate in Dual Credit offered by Northeast State Community College or any other regionally accredited

institution. Students will receive the actual letter grade for the course as indicated on the transcript.

To receive credit for local dual enrollment coursework, students must provide official transcripts from the credit

offering institution indicating the final course grade. *If dual enrollment coursework was through Northeast State

Community College, no transcript will be required to receive credit.

To receive credit for statewide dual enrollment coursework, students must provide official transcripts from the high

school indicating the course was offered through the statewide process along with the final course grade.

Prior Learning Assessment

8 | P a g e

Military Service/Experience

Northeast State will grant credit for appropriate educational experiences in the armed services. The American Council on

Education Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services will be used to determine credit

awarded by Northeast State. Visit the Veterans Affairs website: https://www.northeaststate.edu/Admission/Veterans-

Affairs/ to view evaluated military occupations and experience for credit.

Portfolio and Resume Review

Northeast State will grant credit for experience and learning documented by portfolios and resumes. This process is

used to plan, organize and document education, work samples, and skills. Students must prepare appropriate

documentation to demonstrate experience and learning that meets at least 70% of the course learning outcomes and

objectives. Students interested in portfolio review should complete the Northeast State Community College Application

for Credit of Work or Life Experience which may be found in appendix A of this document. Portfolios will be reviewed by

the faculty subject matter expert.

Professional Credentials and Certifications

Students may be awarded credit for activity recognized by national accreditation groups. Typically, the American Council

of Education has evaluated these programs and made recommendations for the award of credit. Northeast State faculty

have internally reviewed the following certifications. Students will receive a “Pass” grade. Pass/Fail grades do not impact

grade point averages.

Subject Course # Credit Hour Title Certification Requirement

ACCT 1371 3 Accounting Spreadsheets 1 MOS Core Level Excel Last 5 Years

ADMN 2326 3 Word Processing 2 MOS Expert Word Last 5 Years

ADMN 1311 3 Word Processing 1 MOS Core Level Word & MOS Core Level PowerPoint

Last 5 Years

ADMN 1313 3 Spreadsheet Applications MOP Core Level Excel Last 5 Years

ADMN 1308 3 Office Procedures CAP Last 5 Years

ADMN 1310 3 Business Communications CAP Last 5 Years

ADMN 1309 3 Records Management CAP Last 5 Years

ADMN 2330 3 Database Applications MOS Core Level Access Last 5 Years

ADMN 2311 3 ICD-PCS Coding CPC Last Year

ADMN 1306 3 Medical Terminology 1 CPC Last 5 Years

ADMN 1305 3 Business English CAP Last 5 Years

ADMN 2304 3 Intro to Electronic Health

Records Certified Electronic Health

Records Specialists (CEHRS) Last 5 Years

ADMN 1311 3 Word Processing 1 CAP Last 5 Years

ADMN 2303 3 CPT Coding CPC Last Year

BUSN 1370 3 Speadsheet Applications MOS Core Level Excel Last 5 Years

CISP 1010 4 Computer Science 1 Oracle Certified Associate Java SE 8

Programmer

CITC 1307 3 Intro to Spreadsheets MOS Core Level Excel Last 5 Years

CITC 1302 3 Intro to Networking CompTtA Network+ Not Expired

CITC 1320 3 A+ Hardware & Software COMPTIA A+ Not Expired

CITC 1351 3 Principles of Information

Assurance CompTIA Security+ Not Expired

Prior Learning Assessment

9 | P a g e

CITC 1323 3 CCNA 1 Cisco CCENT (ISDNI Test) Not Expired

CRMJ 1020 3 Introduction to Legal Process Walters State Regional Police

Academy Completed

CRMJ 2010 3 Intro to Law Enforcement Walters State Regional Police

Academy Completed

CRMJ 1355 3 Understanding Terrorism Walters State Regional Police

Academy Completed

HLTH 1001 1 Health Elective American Heart Association

(BLS) Contact HRS-10hrs Last 2 Years

HLTH 1001 1 Nutrition Elective Nutrition Training

Contact Hours-10hrs Completed

INFS 1010 3 Computer Applications Microsoft MOS Expert Office 2016

INTC 1020 3 Safety in the Workplace 30hr Occupational Safety and Health Training Course Card Last 10 Years

Students interested in receiving credit for Prior Learning should contact the Registrar in the Office of Admissions &

Records, on the Blountville campus, Pierce Building Room 204. Email inquiries may be sent to

admissions@northeaststate.edu. Phone inquiries should be directed to 423-354-2405.

All official requests for credit through Prior Learning must be submitted through Northeast State Community

College Application for Credit of Work or Life Experience which may be found in appendix A of this document.

Portfolios will be reviewed by the faculty subject matter expert.

Students interested in receiving credit for Military Service/Experience should contact the Office of Veteran Affairs, on the

Blountville campus, Student Services Building Room A102. Email inquiries may be sent to

veteransaffairs@NortheastState.edu . Phone inquiries should be directed to 423-354-2527.

Students interested in receiving credit for PLA already reviewed and stated above, must submit appropriate certification

or transcripts as indicated under the specific type of prior learning. Students interested in portfolio review or receiving

credit for training and certification that has not yet been evaluated should complete the Northeast State Community

College Application for Credit of Work or Life Experience which may be found in appendix A of this document. Portfolios

will be reviewed by the faculty subject matter expert.

