There are many ways to turn your experiences into college credit.
Massachusetts community colleges provide credit for a variety of subject areas and courses. If your professional, academic, or life experience aligns with one or more of the subject areas below, take a look at the colleges that will evaluate that experience, and see the courses for which credit can be granted.
Select an area of experience
Choose a college
You may earn credit for these courses
Find out if you can earn credit for prior learning.
Credit for Prior Learning Types Descriptions
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
A series of tests that is nationally recognized and was originally created by The College Board for AP High School courses.
BYU / NYU / Other Language
Language tests, either developed by college faculty or external entities used to grant college credit to students earning satisfactory scores.
Certificate Licensure Evaluation
Students may earn college credit by presenting a professional certificate or license for training that has been evaluated by faculty as equal to a college course or courses. Types of learning may include industry certifications, professional licensures, etc.
Challenge / Departmental Exam
Tests that can be used to meet pre-requisites (requirements needed to take a course), waive college courses, or earn credits for a course at a particular college or university. When a student takes this test they are “challenging” the need to take the course. The college’s faculty creates the test and awards credit for a minimum score, which is usually set by an academic department or instructor.
CLEP (College Level Examination Program)
A type of nationally recognized, standardized testing used to grant college credit to students earning satisfactory scores on various examinations.
DSST (formerly DANTES)
A type of nationally recognized, standardized testing used to grant college credit to students earning satisfactory scores on a limited number of examinations.
Internal Articulation
Non Credit to credit options by Internal Departmental/Articulation agreements allow certain non-credit courses and certifications to be evaluated for academic credit.
International Baccalaureate Programs (IB)
An international qualification for entry into college, similar to AP. The courses and/or Diploma Program are designed for students aged 16 to 19, and is a two-year program leading to final exams.
Local Evaluation
A college-specific way of demonstrating prior learning that is generated and evaulated locally by college academic departments and faculty- refer to college for details.
Military
College credit for military courses and training that is recommended by the ACE College Credit Recommendation Service and awarded via the evaluation of a student’s Joint Services Transcript (JST).
Other Exams
Tests that are either developed by college faculty or external entities, used to grant college credit to students earning satisfactory scores.
Other PLA
College credit for military courses and training that is recommended by the ACE College Credit Recommendation Service and awarded via the evaluation of a student’s Joint Services Transcript (JST).
Portfolio
A formal communication (including a written piece) presented by a student to the college as part of a request for college credit for prior learning. The portfolio must clearly demonstrate learning outcomes with enough supporting evidence and documentation for faculty to evaluate it for college credit.
Technical Prep
Academic and career-related courses from Vocational Technical schools evaluated for college credit statewide.