Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) Program

Professional, Personal and Military experience = College Credit

Lone Star College-Houston North recognizes that many students come to college with valuable knowledge gained from previous non-traditional learning experiences.  Through our Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program at Lone Star College-Houston North, students can now apply that prior experience and knowledge toward course credit and the completion of their certificate/degree program.

Typically, prior knowledge that potentially qualifies for academic credit include skills and knowledge gained through military training and experience, training from out-of-state or international institutions, industry certifications and previous work and life experiences.  In addition to earning college credit, the PLA program helps you save money, place into advanced or higher-level courses, and finish your certificate/degree faster.

LSC-Houston North utilizes various learning assessments and tools to evaluate and determine which experiences and learning qualify for college credit.  Certain PLA assessments have a cost to administer but this cost is significantly less than the cost of completing a course.  Some forms of prior learning assessments include:

• Credit by exam: the process of earning college credit through a credit-by-exam program.
• Credit by portfolio: a process through which a student documents college-level learning based on nontraditional learning experiences.
• Credit by licensure or certification: the process of recognizing competencies demonstrated through successful completion of professional certifications or licenses.
• Credit by military transcript/training: the process of earning college credit through evaluated military transcripts and training.

Come join us at Lone Star College-Houston North, where getting your degree could be closer than you thought possible!