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Community Colleges of Spokane
APPLICATION FOR PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT (PLA)
Name
Last
First
Student Identification Number
E-mail
Daytime Phone
SCC SFCC
FOR STUDENTS: READ THE FOLLOWING GENERAL POLICY CAREFULLY
No assurances of the number of credits awarded can be made prior to CCS review.
Students who have been accepted to attend SCC or SFCC are eligible for PLA consideration.
Credit may be transcripted once the student has completed 10 quarter-credits in residence at CCS.
Credit is not counted toward the CCS residence credit requirement (33% of the credits required for a degree or certificate).
Credit may not satisfy credit load requirements for the purposes of veterans benefit program funding or any other
student financial assistance program.
For some prior learning assessment, there is a nonrefundable fee payable in advance at the Cashier’s Office.
Payment of fees does not guarantee the award of credits.
No fee is required for credit awarded through AP, CLEP, DSST, IB, or military education with official transcript.
A course may not be challenged if the student is currently enrolled in, has previously earned credit in, or has
previously audited the CCS course.
Credit may be used to meet appropriate graduation requirements.
Credit for prior experiential learning is limited to a maximum of 25% of the credits needed for a degree or certificate.
Transferability of credit will be subject to the policies of the receiving institution.
I request assessment for prior learning as indicated below. I have read and understand the general policy as outlined, and
understand that payment of fees is nonrefundable and does not guarantee award of credits. I further understand that
credit awarded will be posted to my transcript at the end of the grading period in which approval is granted.
This application is valid up to one year from date received.
Student Signature
Date
FEES DUE (OFFICE USE ONLY)
Type of Assessment: (no fees due)
Type of Assessment: (nonrefundable fees)
$30 per credit attempted processing fee
PLA application fee =
$ 10.00
Advanced Placement (AP)
Armed Forces Military Education
Articulation
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST)
Industry Certifications & Licensures
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Other approved course equivalencies
Challenge examination
credits x $30 =
$
Prior Learning Assessment Portfolio
(I have successfully completed GENST 105 or equivalent)
credits x $30 =
$
Industry Certifications & Licensures
(no established crosswalk)
Lab costs
credits x $30 =
$
lab costs =
$
Total Due =
$
FEE PAYMENT (TO BE COMPLETED BY CASHIER)
Cashier initials (attach copy of receipt)
Amount Received:
$
REPORT OF PRIOR LEARNING CREDIT AWARD
Faculty Evaluator Name (Please Print):
Course No.
Course Title
Credits
Grade
Faculty Evaluator Signature
Date
Department Chair
Signature
Date
Deans signature:
Date:
WHO DO I CONTACT?
GENERAL INFORMATION
Do you have questions, but not enough time to meet with a counselor or credentials evaluator? Are you unsure who you should
contact? E-mail questions to pla@ccs.spokane.edu.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP): Contact Admissions Office
Credit for minimum scores on Advanced Placement examinations given by the College Board is awarded upon receipt of official score
reports. Official scores reports should be submitted to the Transcript Office of SCC or SFCC. AP credit awards will not be granted if
the student is currently enrolled in or has successfully completed or earned credit for the course. (Refer to catalog for course
equivalencies.)
ARMED FORCES-MILITARY EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Contact PLA Coordinator
The Armed Forces of the United States provide military personnel with a great variety of educational opportunities through formal
service school training programs and off-duty educational activities. Credit may be granted for satisfactory completion of the following
when it is specific and applicable to the student’s program or degree.
Military service including basic training.
Military service schools in the amount recommended by the American Council of Education (ACE) in the publication, “Guide to
the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Forces.”
United States Armed Forces Institute correspondence courses.
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs) using the minimum score and credit amount based on ACE credit
recommendations.
Portfolio Assessment. (Students who wish to pursue credit by portfolio must enroll in and successfully complete a portfolio class
GENST 105 or equivalent.)
ARTICULATION: Contact Admissions Office
Credit will be awarded to students who have met the requirements of an approved articulation agreement with SCC or SFCC. Official
score reports should be submitted to the Transcript Office of SCC or SFCC. Articulation requirements will be reviewed and verified by
the appropriate office or department.
CHALLENGE EXAMINATIONS: Contact PLA Coordinator
Students who wish to apply for a course challenge must be interviewed and approved through the instructional department. A course
may not be challenged if the student is currently enrolled in, has previously earned credit in, or has previously audited the CCS
course. Not all courses are available for challenge. Not all departments offer challenge exams.
COLLEGE LEVEL EXAMINATION PROGRAM (CLEP): Contact Admissions Office
Community Colleges of Spokane will award credit for CLEP examinations as crosswalked in the CCS Catalog. When no specific
course number is listed, the most appropriate course equivalent is determined case by case by the appropriate department. (Refer to
catalog for course equivalencies.)
INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSURES: Contact PLA Coordinator
Individuals who have completed training through non-degree awarding agencies or institutions may apply for evaluation of credit.
Examples include recognized nursing and fire service training, law enforcement/corrections, or fire science academies and other
certifications or licenses. Official documentation of training or licensure is required. All certifications or licenses must be current and
valid, and training must be documented with ACE National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training. If training is not
documented with ACE, students should apply for credit using the PLA Portfolio and/or Challenge Examination methods.
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB): Contact Admissions Office
Community Colleges of Spokane will award credit for Higher Level International Baccalaureate exam as crosswalked in the CCS
Catalog. When no specific course number is listed, the most appropriate course equivalent is determined case by case by the
appropriate department faculty. (Refer to catalog for course equivalencies.)
PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT (PLA) PORTFOLIO: Contact PLA Coordinator
Students who wish to pursue credit by PLA Portfolio must enroll in and successfully complete a portfolio class (GENST 105 or
equivalent). Students should have justification for their requests, such as a high school or college transcripts or detailed resumes and
other pertinent documentation, prior to enrolling in the course. Normal credit charges apply for the portfolio course and a prior learning
portfolio assessment fee will be charged upon portfolio course completion for prior learning credit awarded.
A PLA Portfolio is detailed documentation illustrating what students have been taught and successfully mastered. The required
documentation varies from course to course, but may include samples of work, an essay explaining students’ experiences and
knowledge, or certificates showing successful completion of workshops or seminars.
In the portfolio class, faculty will help determine which courses are the best fit for the students’ skills and will help develop student
portfolios. The completed portfolio will be reviewed by subject matter faculty to determine what credit can be awarded. Once the
number of credits attempted is determined, students must pay the appropriate Prior Learning Portfolio Assessment fee.