PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
Certain programs at National-Louis University award credit to students who have achieved acceptable scores on the Advanced Placement (AP), the American College Testing Program (ACT-PEP), the College Board's College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and the DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs). The university has adopted the American Council on Education's (ACE) recommendations for acceptable score requirements and credit awards. DANTES exams may be taken at NLU and are scheduled on a regular basis. Fees are charged to cover the cost of tests and administration.
NLU awards credit by examination for eligible students who have achieved acceptable scores on CLEP (College Level Examination Program) and DANTES Subject Standardized Tests (DSSTs). You might wish to explore this option of examination as a way to gain additional credits needed for degree completion.
CREDIT BY LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Credit is possible for some degree programs through the approved license and certification faculty approved license and certification program. Students who possess one or more of the approved licenses or certifications may submit them to Prior Learning for review, and pending that there isn’t any duplication of credit on the transcript, credit may be awarded.
CREDIT BY PORTFOLIO
Credit by portfolio is possible at National-Louis University in some degree programs. Portfolios are prepared by students to demonstrate their prior or extrainstitutional learning. Student learning outcomes are assessed and credit granted by content-area experts in accordance with policies established by the faculty and guidelines for the evaluation of prior or extrainstitutional learning recommended by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and the American Council on Education (ACE). Fees are charged to cover the cost of evaluations. A maximum of 60 QH of credit by portfolio may be applied toward the baccalaureate degree.
CREDIT BY PROFICIENCY
Credit by proficiency is possible at National-Louis University for some NLU courses. Students may attempt to demonstrate the required competencies in a course and receive credit for that course. The evaluation is completed by a faculty member in that content area. A fee is charged to cover the cost of administration.
For further information on any of these programs, schedules, fees or registration, contact the Prior Learning Assessment Center at 630.874-4318 or pla@nl.edu.
