Experiential Learning Credit

Learning that occurs outside the sponsorship of a legally authorized and accredited postsecondary educational institution is defined as experiential learning. This learning occurs within the context of your life and work experience and can include independent reading and study, training courses in business, government, and industry, third-party certificates and credentials, as well as other sources. In accordance with guidelines established by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), UT recognizes and awards college credit for experiential learning through a portfolio assessment process that adheres to the CAEL guidelines.

Credit is not awarded for work/life experience itself, but rather for the learning you gained from the experience demonstrated through a portfolio. The development of the portfolio provides a way for you to analyze and reflect on your experience in order to demonstrate experiential learning by providing evidence along with written explanations. In this way, the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Portfolio is a bridge between your experience and your academic degree.

Before you can begin the PLA Portfolio process you must do the following:

• Be enrolled in a degree-seeking program at UT.
• Meet with an advisor to ensure that PLA credit will fit into your graduation plan.
• Participate in a PLA Portfolio Orientation with the PLA Mentor. This may be accomplished in person or via Zoom.

Two types of PLA credit may be awarded through portfolio assessments: Course Equivalency credit and Elective Block credit.

If you have college-level learning from work or life experiences for which you can provide evidence and you wish to apply for credit for a specific course rather than for generalized elective credit, this is the portfolio you will use. The emphasis for this portfolio is documenting learning that aligns with the specific course learning outcomes shown in the catalog for the course you desire. Credit proposed by the learner and approved by the department will be course-specific.

Follow the steps below to get started in applying course equivalency experiential credit towards your program of study.

If you have non-credit college-level learning for which you can provide evidence that extends beyond a course, the elective block credit option is something you should consider. The learning can be derived from work /life experience, professional development, massive open online courses (MOOCs), microcredentials such as digital badges, or other experiences that you would like to have assessed for possible prior learning credit. All credit awarded from evidence in this portfolio will be in the form of elective credit. The credit may be granted as either upper division or lower division.

Follow the steps below to get started in applying elective block experiential credit towards your program of study.