Recognition of prior learning (RPL), also known as prior learning assessment (PLA), at the graduate school level involves evaluating and granting academic credit for knowledge and skills gained through prior learning experiences, often outside of traditional academic settings. The process allows learners to demonstrate proficiency and competency in specific subject areas, potentially reducing the time and cost required to complete a graduate degree or certificate program.
Types of RPL at the graduate level include:
- Portfolio Assessment: Learners compile a portfolio showcasing previous work, projects, and achievements relevant to the program's learning outcomes, which is then assessed for credit.
- Professional Experience Evaluation: Evaluation of a student's professional experience, including employment, internships, and volunteer work, to determine if it aligns with the program's curriculum.
- Standardized Examinations: Proficiency exams such as the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) subject tests may be used to assess prior learning.
- Industry Certifications: Recognition of industry-standard certifications relevant to the program's content, such as Project Management Professional (PMP) certification for a project management program.
- Training Programs: Completion of relevant training programs, workshops, or seminars may be assessed for credit, particularly if they align with the program's learning objectives.
- Military Training and Experience: Assessment of military training, experience, and coursework for alignment with academic program requirements, often facilitated through the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations.
- Independent Study: Credit may be awarded for independent study projects or research conducted outside academic institutions, provided they meet the program's standards and criteria.
- Language Proficiency Tests: Proficiency tests such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) for non-native English speakers seeking credit in language-intensive programs.
- Prior Academic Coursework: Transfer of graduate-level coursework completed at other accredited institutions may be considered for credit if they closely match the content and rigor of the program.
- Professional Licenses: Recognition of professional licenses or credentials, such as nursing licensure or teaching certification, as evidence of prior learning in relevant fields.
RPL is not only practiced in the U.S. Countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand have established frameworks and policies to support RPL in higher education.
Academic disciplines that emphasize practical skills, professional development, or experiential learning tend to engage more in RPL. These may include fields such as business administration, education, nursing and health care, social work, engineering, and information technology.
RPL is gaining traction across a wide range of disciplines, driven by several factors:
- Increasing recognition of non-traditional learning: There is growing acknowledgment that learning occurs in settings beyond traditional classrooms, and RPL offers a means to recognize and validate this learning.
- Demand for flexible education pathways: With the rise of lifelong learning and need for upskilling and reskilling, RPL provides an avenue for individuals to accelerate their academic progress or obtain recognition for prior knowledge and experience.
- Enhanced access and affordability: RPL can reduce barriers to higher education by allowing students to earn credit for what they already know, potentially shortening the time and cost required to complete a degree or certificate program.
- Alignment with competency-based education: RPL aligns well with competency-based education models, which focus on assessing and measuring students' mastery of specific skills and knowledge rather than seat time in courses.
Examples of universities and academic programs conducting prior learning assessment at the graduate level:
- Thomas Edison State University offers a variety of graduate programs that incorporate prior learning assessment into their degree requirements.
- Capella University offers graduate programs that use a PLA process called FlexPath. This approach allows students to demonstrate mastery of competencies through various means, including prior learning assessment, to progress at their own pace.
- Walden University offers graduate programs that recognize prior learning. Students can earn credit for relevant knowledge and skills gained through work, military service, volunteer work, and other experiences.
- Excelsior College offers various graduate programs that allow students to earn credit for prior learning. Their flexible PLA process caters to adult learners seeking to accelerate their degree completion.
- Deakin University (Australia) offers graduate programs that allow students to receive credit for skills and knowledge gained through work experience, volunteering, and other non-formal learning experiences.
- Royal Roads University (Canada) offers graduate programs that assess students' prior learning through a portfolio review process, allowing them to earn credit for relevant experience.
- Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers graduate programs that allow students to earn credit for professional certifications, military training, and other experiences relevant to their program of study.
- University of Southern Queensland (USQ) (Australia) offers graduate programs that allow students to receive credit for previous work experience, training, and qualifications.
- Western Governors University (WGU) offers competency-based graduate programs that allow students to earn credit for their prior learning and experience. Its flexible assessment approach caters to adult learners seeking to accelerate their progress toward a degree.
- Ryerson University (Canada) offers graduate programs that assess students' prior learning through various means, including portfolio reviews and challenge exams.
Disciplines in which prior learning assessment is particularly prevalent include:
- Education: Many graduate programs in education recognize teachers' prior classroom experience, professional development, and educational certifications.
- Nursing and Health Care: Graduate programs in nursing and health care often recognize prior clinical experience, certifications, and training through PLA processes.
- Business Administration: MBA programs and other graduate business degrees frequently incorporate PLA to acknowledge professionals' prior managerial experience, industry certifications, and relevant coursework.
- Social Work: Graduate programs in social work may use PLA to recognize practitioners' prior fieldwork, professional development, and relevant certifications.
- Information Technology: Graduate programs in IT often use PLA to acknowledge professionals' prior technical certifications, industry experience, and relevant coursework.
