Earn College Credit for Work and Life Experience
Save time and money toward completing your degree by earning credit for work, life or military experience.
Credit for prior learning at Boise State allows you to earn academic credit for the college-level learning you’ve done through your experiences outside of a traditional classroom.
Discover What Prior Learning Offers You
Credit for prior learning recognizes significant knowledge gained beyond a traditional classroom. This option benefits working professionals, those with military backgrounds, entrepreneurs, community volunteers and others seeking a flexible and innovative educational experience.
Save Money
Credit for prior learning is a cost-effective way to approach your educational goals. Earning credit for your past experience means you can potentially take fewer classes and save thousands of dollars on tuition fees.
Finish Faster
Turn your real-world experience into college credits and get a head start on your academic journey. By receiving credit for knowledge you already have, you can shorten the time it takes to earn your degree and graduate sooner.
Maximize Experience
Your professional work, military training or volunteer service has taught you valuable skills. Our program recognizes and validates that learning, ensuring your past achievements contribute directly to your future academic success.
How Credit For Prior Learning Can Help You
You can earn credit for prior learning through several options designed to recognize college-level knowledge gained outside a traditional classroom. Depending on your background, credit may be awarded for professional experience, documented learning or successful performance on approved assessments.
Testing and Assessments
Boise State also offers credit for prior learning through standardized exams such as CLEP, DANTES and other sources through the Testing Center. Many departments also offer department-prepared exams or credit for prerequisites not taken when students are placed into a higher-level course.
Prior Learning Portfolio
Turn what you already know into academic credit. Our flexible portfolio assessment lets you earn credit for learning gained through work, military service, or self-study—no specific credentials required. Through a guided course with faculty support, you can reframe your experiences as learning.
Academic Credit for Industry Credentials
See the following table for examples of how your experience could help you save tuition and time.
Quality
Our credit for prior learning assessments adhere to the highest standards outlined in accreditation standards for institutions of higher education.
Highest Standards
Designed for those with significant professional experience or expertise through certification, learning experience, military background and other sources of learning, our assessments harness your prior learning and help you thoroughly demonstrate your knowledge.
Designed for Your Success
Credit for prior learning is designed with students first in mind. Boise State credit for prior learning assessments follow the Ten Standards for Quality Assurance in Assessing Learning, outlined as best practices by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about earning credit for your prior learning from Boise State? We’ve got answers to the most common questions students ask in areas including general information, the application process, post-award, military support and current student support.
What is credit for prior learning, and how does it benefit me?
Credit for prior learning is a way to earn college credit for college-level knowledge you’ve gained through work, military service and training, industry certifications, licenses and volunteer work. It can save you time and money by allowing you to bypass courses you already know.
What types of experience are eligible for credit for prior learning?
Eligible experiences typically include professional work, on-the-job training, military service and training (often evaluated through the ), industry certifications, licenses, and volunteer work. The key is demonstrating that your experience is equivalent to the learning outcomes of a specific college course.
How do I apply for credit for prior learning?
The process generally starts with meeting an academic advisor to discuss your experiences and determine if they align with your degree requirements. After this, you’ll have a clear idea of your next steps toward earning credit, whether you submit a portfolio, take a challenge exam or provide official documentation.
Is there a fee for the credit for prior learning assessment?
Yes, there is a non-refundable fee for the assessment, which varies depending on the method used (e.g., portfolio review, department-prepared exam or professional certification). This fee is separate from tuition, and in all cases it is relatively small, a fraction of the cost of a full course.
Do credit for prior learning credits count toward my graduation residency requirement?
Credit for prior learning credits do not count toward the graduation residency requirement, which is the minimum number of credits that must be earned at the university in order to graduate. This is an important distinction to clarify with your advisor.
How many credits can I earn through credit for prior learning?
This is a highly individualized question, which depends on the credits a student brings in, as well as the amount allowed by the degree program. Note that credit for prior learning does not count toward graduation residency, which may affect the maximum number of credits you can earn. Consult with an advisor for specific details.
Can I get credit for my military training and experience?
Yes! Boise State awards credit for military service and training based on recommendations from organizations like the American Council on Education (ACE), and students can also use military experience in our portfolio process for other course challenges. You may be asked to provide an official military transcript, such as a Joint Services Transcript (JST) or Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) transcript.
Do my professional certifications or licenses count for credit?
Many nationally recognized industry certifications are eligible for credit. If you hold a certification that is not listed on this page, reach out to your advisor or a faculty member in your department. The university will review the specific certification to determine if it aligns with an existing course.
Will credit for prior learning credits affect my GPA?
No. Credit for prior learning credits appear as “TE” (Transfer Equivalency) on your transcript and are not calculated into your grade point average.
Will my credit for prior learning credits transfer to another university?
While your credits are recognized by this institution, their transferability to other colleges and universities is not guaranteed and largely depends on the school to which they are being transferred. It is essential to check the credit for prior learning policies of any receiving institution before assuming the credits will transfer.
What kind of experiences can be used towards a credit for prior learning application?
Your credit for prior learning application must show that you have met the learning objectives for the course you would like to receive credit for. There are usually many ways to demonstrate understanding of this subject matter.
Some of the experiences students have used are:
- Military experience, training and/or coursework
- Professional licenses
- Industry certifications
- Professional and organizational experience
- On-the-job training
- Volunteer or nonprofit work
- Entrepreneurship
- Service on boards or advisory groups
- In-service and professional development courses
- Independent reading and study
- Involvement in professional organizations or conferences
What support will I have?
The credit for prior learning process is highly supportive and individualized, with help from both advisors and faculty.
How can it help me finish my degree faster and more affordably?
Your portfolio will make the case that you’ve already learned the material in a specific course or courses through your experience. If your challenge is successful, the course or courses will appear on your transcript and count toward the upper-division electives required for graduation, saving you time and tuition.
Request More Information
Still have questions? We’re here to help. Our team will listen to your goals and guide you to the right resources based on your unique situation.
Not sure which online degree or program fits your goals? New to online learning? Need help understanding transfer credits or financial aid options? That’s exactly what we’re here for.
If you are a current student with questions about credit for prior learning, contact your advisor.