Your industry certifications, military or other professional training and experience, and scores from high school exam programs may qualify you to get college credits before you start taking classes, or allow you to skip certain courses as you progress in your program.
Through a process called Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), students who are enrolled at CCA and have declared a program of study may choose to demonstrate knowledge and skills that match required course competencies and receive college credit for what they know, eliminating the need to take certain classes. Students may request PLA credit for any course listed in the CCA course catalog and will be awarded credit for demonstrating mastery (meet or exceed “C” level work, or “B” level work where required by industry for certification) of the learning outcomes for the course.
Different ways to pursue PLA include:
To learn more and explore your credit for prior learning options, visit the sections noted above as well as our frequently asked questions (FAQs). It is always a good idea to talk to your advisor about your academic plans, including transfer and how prior learning credits are handled by receiving institutions. You may also reach out the to department chair for the course for which you want to request credit for additional information and assistance with prior learning options. We are here to help!