Attract and graduate more adult students

Using a process called Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), students can have their skills and competencies evaluated for college credit. PLA is used to determine whether learning acquired outside the classroom is at the college level and then to award credit for that learning. Students who earn PLA credit are 2½ times more likely to persist to graduation.

Our online process reduces the administrative costs associated with assessing prior learning and gives students access to a nationwide pool of faculty assessors.

We offer the following services:

Free educational advising to students
Online course in PLA (CAEL 100)
Access to an extensive faculty roster, trained according to CAEL standards
Review of learning experiences by faculty experts for college-level equivalency
Direct links to Excelsior College ECE, UExcel, and the College Board’s CLEP testing options and American Council on Education (ACE CREDIT) evaluations of workplace and military training
Archived electronic record of student's history of prior learning
Credit recommendations recorded on an American Council on Education (ACE CREDIT) transcript

Download a pdf of our student brochure.

To become a partner institution, or join our Partner Plus program, send inquiry to: colleges@learningcounts.org.

Faculty experts from across the nation are talking about LearningCounts.org. Listen to what they have to say:

“I am impressed by CAEL's relationship with employers and the community, and I am interested in the portfolio assessment process primarily because this fits my personal and professional philosophy. Adult learners come to a university with different needs and experiences than traditional college students. Their life and work experience should count towards a degree, and I believe the portfolio assessment process is one additional step toward making education more democratic and accessible to the adult learner population." - Jaime Astacio, M.A.

“Adult learners having the opportunity to document learning acquired through work and life experiences to be applied towards college credit, provides them with the motivation and enthusiasm to continue on to complete a college degree.” - LaJuana Ehlers, M.Ed.

“Not every learner / student / employee fits within a certain box. [T]o have an opportunity to award these individuals college credit for the knowledge they have gained by other methods is fantastic! It just makes sense.” - Christy Pagano, M.E.