Students Can Request Credit for Prior Learning through LionPATH

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Categories: Academic Success
April 28th, 2025

Penn State World Campus students now have an easier way to possibly earn credits for knowledge they have gained outside of the classroom, which could help them save time and money.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) lets current undergraduate Penn State students earn credit for certain courses if they can demonstrate that they already have significant knowledge in an area covered in one or more of those courses. Students earn credit through PLA by either taking an exam or submitting a portfolio.

PLA is especially relevant for adult learners, who can often demonstrate that they have obtained important skills and experience through work experience, volunteer roles, military service, or other means.

Benefits of earning credit through PLA

PLA can offer valuable benefits. Because students may be able to skip one or more courses, they can possibly complete their program more quickly. They can also save money, as the cost of PLA is $100 for an examination and $150 for portfolio review, which is less than the cost of completing the equivalent courses required to earn the same credit.

Requesting PLA credit through LionPATH

Requesting credit through the PLA process is now much easier, thanks to a new tool that has been integrated into LionPATH. Students can access this tool by clicking the “Transfer Credit” button in the Student Home Base and then selecting “Prior Learning Request” on the left-side menu. Choose the specific course for which you want to request credit and provide information about your relevant experience. Once your request is approved, you will need to pay the appropriate fee through the bursar’s office before submitting your portfolio or taking the exam.

This LionPATH tool is a big improvement that makes the PLA much faster and easier than the previous process, which required students to provide payment in the form of a personal check and submit a paper form that had to be physically circulated among the relevant offices and faculty or staff members.

Courses eligible for PLA credit

Earning credit via exam or portfolio isn’t an option for all courses. Michele Rice, director of the Prior Learning Assessment Office, which is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education, says each college has its own policies about which of its courses (if any) are eligible. When students access the Prior Learning Request section of LionPATH, they will see a dropdown list displaying the available course options.

Some of the PLA course options available to World Campus students fall under the ENGL, CAS, COMM, KINES, and IST subject areas. Additional courses in BUS and other areas are expected to be added in the near future. Students in TURF and IST programs may have the option to complete portfolios via PLA for their internships if they are working in the field.

What to consider before submitting a PLA request

While PLA can be helpful for some students, it may not necessarily be right for everyone. Students likely to benefit most are those who are in the relatively early stages of their program and still need credits in common subject areas or who still need elective credits.

Most of the courses available as Prior Learning Request options are gen eds or lower-level (100 and 200) courses. As mentioned above, they also tend to be most heavily concentrated in certain subject areas, such as ENGL and CAS.

We strongly recommend that students consult with their academic adviser before submitting a PLA request, to ensure that the credits they are seeking will apply to their program and won’t duplicate credits they have already earned.

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