Many of our students are returning to school after years of relevant work experience. Our prior learning assessments (PLAs) offer you the chance to receive academic credit for your professional experience, accelerating your time to degree completion and reducing cost.

You will be able to submit a portfolio that outlines in detail how you have achieved course learning outcomes through your experience, which may include prior coursework, learning activities, teaching, employment trainings, practice in the field, publications, or advocacy. Program faculty will assess this portfolio and determine whether you are eligible to skip courses in the curriculum.

PLAs are offered in the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD) and Doctor of Education (EdD) programs.

*BPPE regulations: Of the first 30 semester credits awarded a student in a graduate program, no more than 6 semester credits may be awarded for prior experiential learning. Of the second 30 semester credits (i.e., credits 31 to 60) awarded a student in a graduate program, no more than 3 semester credits may be awarded for prior experiential learning. No credit for experiential learning may be awarded after a student has obtained 60 semester credits in a graduate program

Please refer to the University's catalog for additional information: https://catalog.usa.edu/content.php?catoid=48&navoid=3258#prior-learning-credit-pla-policy.