REIMAGINE GETTING CREDIT FOR WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW
Save Time. Save Money. Move Forward
REIMAGINE GETTING CREDIT FOR WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW Save Time. Save Money. Move Forward
SAVE MONEY & GRADUATE FASTER
Earning credit for what you already know helps you:
Save money – PLA credits cost far less than tuition for traditional coursework.
Save time – Reduce your course load and complete your degree or certificate faster.
Stay motivated – Get recognition for what you’ve already achieved and focus on what’s next.
Thousands of adult learners, transfer students, and veterans have advanced their careers by converting prior learning into college credit at Southwest.
WHAT IS PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT (PLA)?
At Southwest Tennessee Community College, we recognize that learning happens everywhere, not just in the classroom.
Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) is the process that allows you to earn college credit for college-level learning gained outside of a traditional academic setting.
Your knowledge, skills, and experience, whether gained through work, military service, certifications, training, or community service can translate into real college credit toward your degree or certificate.
Southwest’s PLA process follows Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) guidelines to ensure your experience is evaluated consistently and fairly, helping you reach your goals faster and at lower cost.
Earn college credit by demonstrating what you already know on nationally recognized
exams or a Southwest challenge exam (available for select courses). This option can help you save money and finish faster by skipping classes you’ve already mastered.
Exams considered for credit:
- CLEP (College-Level Examination Program)
- DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)
- AP (Advanced Placement)
- IB (International Baccalaureate)
- Southwest Challenge Exams (select courses)
Typical subject areas: introductory math, writing/composition, business, social sciences, and natural sciences (availability varies by exam and program).
How it works: Achieve the qualifying score set by Southwest/TBR and the corresponding course credit
is awarded—so you can move directly toward your degree.
Turn your professional, military, or technical training into college credit.
Submit documentation of formal training, licensure, or certification that has been pre-evaluated and approved for credit toward your Southwest program.
Examples include:
- Military Training and Experience – Evaluated through Joint Services Transcripts (JST). View Veteran Services at Southwest »
- Professional Certifications or Licenses – Industry or state-recognized credentials.
- Employer or Industry Training Programs – Company or trade-based training with verified learning outcomes.
- TCAT Credits – Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology coursework may qualify for credit through
PLA or course substitution, depending on program alignment.
How it works:
Once documentation is verified, equivalent Southwest courses are identified and credit
is awarded — helping you apply what you already know toward your degree or certificate.
👉 Learn more about Training and Certification Credit
If you have college-level knowledge in a subject area that doesn’t have a standardized exam, pre-evaluated training, or certification match, you can build a portfolio to demonstrate your learning and experience.
A faculty expert in your field will review your portfolio to determine whether your experience meets the learning outcomes of a specific course.
Your portfolio may include:
• Work samples or project documentation
• Licenses, transcripts, or training records
• Reflective essays or personal learning statements
• Supervisor letters verifying performance or skills
How it works:
Your portfolio provides evidence that your experience is equivalent to classroom learning. If approved, you’ll earn course credit that counts directly toward your Southwest degree or certificate.
👉 Learn more about the PLA Portfolio Process
Contact Us
- The Office of Prior Learning Assessment
- pla@southwest.tn.edu
READY TO GET STARTED?
Visit the Southwest PLA Guidelines page for forms, eligibility, and step-by-step instructions.
Or contact: pla@southwest.tn.edu | 901-333-5000
“Your experience counts at Southwest.”
Take the next step — turn your experience into college credit and accelerate your success!
