Learning counts. Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) has become mainstream at colleges and universities who welcome adult learners and recognize learning outside the classroom should not be ignored. This means there are methods for you to apply/petition for college credit in place, but you need to ask about them.

CAEL (the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning) and ACE (the American Council on Education) both have developed best practices, credit recommendations and a network of institutions that will assess your experiential learning gained outside the classroom.

Usually, this will entail preparing a portfolio of learning evidence which is no small effort to compile. Most schools offering PLA also offer a course providing instruction on how to prepare one's portfolio. Students (who are enrolled) petition for credit by course and Faculty review the material submitted as the basis of assessment. Some Colleges and Universities, like Excelsior, also offer an option to test out of courses. Check out the article Three Myths for Adults Returning to College which addresses the key question of whether or not you can get college course credit for life and work experience.

It is important to note that PLA is not about buying credits and skipping courses without effort. The fees paid for PLA are for the assessment, which is like a test. The preparation of the portfolio is a great deal of work, not to be confused with a simple request. The portfolio process is a reflective process requiring students to articulate what they know and prove they know it in writing. One has to describe the sources of learning and provide logic and background supporting materials. It requires a commitment to complete a portfolio and has a payback when work experience can be shown to be relevant to the courses required for a major or the general core courses that are also required. CAEL's independent research of thousands of students has found that students engaged in a portfolio and assessment process do persist and complete their degree on average better than traditional students, given the commitment to finish the degree. Schools that are adult learner friendly will usually offer PLA compared to those that are not.