TESU PLA query

[BingCherry]

So... is it worth it in cost and time to do one of these? I have completed formal COA training at a local college about a decade ago and worked in medical with that for the last 8 or so years until coming to take care of my mom. How many credits do they give for those? Does it vary?
Someone here had mentioned long back if maybe I had something to use for it (I haven't had time yet to ask about it) and I do actually have enough classes and actual working skills for one. COA was all medical classes, some lab intern type stuff, and somewhat challenging!
If it's just for 3 credits, I won't do it. Not worth it. But maybe if it's for more I would attempt it.

[Ideas]

ACE recommends 12 lower level credits for the COA. I don't think you can get anything for the certification if your COA expired, but this can give you an idea, because it shows others with a current COA are often getting 12 credits.

For PLA, you have to prove that your knowledge meets what each course teaches. You would choose how many courses you're trying to challenge. Most people do not find it worthwhile, but if you're going for a degree that needs many healthcare courses, it could be.

TESU charges the same fee for the first 1-12 credits you challenge, so if you did it, you may want to try the full 12. But people are writing many pages per course they challenge. It can be a lot of time.

[davewill]

Here's TESU's PLA course database: Thomas Edison State University | Prior Learning Assessment Course Description

It's a good place to look for possible courses you could challenge using PLA. It is not exhaustive, you can also choose courses from other schools. If you think you can successfully challenge enough of them, you can get more credits. In general, if there's already a test or online course available, that will be easier than PLA. I went that route because there were too many courses for my degree that I could only get through PLA or through expensive courses. See the links at the bottom of my signature for more info.

[Ideas]

This is what they charge:
Portfolio Assessment Review
Up to 12 credits $389
Each additional 6 credits $221

However, you probably are required to take the PLA-100 and PLA-200 courses which take time and money. Those courses help you learn how to submit your portfolio in a successful way.

[oldtown77]

I took few course at Saylor and I was able to achieve certificates without doing Proctored Final Exam.
I was wondering if that works for Portfolio.

[bjcheung77]

I took few course at Saylor and I was able to achieve certificates without doing Proctored Final Exam.
I was wondering if that works for Portfolio.

You can try it, I would only recommend it for "hard to find" courses that aren't readily available for transfer.
What are the courses you want to get equivalent credit for? It's hard to tell if they will PLA them or not....

[oldtown77]

Actually more than one class including
1. COS-241 data structure
2. Software engineering
3. Strategic Information Technology
4. CS402: Computer Communications and Networks.
5. POLSC221: Introduction to Comparative Politics.

Total 15 Hours.

I was able to get certificates for some course without doing the neither
1. Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam
nor
2. Proctored Final Exam

all what I did is the final exam and the certificate was achieved.

[sanantone]

Actually more than one class including
1. COS-241 data structure
2. Software engineering
3. Strategic Information Technology
4. CS402: Computer Communications and Networks.
5. POLSC221: Introduction to Comparative Politics.

Total 15 Hours.

I was able to get certificates for some course without doing the neither
1. Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam
nor
2. Proctored Final Exam

all what I did is the final exam and the certificate was achieved.

You can earn credits for through ACE if you take the proctored exams for Intro to Comparative Politics, Software Engineering, and Computer Communications and Networks.

[High_Order1]

Actually more than one class including
1. COS-241 data structure
2. Software engineering
3. Strategic Information Technology
4. CS402: Computer Communications and Networks.
5. POLSC221: Introduction to Comparative Politics.

Total 15 Hours.

I was able to get certificates for some course without doing the neither
1. Saylor Direct Credit Final Exam
nor
2. Proctored Final Exam

all what I did is the final exam and the certificate was achieved.

I just finished TESU PLA-200.

There was a guy in my class who is portfolioing those types of courses. But he has a lot of depth in that field. I think you may be conflating trying to get credit for those courses with the portfolio process.

I AM NO EXPERT HERE

..but, let me give you my thought process and see if this is right.

If you want credit for those courses, and don't have the background, you have to challenge the courses by sending in the syllabus and reasoning for why they should be equivalent.

If you want credit for a course taught or recognized at TESU similar to those courses, AND you have demonstrable college-level learning on the topics, then you can send in your intent to the PLA department, see if they will accept it, then take PLA200, set up your website, and use those classes as part of your bona fides.

People say there are backdoor ways to the PLA process; I haven't seen one successful example yet far. Doesn't mean you can't try though.