Texas Southmost College provides students with opportunities to receive credit for prior learning while still maintaining the academic integrity of its academic programs. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is the evaluation of an individual’s learning outside of the college classroom. PLA gives students an opportunity to earn college credits for college-level knowledge they have acquired through experience, including military service, employment history, advanced high school courses, or vocational training. Students may petition course credit for seven prior learning pathways:
• Military Training
• Professional Work Experience
• External Exams (such as CLEP, AP, IB)
• Internal Credit by Exam
• Continuing Education Mirror Courses
• Licensure or Professional Certification
• Career Education or Workplace Training
Course credit is awarded when content mastered through an experience (as listed above) is comparable to the student learning outcomes of a TSC course. The degree programs eligible for credits via PLA for Professional Work Experience and Licensure/Professional Certification are:
• Accounting Technology
• Auto Body Repair Technology
• Automotive Technology
• Business Management Technology
• Computer-Aided Drafting Technology
• Computer Information Systems
• Construction Technology (Pending)
• Criminal Justice
• Emergency Medical Services
• Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (Pending)
• Medical Office Management
To determine if your Military Training is applicable to a degree program, please contact the PLA Academic Advisor listed below.
Students receiving PLA credits benefit from recognized learning outside the traditional classroom by earning college credits, reducing degree costs, and accelerating degree completion.
For further information, please contact:
Enya Poole
Student Success Coach
Strategic Enrollment Services
Division of Student Services
956.295.3610
[email protected]
Links:
• Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Guidelines and Procedure Manual
• Application for Prior Learning Assessment
• Portfolio Checklist
• Licensure/Professional Certification Crosswalk