Step 3: Evidence of Prior Learning

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams are typically offered upon completion of an Advanced Placement Course at the high school level. For more information about AP Exams, please visit https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/ap-exams-overview.

Students who have previously passed AP Exams are encouraged to send their official passing score report(s) from College Board directly to CCRI Records. To complete the step of having your AP Score report sent to CCRI Records, visit: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/sending-scores

College Board College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) helps students receive college credit for what they already know. For more information about CLEP Exams, please visit https://clep.collegeboard.org/.

Students who are interested in taking a CLEP Exam at CCRI should visit https://www.ccri.edu/advising/clep/ for a list of available CLEP exams and registration information. Please note: To confirm that this option will be beneficial in degree completion, students are encouraged to first contact a Credit for Prior Learning Coordinator or their Academic Advisor before registering for an exam.

Students who have previously passed CLEP Exams are encouraged to send their official passing score report(s) from College Board to:

CCRI Records Department – Flanagan Campus
1762 Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, RI 02865

Official E-transcripts can be sent to: [email protected].

*The DSST equivalencies at CCRI are in departmental review as of August 2023*

Earning a score of 175 to 200 on the GED® exam places a student at the College Ready Plus level. This means that, with that score, a student has demonstrated more than being just College Ready; hence the designation of College Ready Plus. Students entering CCRI who have earned this status are eligible for 10 college credits after the student has received an ACE recommendation for credits. Here is how the credits are awarded:

• MATH 1200 - College Algebra (3 credits)
• BIOL 1005  - General Science Elective (3 credits)
• SOCS 1010 - General Sociology (3 credits)
• ENGL 0000 - English (1 credit)

Students are encouraged to send their qualifying scores to a Credit for Prior Learning Coordinator for evaluation.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is an option for students in some high schools. Students who achieve scores of 5, 6 , or 7 on the Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations may be awarded credits in each Higher Level exam. Students who complete the entire IB Diploma will be awarded a total of 30 credits.

No credit awards are provided for scores less than 5 on the Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations or any Lower Level International Baccalaureate (IB) Examinations.

Students are encouraged to send their qualifying scores to a Credit for Prior Learning Coordinator for evaluation.

UExcel exams from Excelsior College, in conjunction with Pearson, have been developed to assist with the earning of credit through standard exam testing.

For more information about this option as well as any associated fees, please visit https://www.excelsior.edu/courses-and-exams/.

The full list of UExcel exams and the CCRI courses to which they have been mapped can be found at https://www.ccri.edu/priorlearning/uexcel.html.

The Community College of Rhode Island offers credit for military training and experience as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE) for prescribed courses. Typically, military training is awarded for General Elective credits. Note: Training must have been completed within the past ten years in order to receive credit for prior learning.

In order to receive credit for military training and experience, students must register for an account using the Joint Services Transcript (JST) portal and send their JST to CCRI. A Prior Learning Coordinator will then review the transcript for a possible credit award. Please note: students requesting credit for military training and experience should consult with the Veterans Services Office before credits are posted to ensure understanding of how VA education benefits may be impacted.

Many corporate and professional training programs, like the ones listed below, have had their corporate training evaluated by the American Council on Education (ACE).

• Chili's, KFC, McDonalds, Starbucks Coffee Company
• Home Depot, Walmart
• Microsoft, Walt Disney
• National Emergency Training Center (EMI & NFA)
• Jack Welch Management Institute
• SkillSoft Corporation

This corporate training is one of the easiest pathways to recognize and award credit, as ACE has determined two things. They have determined that the training is college-level learning and they recommend the number of credits to be awarded for the training.

To see if the company you work for has had their training evaluated by ACE, go to the ACE National Guide, click the letter associated with the first letter of the name of the company you work for. If it shows up, click the company name and see if you took any of the courses that were evaluated. If they are listed, click the "Request a Transcript" tab at the very top of the page and follow the instructions. Once we receive the transcript from ACE, we will review it and your program of study to see if credits can be awarded and for what courses the credit would be awarded.

Most all of these credit awards are transferable to many institutions across the United States. If you are planning to transfer to another institution, however, it is recommended that you review that institution's degree requirements and transfer of credit policies.

What if the corporate or professional training I have taken has not been evaluated by ACE or the faculty of CCRI? A Portfolio review may be right for you.

If your professional or corporate training has not been evaluated by ACE, our faculty at CCRI have evaluated a number of localized training programs and have determined how many credits and for which courses the credit can be awarded.

You may have participated in formal or on-the-job training sponsored by your employer or perhaps a civic or professional organization. Perhaps you are a licensed or certified professional (real estate broker, police officer, insurance appraiser, or maybe you have participated in an apprenticeship program through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - IBEW). If this is the case, you may be eligible for college credit based upon our evaluation of the training.

Review the list of Standardized Credit Awards to see if your training has already been evaluated by the faculty of CCRI.

What if the corporate or professional training I have taken has not been evaluated by ACE or the faculty of CCRI? A Portfolio review may be right for you.

When exams are not available for the specific course of interest, a portfolio assessment may be appropriate. The development of a portfolio for assessing your accumulated learning and knowledge is a unique way of earning college credits. By documenting learning outside the classroom, hundreds of adult students have saved countless tuition dollars and classroom hours by earning credits based on the learning and knowledge acquired outside of the traditional classroom.

For more information about portfolio assessment at CCRI, please visit https://www.ccri.edu/priorlearning/isplaforyou.html.

Challenge exams are generally offered only when a College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test does not exist and when the specific skills are best assessed using a test format. Students are encouraged to contact the Department Chair to determine if a Challenge Exam is available and/or appropriate.

For more information about Departmental Challenge Exams at CCRI, please visit https://www.ccri.edu/priorlearning/challenge.html.