Blue Ridge CTC allows you to apply relevant learning, work, and life experiences toward college credits through the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) process. Also, you can reduce the time spent obtaining the degree and reduce your overall cost.

Save Time And Money – Apply Past Experience Toward Your Degree

You may be able to fulfill some elective, interdisciplinary, and/or general education courses by going through the PLA process. To be eligible for PLA credits, you must be an undergraduate student who has already been accepted into Blue Ridge and completed the admission process.

PLA Credit Costs

There is a submission fee and a fee per credit assessed applied to your program. The submission fee is $300, and the fee per credit awarded is $10.

Application to the PLA process does not guarantee credits will be applied, so please read the qualifications carefully. Speak with your Academic Advisor about whether your experience can qualify for college credit.

How To Qualify For Credit

There are two ways to qualify:

Create a Professional Training Portfolio.
This portfolio will include a description of an institutional or corporate training courses, the date it was completed, number of hours of training and other essential information, such as a course description. The portfolio includes:

• Goal Statement
• Experience Tables
• Resume and Cover Letter
• Experiential Essays
• Supporting Documentation

Posting of Credits for a recognized standard certification
Certification credits are approved and awarded through program assessment by Program Coordinators.

Credits Assessment

• Industry Experts and Subject Matter Experts determine the credit awarded.
• Resources such as the American Council for Education (ACE), Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) are used to determine guidelines for credit award in some instances.

Past Learning Experience Credits

Career Experience

• Airframe and Power Plant
• ASE Automotive
• Cosmetology License
• Electricians License
• Real Estate License
• Massage Therapy License
• Surgical Technician License
• Culinary License
• HVAC License
• CNA
• LPN
• Radiology Technician
• Respiratory Therapist
• Dental Assistant
• Pharmacy Technician

Life Experience and Training:

• Corrections
• Police Academy
• Professional Enrichment
• Volunteer Work
• Military
• State Police
• Cadet Training
• Mortuary Science
• Fire Fighter
• Land Surveying

Tests – Exams/ Certifications

• DANTES
• CLEP
• Microsoft
• CompTIA
• Certiport
• Work Keys
• CISCO

Need more information? Contact:

Dr. Apryl McDonough

amcdonou@blueridgectc.edu

304-260-4380 ext. 2336

304-433-0609 (call or text)