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Prior Learning Assessment

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 NameCourse PrefixCourse TitleCredit Hours
CompTIA Network+ (N10-008)

CITC 1302

Introduction to Networking3 hours
CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1101) ExamCITC 1321A+ Hardware3 hours
CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1102) ExamCITC 1322A+ Software3 hours
Microsoft MD 100CITC 1330Microsoft Desktop OS3 hours
LPIC-ICITC 1333Linux LPIC -13 hours
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-601)CITC 2326Network Security3 hours
CCNACITC 2330Routing and Switching II3 hours
CompTIA ITF and Python Entry Level Programmer CertificationCITC 1301Introduction to Programming and Logic3 hours
Oracle Java Foundations 1Z0-811CITC 1310Programming I/Lab3 hours
Oracle Database Foundations 1Z0-006CITC 1303Database Concepts3 hours
Certification Name Course Prefix Course Title Credit Hours
ServSafe Manager Certification CULA 1300 Sanitation & Food Safety 3 hours
Certification NameCourse PrefixCourse TitleCredit Hours
OSHA 10 and NIMS-Measurement, Materials, & Safety Level IENST 1350Industrial Safety3 hours
OSHA 30ENST 1350Industrial Safety3 hours
SolidWorks AssociateENST 1311Computer Aided Design I3 hours
Certification NameCourse PrefixCourse TitleCredit Hours
MOS Word Expert – Microsoft Office 365 Apps (MO-111)ADMN 1311Word Processing3 hours
MOS Excel Expert – Microsoft Office 365 Apps (MO-211)ADMN 1313Spreadsheet Applications3 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 1010Computer Applications3 hours
Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist – CEHRSHCMT 2370Electronic Healthcare Apps3 hours
Certified Billing and Coding Specialist – CBCSHCMT 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 NameCourse PrefixCourse TitleCredit Hours
MOS Word Expert – Microsoft Office 365 Apps (MO-111)ADMN 1311Word Processing3 hours
MOS Excel Expert – Microsoft Office 365 Apps (MO-211)ADMN 1313Spreadsheet Applications3 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 1010Computer Applications3 hours
Certification NameCourse PrefixCourse TitleCredit Hours
Grade II Water Treatment Plant OperatorWTRQ 1410Water Facilities & Maintenance3 hours
Grade III Water Treatment Plant OperatorWTRQ 1001Orientation to Water Operations1 hour
WTRQ 1210Regulations & Compliance2 hours
WTRQ 1410Water Facilities & Maintenance3 hours
Grade IV Water Treatment Plant OperatorWTRQ 1001Orientation to Water Operations1 hour
WTRQ 1210Regulations & Compliance2 hours
WTRQ 1410Water Facilities & Maintenance3 hours
WTRQ 2110Water Treatment I3 hours
WTRQ 2150Water Treatment II3 hours
WTRQ 2330Applied Skills for Operators3 hours
WTRQ 2390Capstone3 hours
Grade II Wastewater Treatment Plant OperatorWTRQ 1410Water Facilities & Maintenance3 hours
Grade III Wastewater Treatment Plant OperatorWTRQ 1001Orientation to Water Operations1 hour
WTRQ 1210Regulations & Compliance2 hours
WTRQ 1410Water Facilities & Maintenance3 hours
Grade IV Wastewater Treatment Plant OperatorWTRQ 1001Orientation to Water Operations1 hour
WTRQ 1210Regulations & Compliance2 hours
WTRQ 1410Water Facilities & Maintenance3 hours
WTRQ 2210Wastewater Treatment I3 hours
WTRQ 2220Wastewater Treatment II3 hours
WTRQ 2270Solids & Hazardous Waste3 hours
WTRQ 2330Applied Skills for Operators3 hours
WTRQ 2390Capstone3 hours
Distribution Systems II OperatorWTRQ 1410Water Facilities & Maintenance3 hours
Small Water Systems OperatorWTRQ 2180Small Water Systems3 hours

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)
To receive college credits, the certificate must be presented to the Records Office. For additional questions, please contact abeldridge@pstcc.edu.

Massey Electric Journeyman Certificate
To receive college credits, the certificate must be presented to the Records Office. For additional questions, please contact abeldridgee@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.

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