At Purdue Global, we want to help you succeed in your courses, earn the degree you want, and achieve your career goals. As part of that, Purdue Global offers various ways you can receive college credit to help save you time and tuition on topics you’ve already mastered.
“Our goal is to make sure that every student gets credit for what they already know,” says Allegra Fowler, executive director of the Center for Prior Learning Recognition. “It’s a simple mission that drives our efforts to create more and better opportunities for our students to receive the college credit they deserve and accelerate their progress toward a meaningful degree from Purdue Global.”
You may be able to get college credit at Purdue Global by transferring credits from other colleges, passing certain exams, earning select certifications, or from on-the-job training. In addition, you can also earn credit for your work and life experience. Learn more in this guide.
Credit for College Courses
Purdue Global accepts credits for undergraduate and graduate courses successfully completed at other institutions of higher learning. In fact, most of our undergraduate students transfer some prior college credits when they enroll at Purdue Global.
ACE-Evaluated or Purdue Global-Evaluated Courses
Purdue Global awards college credit for courses that have been reviewed by the American Council of Education (ACE) or Purdue Global staff using ACE guidelines.
Purdue Global has partnered with several course providers that offer ACE-evaluated courses, including:
- Sophia
- Straighterline
- Saylor
Learn about external courses that can help you earn credit at Purdue Global.
Credit for ACE-Evaluated Military Training
In addition to courses and exams, ACE has reviewed many military training courses and experiences. Purdue Global will accept the recommendations made by ACE for learning acquired by servicemembers as part of their military occupation training and professional military education (PME).
IT Certifications and Exams
Dozens of information technology (IT) exams and certifications can help you earn college credit if completed within the last 3 years. Find a full list of IT exams and certifications that are approved for college credit at Purdue Global as well as information on how to request transcripts.
Professional Learning, Including Fire Service and Law Enforcement Training
Professional training, certifications, or licensure programs that have been evaluated by ACE or the National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) can be transferred directly to Purdue Global for credit. However, even if your professional training has not been evaluated by these organizations, you still may be eligible for credit. Request to speak to an Advisor today to see if your training can earn you credit.
Fire Service Training
If you plan on attending Purdue Global for a fire science degree, you may be able to receive credit for some fire service-related certifications you already hold. Toward that end, Purdue Global offers credit for fire service certifications that have been accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) or the Pro Board.
National Peace Officer Standard Training
If you are currently a certified U.S. law enforcement officer, your law enforcement training may qualify you to receive credit in any of our undergraduate programs. Request to speak with an Advisor to learn more.
Assessments of Skills and Knowledge (ASKs)
Purdue Global offers Assessments of Skills and Knowledge (ASKs) that allow Purdue Global students to “test out” of an entire course by completing exams, projects, and/or assignments. Your work will be reviewed by a faculty expert who will determine if you should receive college credit for your existing subject knowledge.
ASK credit can be used to satisfy degree requirements in your major, general education core, or open elective category.
External Exams and Assessments
Several exams administered by organizations outside of Purdue Global offer opportunities to earn college credit. These external exams test for skills and knowledge acquired on the job, from life experience, and from military training:
- College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
- Advanced Placement Program (AP)
- DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST)
- Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT)
- International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)
- Other eligible standardized exams
College Credit for Work Experience
Purdue Global students who have work experience or learning outside of the classroom can submit a prior learning portfolio for evaluation. The prior learning portfolio allows you to demonstrate your knowledge and experience and request college credit for a number of courses.
In this process, you will take a portfolio development course to help you develop a successful portfolio. Then, you will collect evidence of your experiential learning to submit with your petitions for college course credit. Your final portfolio, including credit petitions for up to 15 undergraduate courses, will be reviewed by a faculty member who will determine if you should receive college credit for your existing subject mastery.
>>Use the Credit for Work Experience Calculator to find out if your experience makes you a good fit for a portfolio development course.
What Is Included in a Prior Learning Portfolio?
At Purdue Global, our prior learning portfolios contain:
- Job description and performance evaluations
- Certifications (evidence of licenses, training records, ranks)
- Work samples such as computer code, lesson plans, or proposals
- Description of the work environment
- Verification of knowledge, skills, and abilities by a supervisor or employer
- Other appropriate forms of documentation verifying learning
