Earn Nursing Credits for Work Outside the Classroom

If you are ready to advance your nursing education, you may qualify for academic credit based on experience you gained outside a classroom. Whether you are a certified nursing assistant (CNA), licensed practical nurse (LPN), or registered nurse (RN), credit for prior learning lets you skip coursework on material you already know, which saves both time and money. Programs that offer it recognize that knowledge comes from formal study and from experiential learning on the job.

How Prior Learning Assessments Work

Many programs award credit through prior learning assessments (PLAs), which measure your knowledge against college-level content. In a study by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), students who earned PLA credit saved nine to 14 months of study time, roughly a semester of full-time work, and between $1,500 and $10,200 in costs.

The benefit goes beyond time. In the same study, 49% of adult students who received PLA credit completed their degree or certificate, compared with 27% of students who did not.

"When you're applying for a program and you have a lot of experience that you think is relevant, it's always worth asking to see if there are ways to get credit or advanced standing based on what you already know and can do," says Becky Klein-Collins, CAEL's associate vice president of Advancement and Impact.

How Credit Is Awarded

What you receive depends on the program's rules and your ability to demonstrate your knowledge. Programs differ on how many prior learning credits they award, which courses you can skip, and the total you can apply toward a degree. Some limit credit to general education or electives; others apply it toward core nursing courses. Because nursing programs align with state nursing board criteria, your options vary by state.

Verify that any prior learning credit meets the requirements of the state where you will sit for licensure. Otherwise you risk an education that does not qualify you. Meet with an admissions counselor before you enroll to confirm your eligibility and the program's policies.

"Meeting with an advisor is an absolute must before you enroll or pay one penny of tuition or fees," Klein-Collins says. "Adult students juggling a current job and family responsibilities should prioritize programs that fit into their life and get them where they want to go."

Many nursing programs are built to move students from one level to the next without duplicating coursework. Here are the main options.

Stackable credits. If your school offers programs at more than one level, ask about stackable credentials. A student who earned a CNA certificate may progress to an LPN diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) at the same school because the programs build on one another.

Bridge programs. These credit the education, license, and credentials you already hold, and some apply professional experience toward credits. Common ones include LPN to RN and RN to BSN.

Accelerated programs. Built for students who already hold a bachelor's or graduate degree in another field, these concentrate on core nursing content and clinical skills and skip the general education you already completed.

Transfer credits. Credits from an accredited school may satisfy requirements in another program. Many schools offer online calculators to check whether a course transfers, and some have agreements with other institutions, which is common between community colleges and four-year schools.

Competency-based education. If you already know most of a course's material, a competency-based program lets you test out of sections or units and move faster.

Confirm that transferable coursework has not expired. Many STEM courses lapse after 10 years because the science moves. "For occupational programs overseen by state licensing boards, there are likely stipulations about how long your credits are good," Klein-Collins says.

Common Prior Learning Assessments

If you have relevant knowledge gained outside the classroom, a PLA can convert it to college credit. Any award requires a formal evaluation, not simply credit for holding a job for a set number of years. This route fits CNAs and LPNs who lack formal college credits but can demonstrate what they know. Check which assessments your program accepts.

CLEP and DSST. Both are approved by the American Council on Education (ACE). CLEP offers 34 exams accepted at more than 2,900 colleges; DSST offers 37 exams accepted at more than 1,900. Passing either can earn you three or more credits, depending on your school.

Nursing challenge exams. Programs create these to let you prove knowledge of specific subjects. The National League for Nursing (NLN) offers five Nursing Acceleration Challenge Examinations (NACE), mainly for LPN students seeking advanced placement in RN or BSN programs: Nursing Care of the Child, Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family, Foundations of Nursing, Nursing Care of the Adult Client, and Nursing Care of the Client with Mental Disorder.

Portfolio assessment. Some programs review a portfolio to decide on credit or advanced standing. A nursing portfolio typically includes transcripts, licenses, letters of recommendation, and continuing education certificates, plus awards and specialty certifications. Faculty review it to determine fit and the amount of credit you receive.

Credit for training. You may earn credit for employment, volunteering, or military training. ACE assesses non-college courses, exams, and credentials through its National Guide. The National College Credit Recommendation Service (NCCRS) assesses training programs offered outside the traditional classroom through its online directory.

Choosing the Right Program

If you qualify, choose the program that rewards your knowledge best. "Ask good questions about how well the program connects to local employers, so they can help you find a job at the other end," Klein-Collins says. "None of it is worth anything if you can't get a job when you're done."

Five questions to ask each program:

• How does the school award credit for prior learning or PLAs?
• What is the maximum number of transfer or PLA credits I can apply?
• How long will the program take with my transferred credits?
• Is there a pathway for stackable certificates or degrees?
• Do local employers have a strong record of hiring graduates?