Once approved, credit will be posted on the students’ official transcript under “Transfer Work” and the appropriate type

of Prior Learning Assessment. Except for credit by exam, Prior Learning Assessment will be given a Pass or Fail grade

which does not impact a students’ grade point average. Once credit has been posted to the students’ transcript, credit

cannot be removed due to various regulations and policies.

Prior Learning Assessment Contacts

Process for Requesting Credit

Transcription of Approved Credit

Prior Learning Assessment

10 | P a g e

While PLA credit may not impact grade point average, the hours awarded will be considered in overall attempted credit

hours. Attempted hours may impact financial aid eligibility. If receiving state or federal financial aid funds, please speak

to the financial aid office to verify PLA credit will not negatively impact the ability to receive financial aid.

Northeast State does not limit the amount of credits a student may earn through Prior Learning Assessment. Regardless

of hours awarded through PLA credit, students must meet Northeast State Residency requirements to receive a degree

or certificate. To satisfy residency requirements, students must earn 25% of the total credit hours required for a degree

or certificate through standard instruction at Northeast State Community College. PLA Credit does not satisfy residency

requirements.

Credit awarded through Prior Learning Assessment will be posted to the Northeast State Community College transcript.

Receiving Prior Learning Assessment credit upon transferring to another institution will be at the discretion of the

institution receiving the transfer credit. Please contact admissions at the transfer institution for more information on

their transfer policies regarding prior learning credit.

Financial Aid Implications

Residency Requirements

Transferring Credit Earned through PLA

*Supporting Documentation may include but is not limited to: resume, letter of support from supervisor outlining job duties, essay of detailed experience, completed training or certifications, or any form of documentation that supports the request for credit. NeSCC-2 18-128

Northeast State Community College Prior Learning Assessment Procedure

Credit for Work or Life Experience

Intake

•Student consults with PLA Coordinator in Admissions and Records.

•Student and coordinator discuss previous experience(s) and determine applicable courses for which to request credit.

Inquiry

•Student provides coordinator with supporting documentation*for credit request.

•Student completes Credit for Work or Life Experience request form and submits along with supporting documentation to the PLA Coordinator for division consideration.

Validation

•Coordinator routes request to appropiate Division Dean for approval and validation of achieved course learning objectives.

•Division Dean submits approval or denial to Vice President of Acadmic Affairs for final approval or denial.

Transcription

•PLA Coordinator transcribes any courses approved on the Credit for Work or Life Experience request form.

•Coordinator notifies student, advisor, and Division Dean of approved and transcribed course credit.

NeSCC-2 18-129

Northeast State Community College Application for Credit

Credit for Work or Life Experience

Prior to making an Application for Credit through Work or Life Experience (PLA), you must be enrolled at

Northeast State Community College (NeSCC) and meet all admissions requirements for the program in

which course credit for prior learning is being sought.

Student Name :_____________________________ Student ID#:_____________________________

Email:_____________________________________ Major:__________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________________________

Phone #: ___________________________________ Semester: _________________________________

This is a request to petition for credit through life experience for the following course or other program

requirements:

Subject:__________________ Course Number:___________________ Credit Hrs:______________

Title: ____________________________ ___________________________________ ____________

This course is required for (AAS, AS, AA or certificate) Degree in: ________________________________

Supporting Documentation: Please check all boxes for supporting documentation to be provided.

Resume* Essay of Experience Certifications

Supervisor Letter of Support Completed Training Volunteer Documentation

Other documentation to be provided at discretion of the student:

*Resume must document at least 5 years of work experience in area credit is being requested

Special Notes & Considerations for Students:

1. Please note that credit awarded through Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) counts toward earned

credit hours but does not satisfy residency requirements for graduation. Students must still

ensure 25% of the total degree credits are earned through standard instruction.

2. Once awarded, PLA credit may not be removed from a student transcript.

3. Pass/Fail will be the only grading mode awarded for Credit for Work or Life Experience and does

not impact GPA.

I have read and understand the above considerations and agree to all previously stated conditions.

Signature Printed Name Date

NeSCC-2 18-129

Northeast State Community College Review

Credit for Work or Life Experience

Reviewed By: Date Reviewed:_______________ ___________________________________________________________________________ (Academic Dean Faculty Subject Matter Expert or designee) Please Indicate

Subject:__________________ Course Number:___________________ Credit Hrs:______________

Title: ____________________________ ___________________________________ ____________

Approved Denied

Summary Reason for Denial:

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________ ____________________________________________________

All reviews must include the attached Learning Outcomes Rubric.

Credit Reviewer: _______________________________________________Date______________ Division Dean:_________________________________________________Date______________ VP of Academic Affairs: _________________________________________Date______________ Registrar:_____________________________________________________ Date______________ Emailed Decision Date:______________

NeSCC-2 18-129

* Registrar applies credit and informs student of decision via Northeast State student email account *

Northeast State Community College Learning Outcomes Rubric

Credit for Work or Life Experience

Course Learning Outcomes Met Through:

Recognize, interpret, and create appropriate presentations for data and descriptive statistics in the form of histograms, graphs, charts, tables, and frequency distributions.

Resume outline experience. (Please list specific job duties)

Total Number of Learning Outcomes:______

Total Number of Outcomes Met through Work or Life Experience:_____

Percentage of Outcomes Met*:_____% (Student must have a minimum of 70% of the learning outcomes to receive Pass credit for course)

*example above taken from MATH 1530 please input appropriate outcomes from syllabus*