Knowledge and skills that you have acquired through work and life experiences may translate to college credits at Mount Aloysius College. If you have completed industry trainings, certificate programs, or have experience in the workforce, you can start or finish a degree with certain credit requirements already completed. This may include experience with business, accounting, technology, entrepreneurship, and more.

Mount Aloysius College will not award credit simply for a student’s years of experience but, rather, the College will request that the student demonstrate his/her knowledge gained as a result of these experiences. Credit can be earned for work accomplished through the College Assessment of Prior Learning (CAPL). The goal of this assessment procedure is to credential knowledge. Students wishing to pursue this process should contact the Registrar for detailed directions and proper forms.

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An Overview of Prior Learning Assessment Policy

To recognize college-level learning students have acquired outside of formal higher education, Mount Aloysius College relies on the following policy to ensure its practices are consistent with academic integrity and are responsive to adult learners. Such learning may be derived from various life and work experiences.

The term “prior learning assessment” refers to all of the processes the Mount Aloysius College uses to review and evaluate evidence of learning and to award academic credit in accordance with academic and administrative standards. Adherence to this policy is intended to support transparent transfer of prior learning assessment credit among institutions of higher education.

All students who have been admitted to the College and are currently in good academic standing are eligible to participate in prior learning assessment as it relates to their program of study requirements. Prior learning assessment is intended for work completed prior to enrolling at Mount Aloysius College.

Students may earn up to 12 credits of their degree program requirements through prior learning assessment as long as the residency requirement is satisfied. Credits earned through prior learning assessment are not considered part of the residency requirement.

The following methods are acceptable for validating prior learning for awarding credits:

  • Credit recommendations listed in the American Council on Education (ACE) National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training and the ACE Military Guide.
  • Credit recommendations provided by the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) at www.nationalccrs.org.
  • Credit demonstrated by successfully passing national for-credit examination programs such as:
    • DSST Exams (formerly DANTES) – Must carry a standard score equal to or above the 70th percentile.
    • UExcel Exams (formerly Excelsior College Examinations) – A grade of C and recommendation consistent with the policies established by the American Council on Education College Credit Recommendation Service.
    • The College Board College Level Examination Program (CLEP) – Scores of 50 or greater will be awarded MAC credit.
    • Advanced Placement (AP) Exams – Scores of four and five earn credit in all areas. Scores of three waive the course requirement but is not awarded credit.
    • International Baccalaureate exams or IB – See complete policy on the College’s website.
  • Individual experiential learning portfolios evaluated locally using the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) guidelines and principles.
  • Faculty-developed Institutional Challenge Examinations.

Prior learning credits shall be applied to degree or academic program requirements in the same manner as credits earned at this institution. Prior learning credits will be designated on the transcript by the appropriate course title, course number, and number of credits awarded as aligned with the course/curriculum for which the credit was awarded. The neutral grades of “P” for Pass or “T” for transfer shall be utilized. Credits will be awarded, but there will be no impact on the semester or cumulative grade point average. PLA credits are only posted to the transcript when credit is awarded.

The fees for challenge exams and prior learning assessment portfolios can be found below:

  • Challenge Exams $100
  • CAPL – Application Fee $200
  • Fee for Credits Earned $25 per credit

Other forms of Prior Learning Assessment Fees, such as CLEP, AP Exam, UExcel, fees are determined by the organization providing the service.

Examples of Experiential Learning Activities

Type of Activity Documentation
Work Experience Job descriptions, awards, letters of commendation, performance evaluations, samples of work produced, explanation of tasks performed, licenses earned, performance standards for acquiring licenses, membership in professional organizations, scores and outcomes of licensing exams
Non-College Course and Training Transcripts, enrollment verification, learning outcomes or objectives for the program/course, syllabi, program descriptions with outlines – number of class instructional hours, number of clinical or practicum hours, diploma
Special Accomplishments Books published, speeches given, programs for performances, writing samples, presentation materials, professional written proposals, commendations, awards, news coverage, letters of corroboration from co-volunteers- clients served-supervisors

Contact Us for Information on the CAPL Process

Registrar’s Office

7373 Admiral Peary Highway
Admin 103
Cresson, PA 16630