Credit for Prior Learning
Receive College Credit for Your Life Experience!
Credit for Prior Learning at ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ (BCC) offers you the opportunity
to match your skills and experience with course content offered at the College.
Did you know?
One in six students at BCC benefit from having some credit for prior learning on their transcript, helping them
accelerate their education and transfer or graduate more quickly.
BCC offers a variety of ways to earn credits for the learning you have already completed.
The information below provides details about how to seek credit for what you already
know!
Students who earn prior learning credit save $198 per credit, helping them graduate
more quickly!
Types of Prior Learning Credit
-
Life Experience Portfolio Review
Students may develop portfolios to be reviewed by a departmental faculty to demonstrate
they acquired the knowledge and skills that match course learning outcomes through
life experience or employment.
*Please note there is a fee of $30.50 per credit for approved portfolio review.
-
Life Experience Credential Review
Specific training, licensure or certification may be equivalent to a BCC course. Submission
of the valid credential is needed to earn course credit. BCC currently offers credit
for the following credentials:
Credential Review
| Certification |
Course |
Credits |
| MA Firefighting Academy I |
FIS 101 |
3 credits |
| MA Firefighting Academy II |
FIS 106 |
3 credits |
| MFA Hazardous MaterialsTechnician (135 hours) |
FIS 201 |
3 credits |
| MA State/Municipal Policy Academy (current within five years and currently employed
as an officer by a state or local government law enforcement agency) |
CRJ 121
CRJ Professional Elective |
6 credits |
| Paramedic Certification |
AHS 208 |
24 credits |
| EMT Basic Certification |
FIS electives
or
AHS 111 |
6 credits
3 credits |
| ServSafe Certification |
CUL 108 |
1 credit |
| LPN or CNA (present certificate/licensure with demonstrated practice of at least one
year (within the last five years) |
AHS 111 |
3 credits |
| LPN (for students accepted into the ADN Bridge program) |
NUR 101 and NUR 102 |
17 credits |
| American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certifications |
| Certified Coding Associate |
HIM 102 and HIM 105 |
6 credits |
| Certified Coding Specialist |
HIM 102, HIM 105, HIM 106, HIM 132 |
12 credits |
*Please note there is a fee of $30.50 per credit for approved credential review.
-
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Students may receive college credit by taking a CLEP exam which assesses your knowledge in specific course content.
*The fee paid to CLEP is $90. The proctoring fee is $30 and is paid to the Testing
Center.
-
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams
BCC offers credit based on the score students receive on several AP Exams offered through College Board. If you completed an AP exam, review the course equivalences
and required scores, and then contact College Board to have your official AP Scores
sent to BCC Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.
-
Military Experience
BCC supports our veteran and active-duty students and recognizes the value your unique
experience brings to our campus. Veteran and active-duty students may be eligible
to receive course credit for their military academic and work experience. Please have
your official sent directly to BCC Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.
-
High School Articulations through CTE Linkages
The Career Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) Linkage Initiative at BCC works with local high schools to provide high school
career vocational students with a smooth transition into the programs of their choice.
Students in aligned programs may be able to receive college credit for some of their
high school coursework upon entering BCC under the terms set between the College and
their high school. To determine your eligibility, contact the CVTE Linkage Coordinator,
Addie VanDeurzen, at avandeurzen@berkshirecc.edu.
-
Bridge to College Program
-
College Transfer Credit
Students who earned a C or better from a may request to have their official transcripts sent from their previous institution
to BCC Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.
Get Started
If you haven’t yet applied to BCC, you should! It’s free and the most important step
in this process.
Apply online!
2. Attend your new student advising appointment
Meet with a member of the Academic Advising and Coaching Team to review your academic
program and the ways in which your previous experience and learning could apply to
your program. Follow the recommendations of the Academic Advising and Coaching Team.
Contact Academic Advising and Coaching
3. Build a profile, if recommended
Answer a short series of questions that helps us learn about you, and to determine
the college program(s)* you're interested in.
The Coordinator of Advanced Standing reviews your profile and contacts you with your
next steps.
Please note: For associate degrees, at least 25% of degree credits must be from coursework
completed at BCC. For Certificates, at least 75% of certificate credits must be from
coursework completed at BCC.
