Credit for Prior Learning

Receive College Credits for the Life You've Lived!

Credit for Prior Learning at »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ Community College (»Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ) 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 »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ benefit from having some credit for prior learning on their transcript, helping them accelerate their education and transfer or graduate more quickly.

»Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ 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!

Contact Us

Geoffrey Tabor, Coordinator of Advanced Standing
onestop@berkshirecc.edu
413-236-1610

Portfolio and Credential Reviews

  • 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.
  • Credential Review: Specific training, licensure or certification may be equivalent to a »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ course. Submission of the valid credential is needed to earn course credit. »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ currently offers credit for the following credentials:
Certification Course Credits
MA Firefighting Academy I FIS 101 3 credits
MA Firefighting Academy II
FIS 106 3 credits
MFA Hazardous Materials Technician (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
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
Taconic High School – Health Technology (within five years, Health Tech 1, 2, 3 (indicated on transcript) AHS 111 3 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 per credit for approved portfolio and credential review.

Get Started


1. Apply to »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ

If you haven't yet applied to »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ, you should! It's free and the most important step in this process.


2. Build a Profile

Answer a short series of questions that helps us learn about you, and to determine the college program(s)* you're interested in.


3. We'll Get in Touch

The Coordinator of Advanced Standing reviews and contacts you with your next steps based on your profile summary.

Earn More Credits

  • High School Articulations through CTE Linkages: The Career Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) Linkage Initiative at »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ 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 »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ 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.
  • Dual/concurrent enrollment through »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ’s High School Bridge to College Program
  • College Level Examination Program (CLEP): Students may receive college credit by taking an exam which assesses your knowledge in specific course content.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) Exams: »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ offers credits 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 »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.
  • : Students may receive course credit for their military academic and work experience. Please have your transcript sent directly to »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.
  • 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 »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ Admissions at admissions@berkshirecc.edu for evaluation.

 

Please note: For Associate Degrees, at least 25% of degree credits must be from coursework completed at »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ.  For Certificates, at least 75% of certificate credits must be from coursework completed at »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ.