Prior Learning Assessment
Earn college credit for what you know.
Prior Learning Assessment can allow you to gain academic credit for skills and knowledge you’ve already learned. You may qualify for PLA for learning you acquired through work, employer training programs, military service, independent study, volunteer work or community service, and open source courseware study.
PLA evaluates those types of knowledge for college credit, certification or advanced standing in your academic career.
We offer several ways for you to qualify for PLA credit.
If you think you may qualify for PLA, download the PLA Student Guide and Application. For questions, call 865.694.6546.
Credit by Exam
Pellissippi State accepts a number of examinations to test your knowledge and allow you to earn PLA credit. To request PLA credit by exam, the student must complete these steps:
Print and fill out this form and then pay fee(s) at the Student Accounts Services (Cashiers Office).
After completion of the tests, the student then must present payment verification to the Records Office to complete the process.
- English Composition
- Engineering Technology
- Math
- Business
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Liberal Arts
Other Resources
Advanced Placement (AP)
College-Level Examination (CLEP)
Defense Activity Test and Examination Services Subject Standardized Tests (DSST)
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Joint Services Transcript (JST) can be requested for evaluation by the Records Office
Pellissippi State Credit By Exam
Statewide Dual Credit
Thomas Edison State University Exam
Credit for Certifications and Licensures
Please send all Certifications and Licensures to records@pstcc.edu
Certification Name | Course Prefix | Course Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|
Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or higher level PM certification | BUSN 2385 | Project Management and Design | 3 hours |
ServSafe Manager Certification | CULA 1300 | Sanitation & Food Safety | 3 hours |
Certification Name | Course Prefix | Course Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|
CompTIA Network+ (N10-008) | CITC 1302 | Introduction to Networking | 3 hours |
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) Exam | CITC 1321 | A+ Hardware | 3 hours |
CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102) Exam | CITC 1322 | A+ Software | 3 hours |
Microsoft MD 100 | CITC 1330 | Microsoft Desktop OS | 3 hours |
LPIC-I | CITC 1333 | Linux LPIC -1 | 3 hours |
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-601) | CITC 2326 | Network Security | 3 hours |
CCNA | CITC 2330 | Routing and Switching II | 3 hours |
CompTIA ITF and Python Entry Level Programmer Certification | CITC 1301 | Introduction to Programming and Logic | 3 hours |
Oracle Java Foundations 1Z0-811 | CITC 1310 | Programming I/Lab | 3 hours |
Oracle Database Foundations 1Z0-006 | CITC 1303 | Database Concepts | 3 hours |
Certification Name | Course Prefix | Course Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|
ServSafe Manager Certification | CULA 1300 | Sanitation & Food Safety | 3 hours |
Certification Name | Course Prefix | Course Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|
OSHA 10 and NIMS-Measurement, Materials, & Safety Level I | ENST 1350 | Industrial Safety | 3 hours |
OSHA 30 | ENST 1350 | Industrial Safety | 3 hours |
SolidWorks Associate | ENST 1311 | Computer Aided Design I | 3 hours |
Certification Name | Course Prefix | Course Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|
MOS Word Expert – Microsoft Office 365 Apps (MO-111) | ADMN 1311 | Word Processing | 3 hours |
MOS Excel Expert – Microsoft Office 365 Apps (MO-211) | ADMN 1313 | Spreadsheet Applications | 3 hours |
MOS Office Specialist: Associate Certification Microsoft office 365 Apps – Word, Excel, and either PowerPoint or Outlook (MO-110, MO-210, MO-310 or MO-400) | INFS 1010 | Computer Applications | 3 hours |
Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist – CEHRS | HCMT 2370 | Electronic Healthcare Apps | 3 hours |
Certified Billing and Coding Specialist – CBCS | HCMT 2345 HCMT 2335 HCMT 2350 | CPT Coding ICD-CM Coding Insurance and Reimbursement | 9 hours |
Certified Professional Coder (Offered by the AAPC) | HCMT 1010 HCMT 2345 HCMT 2335 | Medical Terminology I CPT Coding ICD-CM Coding | 9 hours |
Certification Name | Course Prefix | Course Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|
MOS Word Expert – Microsoft Office 365 Apps (MO-111) | ADMN 1311 | Word Processing | 3 hours |
MOS Excel Expert – Microsoft Office 365 Apps (MO-211) | ADMN 1313 | Spreadsheet Applications | 3 hours |
MOS Office Specialist: Associate Certification Microsoft office 365 Apps – Word, Excel, and either PowerPoint or Outlook (MO-110, MO-210, MO-310 or MO-400) | INFS 1010 | Computer Applications | 3 hours |
Certification Name | Course Prefix | Course Title | Credit Hours |
Grade II Water Treatment Plant Operator | WTRQ 1410 | Water Facilities & Maintenance | 3 hours |
Grade III Water Treatment Plant Operator | WTRQ 1001 | Orientation to Water Operations | 1 hour |
WTRQ 1210 | Regulations & Compliance | 2 hours | |
WTRQ 1410 | Water Facilities & Maintenance | 3 hours | |
Grade IV Water Treatment Plant Operator | WTRQ 1001 | Orientation to Water Operations | 1 hour |
WTRQ 1210 | Regulations & Compliance | 2 hours | |
WTRQ 1410 | Water Facilities & Maintenance | 3 hours | |
WTRQ 2110 | Water Treatment I | 3 hours | |
WTRQ 2150 | Water Treatment II | 3 hours | |
WTRQ 2330 | Applied Skills for Operators | 3 hours | |
WTRQ 2390 | Capstone | 3 hours | |
Grade II Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator | WTRQ 1410 | Water Facilities & Maintenance | 3 hours |
Grade III Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator | WTRQ 1001 | Orientation to Water Operations | 1 hour |
WTRQ 1210 | Regulations & Compliance | 2 hours | |
WTRQ 1410 | Water Facilities & Maintenance | 3 hours | |
Grade IV Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator | WTRQ 1001 | Orientation to Water Operations | 1 hour |
WTRQ 1210 | Regulations & Compliance | 2 hours | |
WTRQ 1410 | Water Facilities & Maintenance | 3 hours | |
WTRQ 2210 | Wastewater Treatment I | 3 hours | |
WTRQ 2220 | Wastewater Treatment II | 3 hours | |
WTRQ 2270 | Solids & Hazardous Waste | 3 hours | |
WTRQ 2330 | Applied Skills for Operators | 3 hours | |
WTRQ 2390 | Capstone | 3 hours | |
Distribution Systems II Operator | WTRQ 1410 | Water Facilities & Maintenance | 3 hours |
Small Water Systems Operator | WTRQ 2180 | Small Water Systems | 3 hours |
Certification Name | Course Prefix | Course Title | Credit Hours |
AWS Certified Welding Inspector | WELD 2360 | Nondestructive Testing, Codes and Inspection | 3 hours |
Welding students with an active and verifiable Certified Welding Inspector credential through the American Welding Society AWS https://www.aws.org/certification-and-education/professional-certification/#management
All certifications must be current to receive credit. For questions, please contact Annette ElDridge.
Credit for ACE-Approved Training
You may be able to earn college credit for employer-sponsored training and certifications that are based on the American Council on Education National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training. This options includes an evaluation of corporate training, certifications or apprenticeship programs. Please send all ACE transcripts to records@pstcc.edu.
Credit for SOPHIA Learning
You may be able to earn college credit for courses taken through SOPHIA Learning. Courses taken will need to be submitted on an ACE Transcript. Students can use the ACE Request Transcript Page to find the credits they have earned. Students should speak with their assigned advisor about potential credit they can earn.
Credit for Department of Labor Approved Apprenticeship Programs
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
All certifications must be current to receive credit. For questions, please contact Annette ElDridge at abeldridge@pstcc.edu.
Please send all Certifications and Licensures to records@pstcc.edu.
Massey Electric Journeyman Certificate
All certifications must be current to receive credit. For questions, please contact Annette ElDridge at abeldridge@pstcc.edu.
Please send all Certifications and Licensures to records@pstcc.edu.
Credit for Industry Training
Credit for Coursework from Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT)
Tennessee College of Applied Technology and Pellissippi State Community College have a local partnership which promotes student transfer and program articulation. The partnership is for the purpose of providing eligible TCAT students the opportunity to receive college credit upon successful completion of a qualified program at a TCAT.
Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT)
Credit for Life Experience Portfolio Credit
Students may earn college credit through life experiences outside the classroom.
Credit for life experience might be granted for college courses for which credit cannot feasibly be granted by other means, like credit by exam. If you’re interested in Credit for Life Experience, complete the Credit for Life Experience form. You will then be contacted to provide documentation to support your claim. Once all documentation is gathered it will be presented to the proper academic dean.
If the academic dean grants approval for your request to proceed, you will interview with a faculty committee to clarify your experience. The committee will review any documentation and pass along a recommendation to the academic dean, and ultimately the vice president of Academic Affairs, for approval. If your request for Credit for Life Experience is denied, you’ll be contacted at this point. If your request is approved, the Records Office will notify you that academic credit for your life experience has been added to your records.
Credit for Military Training
Pellissippi State works closely with veterans to ensure that the maximum amount of credit may be awarded for military courses and training.
ACE recommended military credit is considered based upon submission of official military transcript along with course descriptions. All course and occupation descriptions can be accessed from the Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services on the ACE web site. AARTS and SMART transcripts are no longer valid options to use for assessment verifications.
Credit for Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions
Many kinds of courses you may have taken at another college are automatically accepted for credit at Pellissippi State. If your previous credits are not automatically accepted, you may request reconsideration of transfer credit decisions.
The appeals process is the same whether you are transferring from a regionally or non-regionally accredited college or university.
- You must have a transcript on file at Pellissippi State
- You must complete the Petition for Transfer Credit Form and submit course descriptions, course syllabi and any other required documentation to the Records Office (records@pstcc.edu)
The appropriate academic dean will review these documents and your appeals request. The Records Office and/or Admissions Office will then notify you of the review decision. At this point, the decision about your transfer credit is final.
Contact Us
Terri Strader
Manager of Records
Goins Building GN118
865.539.7154
Annette ElDridge
Academic Affairs Support Specialist
Goins Building GN265
865.694.6546